Fire and Steam

Fire and Steam PDF Author: Christian Wolmar
Publisher: Atlantic Books
ISBN: 1848872615
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 332

Book Description
Now in paperback, Fire and Steam tells the dramatic story of the people and events that shaped the world's first railway network, one of the most impressive engineering achievements in history. The opening of the pioneering Liverpool and Manchester Railway in 1830 marked the beginning of the railways' vital role in changing the face of Britain. Fire and Steam celebrates the vision and determination of the ambitious Victorian pioneers who developed this revolutionary transport system and the navvies who cut through the land to enable a country-wide network to emerge. The rise of the steam train allowed goods and people to circulate around Britain as never before, stimulating the growth of towns and industry, as well many of the facets of modern life, from fish and chips to professional football. From the early days of steam to electrification, via the railways' magnificent contribution in two world wars, the checkered history of British Rail, and the buoyant future of the train, Fire and Steam examines the social and economical importance of the railway and how it helped to form the Britain of today.

The Times History of Britain's Railways

The Times History of Britain's Railways PDF Author: Julian Holland
Publisher: Times Books
ISBN: 9780008135348
Category : Railroads
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description
Follow the development, decline and later revival of Britain s iconic railways with bestselling railway author Julian Holland. Discover the fascinating history of our remarkable railway heritage through expert commentary, stunning photographs and archive material from a lifetime of railway research."

The Railways

The Railways PDF Author: Simon Bradley
Publisher: Profile Books
ISBN: 1847653529
Category : Transportation
Languages : en
Pages : 607

Book Description
Sunday Times History Book of the Year 2015 Currently filming for BBC programme Full Steam Ahead Britain's railways have been a vital part of national life for nearly 200 years. Transforming lives and landscapes, they have left their mark on everything from timekeeping to tourism. As a self-contained world governed by distinctive rules and traditions, the network also exerts a fascination all its own. From the classical grandeur of Newcastle station to the ceaseless traffic of Clapham Junction, from the mysteries of Brunel's atmospheric railway to the lost routines of the great marshalling yards, Simon Bradley explores the world of Britain's railways, the evolution of the trains, and the changing experiences of passengers and workers. The Victorians' private compartments, railway rugs and footwarmers have made way for air-conditioned carriages with airline-type seating, but the railways remain a giant and diverse anthology of structures from every period, and parts of the system are the oldest in the world. Using fresh research, keen observation and a wealth of cultural references, Bradley weaves from this network a remarkable story of technological achievement, of architecture and engineering, of shifting social classes and gender relations, of safety and crime, of tourism and the changing world of work. The Railways shows us that to travel through Britain by train is to journey through time as well as space.

Britain's Railways in Wartime

Britain's Railways in Wartime PDF Author: Anthony Lambert
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781848024823
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description
In the long and absorbing history of Britain's railways, the most challenging years were those of the two World Wars, when they were needed the most. Transportation of everything that was grown, made, or mined, as well as soldiers, sailors, airmen, and civilians largely fell to the nation's trains. Yet the indispensable role of railways in wartime has been largely overlooked. This book pays tribute to the way railway workers responded to the demand that they do more with less resources, called upon as they were to cope with an extraordinary change in the character and volume of passenger and goods traffic, to endure dangerously long hours, and to overcome the fear of moving in and through war zones. Small wayside stations could be transformed into a frenzy of activity by the arrival of a camp or supply depot on its doorstep, while disruption through bomb damage could turn the shift of the locomotive crew into an indefinite wait for relief. Featuring a gazetteer of the monuments and memorials created to honor fallen railway workers, this book pays tribute to their heroic responses to the demands of war.

