All articles in Transport & Industry
10th June, 2016 in Transport & Industry, True Crime
A short history of the British Transport Police
The first police force in England was born in London in September 1829. At this exact time, the first passenger carrying railway trains were being introduced. Both innovations were to have massive effect. During the 1830s and 1840s most cities, towns and counties of England, Scot…
23rd March, 2016 in Transport & Industry
Speed on steel wheels: High speed rail
Forty years ago British Rail launched the world’s first diesel-powered passenger trains to run in regular service at 125mph (201km/h). Marketed as InterCity 125, the High Speed Train quickly became a national icon, speeding passengers over the Great Western main line between Lond…
13th January, 2016 in Transport & Industry
The railway language
Over two centuries of history Britain’s railways not only evolved physically but also produced a rich and colourful informal language, widely used in everyday train running and still lingering on, despite the increasing sophistication of more recent years. The very track itself i…
13th January, 2016 in Transport & Industry
The return of the Flying Scotsman
It was a long time coming, but it was worth every second of the wait. Flying Scotsman – the most famous steam locomotive in the world, is back again in steam – wow! Back at the end of 2005, it was estimated by the National Railway Museum (NRM) – its current owners – that its over…
18th December, 2015 in Transport & Industry
The history of London’s Underground railway
When the Metropolitan Railway opened in January 1863, conveying its first passengers from Paddington to Farringdon beneath London’s streets, it was hailed by The Times as ‘the great engineering triumph of the day’ (though a few years earlier the same newspaper had condemned the p…
18th December, 2015 in Transport & Industry
The forgotten men of the London Underground
At this very moment in time there are huge mechanical earthworms journeying through subterranean London. Working day and night, these loud and heavy beasts, known as Tunnel Boring Machines, are creating new tunnels below the city, as part of the Crossrail transport route that is…
17th December, 2015 in Transport & Industry
Britain’s final steam trains
Travelling by steam train has to be one of the greatest pleasures of life. The steam locomotive, a vital cog of the nineteenth century industrial revolution, was undoubtedly one of man’s finest achievements. Monopolising the movement of both passenger and freight traffic througho…
16th December, 2015 in Transport & Industry
Cars we loved in the 1960s
Britain, the 1960s and cars are usually characterized by the Jaguar E-type at one end of the scale, and the Mini at the other. The affordable dream car and the economy runabout bringing new meaning to driving enjoyment on a budget, not to mention ingenious design. But what about…
16th December, 2015 in Transport & Industry
Cars we loved in the 1950s
The classic British sports car has its roots firmly planted in the 1950s. This was the decade when MGs, Triumphs, Austin-Healeys and Jaguars were the global yardsticks of open-topped, two-seater excitement. Within a very short time there were roadsters to suit every pocket – from…
16th December, 2015 in Biography & Memoir, Transport & Industry
Brunel: The second greatest Brit of all time?
Isambard Kingdom Brunel was born in Portsmouth and lived in London for almost all his life. Yet it is Bristol, a city where he never had any permanent residence, which jealously regards him as its own. Brunel gave the city its trademark Clifton Suspension Bridge and built its pee…
15th December, 2015 in Maritime, Transport & Industry
Down amongst Titanic’s ‘Black Gang’
Much has been written and documented about the Titanic disaster, but here we seek to concentrate on the actual world and workplace of the Titanic’s ‘Black Gang’. In doing so there will be an opportunity to take a journey and have a detailed look at some of the major elements of m…