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The Coming of the Railway: A New Global History, 1750-1850
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.
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.
416 pages, Hardcover
Published June 13, 2023
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July 3, 2023
It’s not an exaggeration to say that railways changed the world. They made possible easier movement of minerals and goods, allowed people who had never been able to travel much beyond the next village to cover longer distances, gave rise to a new cadre of mechanical and civil engineers, and – in their attraction to investors and speculators – provided the ‘dotcom’ boom of their era.
Gwyn charts the development of the railway from the earliest wooden waggonways through to the use of iron rails and steam power that saw networks begin to spread rapidly across Europe and America by the mid-19th century.
This is mostly a very readable history, aided by many period illustrations. It can get a bit technical in parts though – if you haven’t got your head around the difference between plateways, Losh rails, fishbelly rails and wrought iron rails by the end you haven’t been paying attention!
It does feel a little hurried in the last few chapters, simply because it’s not possible to cover increasingly rapid developments to the same level of detail. I’d also like to have seen a bit more on the social changes that these later chapters touch on. If you’re at all interested in railways, however, you’ll find this a fascinating read.
Gwyn charts the development of the railway from the earliest wooden waggonways through to the use of iron rails and steam power that saw networks begin to spread rapidly across Europe and America by the mid-19th century.
This is mostly a very readable history, aided by many period illustrations. It can get a bit technical in parts though – if you haven’t got your head around the difference between plateways, Losh rails, fishbelly rails and wrought iron rails by the end you haven’t been paying attention!
It does feel a little hurried in the last few chapters, simply because it’s not possible to cover increasingly rapid developments to the same level of detail. I’d also like to have seen a bit more on the social changes that these later chapters touch on. If you’re at all interested in railways, however, you’ll find this a fascinating read.
Displaying 1 of 1 review