An Historical Geography of Railways in Great Britain and Ireland

An Historical Geography of Railways in Great Britain and Ireland PDF Author: David Turnock
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1351958933
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 378

Book Description
Although a great deal has been published on the economic, social and engineering history of nineteenth-century railways, the work of historical geographers has been much less conspicuous. This overview by David Turnock goes a long way towards restoring the balance. It details every important aspect of the railway’s influence on spatial distribution of economic and social change, providing a full account of the nineteenth-century geography of the British Isles seen in the context of the railway. The book reviews and explains the shape of the developing railway network, beginning with the pre-steam railways and connections between existing road and water communications and the new rail lines. The author also discusses the impact of the railways on the patterns of industrial, urban and rural change throughout the century. Throughout, the historical geography of Ireland is treated in equal detail to that of Great Britain.

The Reshaping of British Railways

The Reshaping of British Railways PDF Author: British Railway Board
Publisher: Collins
ISBN: 9780007511969
Category : Railroads
Languages : en
Pages : 176

Book Description
The Reshaping of British Railways is a piece of railway history every dedicated enthusiast will want in their collection. Bradshaw's Guide has given birth to a wave of nostalgia for our Victorian and Edwardian railway systems. The Reshaping of British Railways, another facsimile which will fascinate train buffs, is the document that decimated these systems forever. With the British Rail company's failure, by the early 1960s, to stem the network's huge annual losses, the government turned to Dr Richard Beeching. He was to save money by recommending the cutting of redundant routes and services. His two reports, The Reshaping of British Railways (1963) and The Development of the Major Railway Trunk Routes (1965), were published by the British Railways Board in 1965, and offer a fascinating snapshot of our nation's railways. In the first part of this historic facsimile, Dr Beeching identifies the 2,363 stations and 5,000 miles (8,000 km) of railway line for closure - over 50% of all stations and 30% of route miles. The second part recommends a small number of major remaining routes for significant investment. Well documented nationwide protests resulted in the saving of some stations and lines, but the majority were closed as planned and Beeching's name is to this day associated with the mass closure of railways and the loss of many local services in the period that followed. Now, for the first time, this iconic piece of railway history is available in its entirety, complete with the original tables and maps of routes deemed fit for closure.

Discovering Britain's Lost Railways

Discovering Britain's Lost Railways PDF Author: Paul Atterbury
Publisher: Aa Pub
ISBN: 9780749563707
Category : Transportation
Languages : en
Pages : 159

Book Description
Written by best-selling railway author Paul Atterbury, this updated second edition explores the closed lines of Britain's vanished railway heritage. Paul has uncovered the most interesting of these lines, retraced their routes, explored their relics, and looked back with nostalgia to the days when the railway was an essential part of country life. The text is accompanied by high-quality black and white photographs taken in the heyday of these lines, along with specially commissioned color photography of what remains today. There are also detailed route maps and information panels on recognized footpaths, cycleways, and nearby attractions of interest to railway enthusiasts.

Britain's Railways in Colour

Britain's Railways in Colour PDF Author: Colin G. Maggs MBE
Publisher: Haynes Publishing UK
ISBN: 9781844256501
Category : Transportation
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description
This book, covering the final years of steam on Britain’s railways, presents a wonderful array of over 200 color photographs, many of them previously unpublished. All the imagery is reproduced from original transparencies that have remained carefully preserved away from daylight since the day they were taken, so the original vividness of color remains – a rare quality. This book will delight today’s railway enthusiasts who are looking for new material.

Railways

Railways PDF Author: Christopher Valkoinen
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780500021675
Category : Transportation
Languages : en
Pages : 304

Book Description
Exquisite drawings of locomotives, carriages, and stations offering unparalleled insight into the design and operation of the British railway system.

The Great Central Railway

The Great Central Railway PDF Author: John Stretton
Publisher: British Railways Past & Present S.
ISBN: 9781858952659
Category : Locomotives
Languages : en
Pages : 160

Book Description
This volume looks at past views between Nottingham (Victoria) and Rugby (Central) stations, and compares them with the present day. There is also a section looking at progress by the restorationists over the past 40 years. The achievements of the present day Great Central Railway have been impressive, with the promise of greater things to come.