Description
The iron rail proved a magicians’ road.
The locomotive gave a new celerity to time.
It virtually reduced England to a sixth of its size. It brought down the country nearer to the town, and the town to the country…
It energized punctuality, discipline, and attention; and proved a moral teacher by the influence of example.
Samuel Smiles, 1859 Parliamentary reformer and self-help promoter
The mighty and majestic steam locomotive is undoubtedly one of the most evocative images of the 19th and 20th centuries.
And rightly so, as this most animated creation was a key player in the Industrial Revolution, helping to change the face of the United Kingdom and laying the foundation of the technological age in
In 1825 there were just 25 miles of public railroad open in the world (all of which were in Britain) and only two locomotives available for use. By 1870 there were 13,600 miles of railroad available in Britain, and by 1920 nearly 20,000 miles. The outlook of the entire nation was influenced by the railroads; the job opportunities in the rail system led to workers migrating from the country to the city, and the growth of new towns. New markets emerged and existing markets expanded while cheaper transport resulted in cheaper goods.
This book is a showcase of all that steam railways have achieved; from the basic design of Richard Trevithick’s engine in 1804 to Stephenson’s groundbreaking Rocket in 1829, the opening of the Liverpool-Manchester line in 1830 and the golden era of train travel in the early 20th century. Hundreds of colour and black-and-white photographs, maps and artworks, beautifully illustrate all facets of steam railways – from engines to signal boxes, platforms and signs. The development of new towns, the design of special locomotives, the use of the railway system by royalty and the role steam railways played in World War I and ll are covered in depth. There are also informative boxed features that profile famous designers, including Daniel Gooch, John Ramsbottom and Sir William Stanier, and railway companies, such as the Great Eastern, Caledonian and Taff Vale.
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