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CHAPTER

SUBJECT

1.

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EARLY RAILWAYS

Introduction; The Canals; The Railway Eras; Terminology; Waggonways; Brandlings Railroad; The Surrey Iron Railway; The Stockton and Darlington Railway; The Canterbury and Whitstable Railway

Appendix ― Railways authorised by parliament in the 20 years following 1801.

2.

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THE STEAM LOCOMOTIVE (I)

The Atmospheric Steam Engine; The Double-Acting Steam Engine; Richard Trevithick; In the wake of Trevithick; George Stephenson; The Stockton and Darlington Railway

Appendix I. ― Blenkinsop’s locomotive

Appendix II. ― The Dodds and Stephenson Patent

Appendix III. ― George Stephenson’s early railway developments

Appendix IV. ― The opening of the Hetton Railway

Appendix V. ― The opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway

3.

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PROBLEMS WITH THE TRACK

The Cast-iron Plate Rail; The Edge Rail; Losh and Stephenson’s Patent; The Malleable Iron Rail; Rails for the Stockton and Darlington

Appendix I. ― Losh and Stephenson’s patent

Appendix II. ― John Birkinshaw’s patent

4.

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CHOOSING THE ROUTE, OBTAINING AN ACT

Background; Private Bills; The First Proposals; Later Proposals; The First Railway Bill; The Second Railway Bill

Appendix I. ― Some requirements to be met in applying for a Private Act of Parliament

Appendix II. ― Sir John Rennie’s Survey Report (1826)

Appendix III. ― Memorandum of Agreement entered into between Messrs. George Stephenson and Son of the one part, and the Committee of the London and Birmingham Railway Company, of the other part.

5.

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EASING THE GRADIENT

The Ruling Gradient; Cut and Fill; Forming Embankments; Excavating Cuttings; Instability in Cuttings and Embankments; Viaducts; Tunnels; Bridges

6.

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THE PROJECT

Introduction; The Management Structure; Planning; Contractors; Work Commences; Escalating Costs

Appendix I. ― The estimated cost of the line

Appendix II. ― The allocation of work among the project team

Appendix III. ― Notes on Lieutenant Peter Lecount R.N.

Appendix IV. ― List of contracts and contractors

7.

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CONSTRUCTION ― CAMDEN TOWN TO CHEDDINGTON

Introduction; Advertising for tenders; Abandoned contracts; The Brent contract; The Watford Embankment and Viaducts; The Watford Tunnel; Kings Langley to Cheddington

8.

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CONSTRUCTION ― CHEDDINGTON TO BIRMINGHAM

Pitstone and Cheddington; Linslade; The Wolverton Embankment; The Blisworth Cutting; The Blisworth Embankment; A very unusual railway bridge; The Kilsby Tunnel; Construction in Warwickshire

Appendix I. ― Iron Bridges

Appendix II. ― Description of a Drawbridge on the London and Birmingham Railway, at Weedon

9.

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CONSTRUCTION ― THE EUSTON EXTENSION

The Second Act (1835); The Camden Incline; Building the Extension; Further problems with London clay; Developments at Camden Depot

10.

……………

CONSTRUCTION ― TRACK AND SIGNALLING

The permanent way; Safety and railway signalling; The electric telegraph

Appendix ― Regulations for enginemen

11.

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THE STATIONS

Introduction; The London terminus; The intermediate stations; Harrow; Watford; Berkhamsted; Tring; Wolverton; Forgotten stations and the Northampton Loop; Rugby; Coventry; Derby Junction; Curzon Street (Birmingham)

Appendix ― An Act to amend the Acts relating to the London and Birmingham Railway (extract)

12.

……………

THE STEAM LOCOMOTIVE (II)

A question of motive power; The Rainhill Trials; Developments following the Rainhill trials; Edward Bury

Appendix I. ― Press reports on the Rainhill Trials

Appendix II. ― The Rocket locomotive

Appendix III. ― A description of Bury’s locomotives as used on the London and Birmingham Railway

Appendix IV. ― ditto

Appendix V. ― Some locomotive facts and figures

13.

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THE RAILWAY IN OPERATION

The early days; Returns to investors; Safety and regulations; Carriages and passengers; Ashlin Bagster and administration; Thomas Edmondson and the railway ticket; The Railway Clearing House; Goods traffic; The decline of canal competition; The branch lines; Postscript

Appendix I. ― Orders and Regulations

Appendix II. ― Rates and Tolls

THE HISTORY OF THE RAILWAY CONNECTING LONDON WITH BIRMINGHAM

. . . . by Lieutenant Peter Lecount, R.N., F.R.A.S., C.E.
Published by SIMKIN, MARSHALL, AND CO., London. (c.1839).

15.

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ADDENDA

Timeline ― a summary of events referred to in the text

A Note about the artist, John Cooke Bourne

Experiences of a navvy on the Watford to Tring section

Railway refreshment rooms