History of the Railways Podcast
1) 1.11 - Grand Junction Railway pt. 2
On the 4th July 1837, the Grand Junction Railway linked Liverpool and Manchester with Birmingham.  In this episode we: • Take a look at some of the civil engineering works on the GJR • Meet Thomas B...Show More
2) 1.10 - Grand Junction Railway pt. 1 - A Fight for Control
On the 4th July 1837, Britain’s first trunk railway opened. The Grand Junction Railway linked Liverpool and Manchester with Birmingham, and paved the way for all 3 to be connected to the capital by r...Show More
3) 1.09 - L&MR pt. 4 - Opening and Early Locos
The opening of the Liverpool & Manchester Railway is rightly considered a milestone in world history, but in truth the opening day itself was a disaster. It started by shooting a man in the face wit...Show More
4) 1.08 L&MR pt. 3 - Making it a Reality
In part 3 of our mini-series on the L&MR, we’re working our way along the line, exploring some of the magnificent works of civil engineering on the railroad. We'll meet George Stephenson’s resident en...Show More
5) 1.07 - Liverpool & Manchester Railway pt. 2 - Try, Try Again
In part 2 of our mini-series on the Liverpool & Manchester Railway, we’re going to hear how the L&MR clawed its way back from the rejection of their first bill and finally got approval. Along the way ...Show More
6) 1.06 - Liverpool & Manchester Railway pt. 1 - The Fight for the Idea
The Liverpool & Manchester Railway is recognised as the first modern railway, but it almost never got off the ground. And the main reason might surprise you ... George Stephenson's poor performance. A...Show More
7) 1.05 - Rainhill Trials pt. 2 - Trials and Tribulations
The Rainhill Trials weren't what most people think ... As far as the directors of the Liverpool & Manchester Railway were concerned, the Rainhill Trials wasn’t a competition between locomotives … it w...Show More
8) 1.04 - Rainhill Trials pt. 1 - Engines and Engine-makers
The Rainhill Trials weren't what most people think ... As far as the directors of the Liverpool & Manchester Railway were concerned, the Rainhill Trials wasn’t a competition between locomotives … it w...Show More
9) 1.03 - S&DR - Putting it Together
In September 1825 a public railway opened with a passenger carriage being pulled by a steam locomotive: The Stockton & Darlington Railway. Â Let's dig into what we know about what some authorities con...Show More
10) 1.02 - Motive power to (about) 1825
You waited patiently through episode 1 thinking, "When's he going to get to the engines?" Well, this is the one about the engines! Â Contrary to popular opinion Rocket was not the first locomotive in ...Show More