Victorian Railways By: Mackenzie Lamb and Nichole Miller
T
he Victorian Era, a period of time from 1837 to 1901 in which Queen Victoria ruled Great Britain, was a time of many changes and advancements. Throughout the first part of this era, the construction of approximately 6,800 miles of railways within Britain led to a number of benefits. This was the first point in Great Britain’s history that the countryside and cities were directly connected, allowing for individuals to commute into cities for work. Additionally, this transformed the economy and assisted in closing gaps between social classes. While construction on this national railway took place, innovators in London wrote plans for an underground railway throughout the city. The creation of this underground railway introduced a new type of public transportation to the people of London. Together, these railways led to positive changes throughout the nation and steps towards achieving an important Grand Challenge.
The Transition In 1825, just prior to the start of the Victorian Era, construction of the first true railway took place in Great Britain. While its predecessors included horse-drawn carriages on tramlines, this was the first time in which a locomotive transported passengers. Five years later, construction started on a second railway, beginning Britain’s age of the railroad. For the next twenty years, railway popularity and construction exploded throughout Britain. By 1850, nearly all towns in Great Britain had a railway connection, creating a link that was previously not possible.
Growth in England
ternational level, railways made it possible to transport of goods produced in landlocked cities to those with ports for exports. With a booming economy, Great Britain maintained its stance as one of the world’s most powerful countries during the Victorian Era.
With fast travel now available throughout all of Great Britain, an entirely new world of communication opened up. Prior to this era, the postal service existed, but only on a local level. In 1839, Rowland Hill created a standard system of postal charges that allowed for the mailing of letters at a set Underground Railway price, regardless of the distance. This led to the creation of the Uniform Penny Post in While construction took place on Britain’s 1840, for which the fee was one penny per national railway, ideas came to life for an letter. With simple, easy access to the postunderground railway in England’s capital al system now available, the service rapidly city, London. The introduction of an above expanded. In the first year of -ground railway made it possible for the postal service, the people to travel into cities. Though number of letters many individuals commuted daily sent reached 76 for work, a number of families million. By 1901, “With fast travel chose to move to these cities perthis number now available manently. An influx in Lonneared an anthroughout all of don’s population led to a desire nual total Great Britain, an for efficient public transportaof 2.3 billion. entirely new world tion. In 1853, the British Parliaof communication ment approved plans from the Bayswater, Paddington, and Holopened up.” As with communiborn Bridge Railway Company to cation, trade adbegin construction on what soon vanced greatly with became known as the North Metropolthe introduction of the railway itan Railway. Over the next ten years, conin Great Britain. At the beginstruction took place, and on January 10, ning of the Victorian Era, in 1839, Britain’s 1863, the first part of the railway opened to exports were £76 million. Throughout the the public. Although this first portion was next ten years, the annual exports grew to only 3.75 miles long, the underground rail£124.5 million. The shift from a textileway continued to expand and is over 250 dominated economy to one that produced a miles long today. variety of goods greatly contributed to this large increase. Factories began to pop up throughout the nation, and it became possible for people to commute into cities for work. With factories throughout the country, national and international trade of these goods became prominent. On an in-
Infrastructure Improvement The creation of the above-ground railway throughout Great Britain and the North Metropolitan Railway in London both greatly apply to the Grand Challenge of Restoring and Improving Urban Infrastructure. Prior to the construction of these railways, transportation throughout Great Britain was quite tedious. Horse-drawn carriages were the most common form of transportation, but they only travelled around four miles per hour. This speed was not sufficient for a flourishing trade and travel system, but the introduction of the railway connected all corners of the nation. Additionally, London’s lack of public transportation was unable to support its growing population prior to the construction of the North Metropolitan Railway. The introduction of this railway relieved traffic congestion, increased business at many shops and markets because of easier accessibility, and helped to eliminated slum areas. This drastic improvement in Britain’s infrastructure had numerous benefits that many individuals continue to feel today.
Ultimately, the creation of two railway systems in Great Britain led to a significant number of positive changes. New systems of communication and trade on a national and international level opened up immense avenues for Great Britain’s growth and prosperity. Additionally, the creation of an underground railway in London encouraged both social and economic advancements. Together, these railways marked one of the most influential changes of the Victorian Era and assisted with achieving the Grand Challenge of Restoring and Improving Urban Infrastructure.
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