The Industrial Revolution saw a radical transformation in 19th century England. The country’s global influence was greater than ever, steam power and mass production were changing the face of the nation, and people were moving from the countryside to the cities in greater numbers than ever. And few things did more to make this possible than the development of the railways.
THE RISE OF THE LOCOMOTIVE
In the early 19th century, transportation relied heavily on canals. But these were slow, limited in capacity and hugely expensive to construct.
Railway lines seemed to offer an answer, but early lines used stationary steam engines to haul carriages by cable over relatively short distances.
Seeking a faster, more reliable, longer distance alternative, the young Liverpool and Manchester Railway Company announced a competition to find the most efficient steam locomotive for their new railway line.

There were several entrants to the competition, but on October 6th 1829, one steam locomotive – and one engineer – beat all comers, becoming true icons of the Victorian age.
George Stephenson’s ‘Rocket’ marked a radical departure from the steam engines of its day. Its groundbreaking design made for greatly increased efficiency and reliability and its top speed of 35 miles per hour was an extraordinary achievement.
You can read more about George Stephenson as this month’s ‘Great British Historical Figure’ on p19.


RAILWAY MANIA
The success of Rocket marked a turning point in transportation history as steam locomotives became the workhorses of the Victorian railway system. The government quickly recognised the immense potential of railways, passing the Railway Act in 1835 to provide a framework for their construction and operation.
Throughout the 1840s, ‘railway mania’ swept the nation. Investors were eager to fund new lines and entrepreneurs scrambled to secure charters.
Following in his famous father’s footsteps, Robert Stephenson, designed and built locomotives for a number of railway companies and his work set the benchmark for reliability, power, and efficiency. He went on to define the ‘standard gauge’ – the distance between the rails used by the majority of railways around the world.

AN ENGINEERING MARVEL
Railway construction was a complex and arduous business, but by 1850 nearly 7000 miles of track had been laid across England, as the railways became a symbol of Victorian progress.
Engineers had to overcome rivers, hills, valleys and marshes. Vast earthworks and embankments were created, tunnels were dug, and enormous bridges and viaducts were constructed by engineers such as Isambard Kingdom Brunel, who became a superstar in his own right.
Skilled labour was in high demand, and the railways created jobs for thousands of workers. This generated huge economic growth and led to a boom in housing construction as railway workers’ cottages were built across the land.
A NEW STANDARD TIME

The new railway timetables demanded a new relationship with time. Prior to this, local time was set by the sun, and a few minutes here or there made no difference to people who didn’t travel far. But schedules and timetables were essential for efficient operation – and to avoid collisions – so if it was exactly 4 o’clock in Bristol, it needed to be exactly 4 o’clock in London, too. Going strictly by the sun, noon in Bristol would be ten minutes later than noon in London – that would have caused chaos without standardisation.
The pre-standardisation clock at the Bristol Exchange has a third hand to show the time difference between Bristol and London.
A SOCIAL REVOLUTION

The railways changed society in profound ways. People and goods could travel faster and more safely than ever before. Cities and towns, previously isolated, were now connected, fostering economic growth and trade, while the demand for coal, iron, and other raw materials surged, fuelling the Industrial Revolution still further.
Telegraph lines followed the tracks, allowing for the instant transmission of news and information over huge distances, and newspapers and periodicals could be distributed faster and more widely than ever.
And travel was suddenly accessible to people from all walks of life. The working class, previously confined to their localities, could now explore the country. Tourism flourished, and seaside resorts such as Blackpool and Brighton became popular destinations.
AN ENDURING LEGACY
England today has something of a love-hate relationship with its railways. As the world’s oldest railway system, it’s common to hear travellers complain that much of the network is showing its age. At the same time there’s constant controversy around the huge expense of new high-speed rail projects.
But England’s rail system is used by millions every day, and its Victorian heritage is a reminder of the huge contribution that British engineering made to the world.