Railways
Posts in The Copybook tagged ‘Railways’
A contributor to the ‘Annual Review’ shared a flurry of facts about the new Liverpool and Manchester Railway, showing what a blessing it already was.
In 1832, The Annual Register carried a short notice of the benefits that had accrued from the opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway in September 1830. It showed in dramatic but plain figures how the scheme’s investors had done very well not only for themselves but for everyone else too.
In 1770, agriculturist Arthur Young published his diary of a six-month tour of the north of England, which included a visit to the coalfields and ironworks of the Tyne.
In 1770, Arthur Young published his diary of a six months’ tour of the north of England. It included a visit to Newcastle, where he found a busy town prospering on the twin industries of the coal mine and the ironworks. Here, he gives his London readers a taste of the noisy, dirty but profitable business by the Tyne, and notes how the city’s fortunes rose and fell with the fortunes of war.
The Bluebell line in Sussex was the first failing British Railways line to be taken over by volunteers.
There are over a hundred and eighty ‘heritage’ railways and tramways in the United Kingdom, privately owned and run largely by volunteers. Many are routes closed by State-owned British Railways, which enthusiasts have turned into profitable companies in defiance of Authority. The first of these inspirational and quintessentially British adventures was the Bluebell Line in Sussex.
In 1928, a train service linking London and Edinburgh became the world’s longest non-stop run.
LNER A3 No. 4472 ‘Flying Scotsman’ won a place in the history books and in the hearts of millions worldwide when in 1934 she clocked 100 mph and set a world speed record for steam. But history had already been made when in 1928, the train service from which she took her name completed the world’s longest non-stop run.
The guardian of a lonely signalbox recounts a truly haunting experience.
While exploring the branch lines radiating out from Mugby Junction, a man has stumbled on a remote signal box near the mouth of a tunnel. ‘Halloa! Below there!’ he called to the signalman, waving his arms. The signalman’s distress was so remarkable that it required an explanation, and next day he gave it.
Sir Bartle Frere, Governor of Bombay, shared his excitement at the way railways were making Indians more independent.
In a speech at the opening of the Bhor Ghat Incline between Bombay and Madras on April 21st, 1863, Sir Bartle Frere, Governor of Bombay, was quick to share with the assembled dignitaries his satisfaction that railways were bringing Indians an awareness of their rights and creating a more open and equal society.