The Rise of the Railway: How Trains Changed the World

by Christian Wolmar

From the first steam trains to the high-speed bullet trains of today, Rise of the Railway tells the hidden stories of railway history – the inspired engineering, technical ingenuity, and sheer determination that forged the world’s railways.

Award-winning writer and broadcaster Christian Wolmar reveals how the railways were built not just on bold vision and technical expertise, but also on wild gambles and trial and error – and how the new era of trains brought about sweeping changes in the lives of people around the world.

This book details the lives and work of railway pioneers such as George Stephenson and John Stevens, and it explores and maps famous railways such as the Trans-Siberian Railway and the Orient Express. Key technological innovations are explained with in-depth illustrations, while stunning photographs and paintings bring railway history to life on the page. Gripping eyewitness accounts describe the railways of the past through the eyes of people who were there.

Packed with colourful stories, technical insights, and beautiful images, Rise of the Railway is the ultimate ride along the rails of history.

Genres: Nonfiction

360 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 2, 2025

About the author

Christian Wolmar is a journalist, focusing on the history and politics of railways.

Reviews

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of pretty pictures with stories attached that use a small, hard to read sans-serif font. A fun look but not read sort of book. This seems to be showing up in some non-fiction books lately. Book designers need to stop that kind of crappy design for physical books.