Dan Snow examines the development of the railways from their beginnings as track-ways for coal carts in the early 18th century to the pivotal technology for modern Britain.
Suitable for: History at KS3 and GCSE/KS4 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and National 4 and in Scotland.
How to build a railway. video
Dan Snow describes how building a railway network that still serves Britain today was an immense achievement.
Life before railways. video
Dan Snow explains the important role played by the railways in the Industrial Revolution in transporting supplies of cheap coal to homes and factories.
Liverpool to Manchester - the world’s first modern railway. video
Dan Snow explains the significance of the Liverpool to Manchester Railway; the world’s first inter-city railway.
The Stockton and Darlington Railway. video
Dan Snow explains why the Stockton and Darlington Railway was a landmark in British history. He explains how the line was efficient, profitable and exciting at the time.
The world that railways made. video
The railways changed our way of living, allowing fresh food to be transported around the country and making holidays a possibility for ordinary people.
