Changes

== History ==

== History ==

There is no known date for the 'invention' of railways. Engravings of medieval [[Germany|German]] miners dragging [[coal]]-bearing sleds along rudimentary [[wood]]en rails have been found, and the use of wooden rails to guide coal wagons at [[colliery|collieries]] in the [[English Midlands]] is known from the late sixteenth century. In the early seventeenth century the entrepreneur Huntingdon Beaumont built wooden railways to serve collieries at Wollaton, [[Nottinghamshire]] (1604) and from 1605 he constructed railways in the important coal-mining district of [[Tyneside]] in north-east [[England]], although that venture ruined him financially. In these early railways, waggons were pulled along wooden rails by [[horse]]s or humans; the main purpose was to move coal (or mineral ores) from [[mine]]s to navigable [[waterway]]s.

Because wooden rails wore away quickly, they were replaced by wooden rails with [[iron]] plates attached, and later by rails of iron.  Cast iron track began to be used in the eighteenth century, although the brittle nature of cast iron meant that such railways could not carry very heavy loads. This consideration also acted against the use of [[steam engine]]s for motive power. 

The first steam railway [[locomotive]] was designed by [[Richard Trevithick]] (1771-1833), a mining [[engineer]] from [[Cornwall]], who in 1804 built a locomotive for the Penydarren iron works in south [[Wales]]. This proved too heavy for the iron tracks and was converted to a [[stationary engine]]. A similar locomotive built by Trevithick for Wylam Colliery in [[Northumberland]] also proved too heavy to be of practical use.

Because wooden rails wore away quickly, they were replaced by wooden rails with [[iron]] plates attached, and later by rails of iron.  Cast iron track began to be used in the eighteenth century, although the brittle nature of cast iron meant that such railways could not carry very heavy loads. This consideration also acted against the use of [[steam engine]]s for motive power. The first steam railway [[locomotive]] was designed by [[Richard Trevithick]] (1771-1833), a mining [[engineer]] from [[Cornwall]], who in 1804 built a locomotive for the Penydarren iron works in south [[Wales]]. This proved too heavy for the iron tracks and was converted to a [[stationary engine]]. A similar locomotive built by Trevithick for Wylam Colliery in [[Northumberland]] also proved too heavy to be of practical use.

William Hedley (1779-1843) aided by another colliery engineer, Timothy Hackworth, built three steam locomotives between 1813 and 1815. These worked successfully until 1828-29, when they were replaced by two more innovative locomotives, including the famous ''[[Puffing Billy]]''. Wylam was a true nursery of railway talent.  

The owner of Wylam Colliery, Christopher Blackett, employed William Hedley (1779-1843) as his colliery manager. Hedley was interested in [[technology|technological]] change and, aided by another colliery engineer, Timothy Hackworth, he built three steam locomotives between 1813 and 1815. These worked successfully until 1828-29, when they were replaced by two more innovative locomotives, including the famous ''[[Puffing Billy]]''. Wylam was a true nursery of railway talent. Hedley and Hackworth were very important railway pioneers, and the village was also the birthplace of [[George Stephenson]] (1781-1848).

[[George Stephenson]] (1781-1848) was 'the father of the railways'. Although he neither invented railways nor steam locomotion, he made huge improvements to the technology of the latter and was a pioneer in the field of civil engineering for large railway projects. An illiterate miner's son, born in a cottage next to the Wylam colliery railway (as a child, his first job was keeping the line clear of stray animals), he learned to read as a young adult at night classes, obtained a post as engineer at Killingworth Colliery, Northumberland, and there built a number of improved locomotives. He designed the Hetton Railway in [[County Durham]] in the early 1820s, at that time the longest railway line in the world, linking a colliery to loading staiths (short piers for pouring coal from wagons on to waiting ships) on the River Wear, and then was appointed engineer to the [[Stockton and Darlington Railway]]. The S&DR, which opened in 1825, was the world's first public steam-operated railway, linking the coalfields of SW [[County Durham]] to the [[River Tees]] at [[Stockton on Tees]]. This was not purely a colliery line, but allowed other freight, and even passengers, to be carried. Initially it used both locomotive and horse-drawn trains, though later was converted to steam haulage only.

