The Coming of the Railway: A New Global History, 1750-1850

Description

The first global history of the epic early days of the iron railway   Railways, in simple wooden or stone form, have existed since prehistory. But from the 1750s onward the introduction of iron rails led to a dramatic technological evolution—one that would truly change the world.   In this rich new history, David Gwyn tells the neglected story of the early iron railway from a global perspective. Driven by a combination of ruthless enterprise, brilliant experimenters, and international cooperation, railway construction began to expand across the world with astonishing rapidity. From Britain to Australia, Russia to America, railways would bind together cities, nations, and entire continents. Rail was a tool of industry and empire as well as, eventually, passenger transport, and developments in technology occurred at breakneck speed—even if the first locomotive in America could muster only 6 mph.   The Coming of the Railway explores these fascinating developments, documenting the early railway’s outsize social, political, and economic impact—carving out the shape of the global economy as we know it today. Cover Halftitle page Title page Copyright page CONTENTS ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAPS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Introduction 1 Trade, transport and coal 1767–1815 2 ‘Rails best adapted to the road’ Cast-iron rails and their alternatives in Britain 1767–1832 3 Canal feeders, quarry railways and construction sites 4 ‘Art has supplied the place of horses’ Traction 1767–1815 5 War and peace 1814–1834 6 ‘Geometrical precision’ Wrought-iron rails 1808–1834 7 ‘Most suitable for hilly countries’ Rope and chain haulage 1815–1834 8 ‘That truly astonishing machine’ Locomotives 1815–1834 9 Coal carriers 1815–34 10 Internal communications 1815–1834 11 The first main lines 1824–1834 12 Coming of age The public railway 1830–1834 13 ‘The new avenues of iron road’ 1834–1850 14 ‘You can’t hinder the railroad’ A NOTE ON SOURCES AND TERMINOLOGY NOTES BIBLIOGRAPHY Index