Early Railways

The Early Railways Group has published over 270 Occasional Papers on a wide range of subjects – here is an example.  New Occasional Papers are distributed by email to all members of the Group, accompanied by a news Circular , and we are open to all kinds of studies, news and informal comment that may be of interest to members of the Group. Members can download any the group’s Circulars and Occasional Papers from the Early Railways Members Pages.

It’s easiest to clarify what the ‘early railway’ is by stating what it isn’t – namely, the ‘modern’ mainline public railway. ‘Early Railway’ covers all railways from the first known, in Ancient Greece, to the beginning of the modern railway around 1825; it is also usually applied to the many later private or industrial lines that continued in the earlier tradition. The long development of the form and function of railways was a fascinating process, including periods of quick and innovative change to both structure and technology: trials of wooden, cast iron, and wrought iron rails; of edge rails, plate rails and suspension systems; of power generated by men, animals and engines, culminating in the development of the first steam locomotives.

In recent years, research in Early Railways has been dynamic and wide-ranging, and has required a significant reassessment of our understanding of the subject. The members of the Group have played a prominent part in this process, and welcome all who might have a passing or a deeper interest in this remarkably little-known but highly important aspect of transport and economic development. Many members participate in the Early Railway Conferences, which the Railway and Canal Historical Society sponsor jointly with the Institution of Civil Engineers, the National Railway Museum, the Newcomen Society, the International Society for the History of Engineering and Technology and the Stephenson Locomotive Society. The next conference, the ninth, will be held at Liverpool in 2030 The Conference has prepared a Research Agenda for the Early British Railway to identify further areas of useful study, and to inform archaeological investigation of the remains of sites.

If you would like to know more about the railway of the Tyrant of Corinth, medieval Scalextric or steam elephants, please contact Rowan Patel at: early.railway.group@gmail.com.