George Stephenson is justly called 'the father of the railways'. Although he neither invented railways nor steam locomotion, he made huge improvements to the technology of the latter and was a pioneer in the field of civil engineering for large railway projects. An illiterate miner's son, born in a cottage next to the Wylam colliery railway (as a child, his first job was keeping the line clear of stray animals), he learned to read as a young adult at night classes, obtained a post as engineer at Killingworth Colliery, Northumberland, and there built a number of improved locomotives. He designed the Hetton Railway in [[County Durham]] in the early 1820s, at that time the longest railway line in the world, linking a colliery to loading staiths (short piers for pouring coal from wagons on to waiting ships) on the River Wear, and then was appointed engineer to the [[Stockton and Darlington Railway]]. The S&DR, which opened in 1825, was the world's first public steam-operated railway, linking the coalfields of SW [[County Durham]] to the [[River Tees]] at [[Stockton on Tees]]. This was not purely a colliery line, but allowed other freight, and even passengers, to be carried. Initially it used both locomotive and horse-drawn trains, though later was converted to steam haulage only.

Stephenson's most famous achievement was the Liverpool & Manchester Railway, opened in 1830 and linking two of the fastest-growing cities of [[Industrial Revolution]] [[England]]. Although this crossed largely flat terrain, the route involved considerable engineering difficulties, including the crossing of the Chat Moss marshland west of  [[Manchester]]. Stephenson spent much time, money and effort pouring earth and stone into the marsh to create a firm footing for the railway, without success. He decided instead to build the line upon hurdles of brushwood floating on the bog. The line is still in use.

Stephenson's most famous achievement was the Liverpool & Manchester Railway, opened in 1830 and linking two of the fastest-growing cities of [[Industrial Revolution]] [[England]]. Although this crossed largely flat terrain, the route involved considerable engineering difficulties, including the crossing of the Chat Moss marshland west of  [[Manchester]]. Stephenson spent much time, money and effort pouring earth and stone into the marsh to create a firm footing for the railway, without success. He decided instead to build the line upon hurdles of brushwood floating on the bog. The line is still in use.

[[Isambard Kingdom Brunel]] (1806–1859) was the world's leading railway engineer of the 1840s and 1850s, creditied with bridges and many technical improvements, and more importantly with the idea of a railway as a system for moving people and freight.  Brunel set the standard for a very-well-built railway, using careful surveys to minimize grades and curves. That necessitated expensive construction techniques and new bridges and viaducts, and the famous two-mile-long  "Box Tunnel." His assistant Daniel Gooch designed the locomotives.  One controversial feature was the wide gauge (7 feet, instead of the standard 4'8.5"), which added to passenger comfort but made construction much more expensive and caused difficulties when eventually it had to interconnect with other railways using standard gauge; after its death the gauge was changed to normal.

The opening of the Liverpool & Manchester Railway marked the opening of the 'Railway Age' in Britain and the world. Within three decades most of the major cities in Britain were linked by rail, and railway networks had begun to spread acoss the deveoped nations of the world.

The opening of the Liverpool & Manchester Railway marked the opening of the 'Railway Age' in Britain and the world. Within three decades most of the major cities in Britain were linked by rail, and railway networks had begun to spread acoss the deveoped nations of the world.

== Gauges ==

== Gauges ==

 

The ''gauge'' of a railway is the distance between the inside edges of the top of the rails, usually 4' 8.5". Trains are built to operate on a track of a given gauge.  

The ''gauge'' of a railway is the distance between the inside edges of the top of the rails.

[[Train]]s built to operate on a railway of a given gauge are unable to operate on railways of a different gauge (unless special provision is made to allow this).

The history of railways is replete with railways being built to a variety of gauges, which has led to numerous problems including limiting the viability of individual railways.

The history of railways is replete with railways being built to a variety of gauges, which has led to numerous problems including limiting the viability of individual railways.