Here are some interesting images from the 'Collage', the City of London library's image archive and database. It is interesting to see the impact of the Railway on the town and other parts of the country:
London's Railways
"Proposals for the first London railway line, linking London Bridge and Greenwich, were mooted in 1831 and the line was finally opened in 1835. Trains departed hourly. The fare was sixpence. Travellers enthused about the comfort and speed. Meanwhile, work had already begun on the London to Birmingham railway, and Euston Station opened in 1837. Virtually all London's main termini were completed within the next forty years. Huge areas of farmland and housing had to be destroyed. The immense upheaval attracted various artists, in particular Thomas Bury and John Bourne, whose aquatints and lithographs are justly famous. Transport in the central metropolis was improved by the construction of the first Underground line, the Metropolitan, from Paddington to Farringdon, in 1863. Thanks to the new railways Londoners were now able to live at a greater distance from their place of work, and London grew from a compact city into a vast, sprawling metropolis."
LINK: http://collage.cityoflondon.gov.uk/collage/app?service=external/ExhibitionItem&sp=39048&sp=X
"Birdseye view of the Grand Junction Railway from Skinner Street to Camden Town. Designed by George Remington Jnr. this line was to run from Camden Town to the City, near Newgate Street. It was never built." LINK: http://collage.cityoflondon.gov.uk/collage/app?service=external/FullScreenImage&sp=W39048&sp=6219&sp=X&sp=2
There are clearly great changes happening all over London as there are chimneys dotted around the town.
"View of the new Greenwich Railway Station with steam trains and a signalman"
LINK: http://collage.cityoflondon.gov.uk/collage/app?service=external/FullScreenImage&sp=W39048&sp=7736&sp=X&sp=2
"Goods forwarded by railway". Interior view of the upper works of Pickford's depot, Oval Road, Camden Town. Shows figures moving freight and barrels."
LINK: http://collage.cityoflondon.gov.uk/collage/app?service=external/FullScreenImage&sp=W39048&sp=15889&sp=X&sp=2
The dawn of the age of steam and the consequent creation of the railways revolutonised many industries, including haulage - gooods could be shipped faster and perhaps be guaranteed a better quality of travel.
"Worcester"; a view over Worcester and the Malvern Hills from the north-east, with a steam train in the distance"
LINK: http://collage.cityoflondon.gov.uk/collage/app?service=external/FullScreenImage&sp=W39048&sp=9125&sp=X&sp=2
"View of the Greenwich Railway viaduct under construction."
LINK: http://collage.cityoflondon.gov.uk/collage/app?service=external/FullScreenImage&sp=W39048&sp=17658&sp=X&sp=2
It is interesting to see the way in which the railway cuts through the land.
"View of a train passing through Primrose Hill Tunnel, St Pancras with figures on either side of the railway banks."
LINK: http://collage.cityoflondon.gov.uk/collage/app?service=external/FullScreenImage&sp=W39048&sp=18020&sp=X&sp=2
"View of Hyde Park that satirises the advent of the steam locomotive."
LINK: http://collage.cityoflondon.gov.uk/collage/app?service=external/FullScreenImage&sp=W39048&sp=18817&sp=X&sp=2
A cartoonist's idea of what the future may hold.
"View along a tunnel of the Metropolitan Railway at Praed Street Station showing a steam train. This was the world's first underground passenger railway, constructed between 1860 and 1863. © City of London"
LINK: http://collage.cityoflondon.gov.uk/collage/app?service=external/FullScreenImage&sp=W39048&sp=20697&sp=X&sp=2
"The Guard of 1852" and "The Guard of 1832"; showing a comparison between a train guard and a coach guard. The phenomenal growth and popularity of the railways between the 1830s and 1850s brought about the rapid demise of the horse-drawn coach. © City of London"
LINK: http://collage.cityoflondon.gov.uk/collage/app?service=external/FullScreenImage&sp=W39048&sp=25006&sp=X&sp=2 The journey by train would have been comparitively shorter, smoother and less of a hassle than by coach.
Other areas of coach-based road travel which were effected by the railway:
http://collage.cityoflondon.gov.uk/collage/app?service=external/FullScreenImage&sp=Ztrain+coach&sp=25007&sp=X&sp=2
Section of the Victoria Embankment near Charing Cross station showing the subway, the low level sewer, the Metropolitan Railway (later the District and Circle lines) and a pneumatic railway. The Embankment was built between 1864 and 1870 under the direction of Sir Joseph Bazalgette. © City of London
LINK: http://collage.cityoflondon.gov.uk/collage/app?service=external/FullScreenImage&sp=W39048&sp=25857&sp=X&sp=2
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A video which shows a journey around the London Transport Museum can be found at:
http://www.webjam.com/flickrminimeet/
Entitled' 'London Transport Mini Meet, February 2008', it is a pleasant journey about one of the oldest transport systems in the world, hosted by a group of photographers.
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