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No. 34, a Bury 2-2-0 passenger locomotive.
 

The author’s text may be used for any scholarly or educational purpose without prior permission, so long as you credit this website.


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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.

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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.

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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

14. ……………

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



A Bury engine crossing an iron road bridge near Fenny Stratford, London and Birmingham Railway.

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