Key Stage 2 History WORKSHEET 1 Key dates in the history of Britain’s railway Great Britain was the first nation to use steam locomotives, and Britain’s railway is the oldest in the world. DID YOU KNOW? Brunel’s walking stick The arrival of the railways contributed to the dramatic growth of was especially made industrialisation in the nineteenth century and massive social and to unfold to 7ft ¼ inch (2.14 metres) at the economic change. The population increased, and the growth of industrial flick of a wrist. This was manufacture led many people to move from the countryside to the towns. the width of his broad gauge railway track and Alternative means of transport – the canals and roads – were not sufficient enabled him to check to meet the needs of the new industry. The railway filled this gap, whether it was being developing rapidly alongside new means of producing iron and steel for dug to the correct width. construction, using more efficient steam locomotives. Today, the railway is being modernised again with improvements to major stations, upgrades to track and signalling and key routes being electrified. Timeline The first successful The first passenger- The first successful steam The first public railway steam locomotive carrying public railway powered commercial in the world to use steam 1812 1825 1804 (Richard Trevithick’s 1807 is opened by the locomotive – the Salamanca power is opened at the Penydarren) runs on Oystermouth Railway. It – is built by John Blenkinsop Stockton and Darlington wheels and is used to uses horse drawn carriages and Matthew Murray for Railroad by George transport iron across on an existing tramline. the Middleton Stephenson. The railway nine miles of track. Colliery Railway. moves 36 wagons of his steam-powered coal train ‘Locomotion’ across nine miles of track in two hours. George and Robert Robert Stephenson’s The Great Western Rapid expansion of the Stephenson’s locomotive, ‘Invicta’ powers the first Railway from Paddington railway sees the first 1838 1830 1829 ‘The Rocket’, sets a speed railway to run regularly to Maidenhead, engineered large-scale merging of record of 47 km/h scheduled passenger by Isambard Kingdom 1840s several railways to form (29 mph) at the Rainhill services in the world, Brunel, opens. a single company. Trials held near Liverpool. linking Canterbury to the seaside town of Whitstable six miles away. Pictures: Oystermouth Historical Association, The Science Museum, Robert Howlett, National Railway Museum ‘Rail Life’ is run by Network Rail. www.networkrail.co.uk/safetyeducation Britain’s first electric railway Automatic signalling The first electrified opens in Brighton. It’s the oldest makes its first appearance suburban railway line 1883 in the world and is still operating! 1902 between Andover and 1904 was opened between The inventor Magnus Volk was an Grateley. Newcastle and Benton. engineer who grew up in Brighton and enjoyed experimenting with electricity. He was the first person in Brighton to have electricity in his house! The railway opened on 4 August 1883 and ran for over a quarter of a mile along the seafront. First World War breaks An Act of Parliament During the Second World The railways are out and the Government is passed, merging War the rail companies nationalised to form 1914 takes over the running of 1921 123 railway companies 1940 effectively operate as 1947 ‘British Railways’ under the railway until 1921, into just four: the Great one organisation to help the Transport Act. when the private railway Western Railway; Britain’s war effort. companies regain control. London Midland and Scottish Railway; London and North Eastern Railway and Southern Railway. Modernisation The railways are re-organised Introduction of the British Rail is broken up programme as diesel with many secondary routes high-speed diesel-electric and Railtrack is created and electric trains are 1960 and branch lines closed to Intercity 125 trains. to run all tracks, signals 1970s 1950s introduced to replace allow the network to 1990s and stations. Private steam trains. make money. companies start to run trains on many of the routes. The Channel Tunnel Network Rail buys The number of rail Britain’s railways are now opens, beginning a Railtrack and takes journeys in Great the second safest in Europe 2011 2013 1994 rail service between 2002 on its responsibilities. Britain between 2010 (after Luxembourg) and London and Paris. and 2011 reaches a Network Rail is delivering record 1.16 billion. a major modernisation programme including electrification of key national and local routes. Pictures: Clem Rutter, National Railway Museum, Helmut Zozmann, Press Association, LIFE Magazine Historical archives, Getty Images, Dave Hitchborne, John McAslan and Partners, Rwendland RAILWAY ELECTRICITY IS 100 TIMES MORE POWERFUL THAN ELECTRICITY IN THE HOME. It is very dangerous so remember the Rail Life ‘Safety Top 3’: • STAY CLEAR OF THE TRACKS. Is it worth putting your life on the line? - electricity can jump up to three metres. - don’t play with kites or balloons near overhead power lines. • USE THE LEVEL CROSSING. Shortcuts across the railway can kill. • KNOW THE SIGNS. Be alert to railway signs, they could save your life. ‘Rail Life’ is run by Network Rail. www.networkrail.co.uk/safetyeducation.