Primrose Hill tunnel on the London & Birmingham Railway, 1840. The L&B was one of Britain's first long-distance 'trunk' railway lines.
Image: Science Museum/SSPL
Rise of the railway
The Liverpool and Manchester Railway opened in 1830 and was the world's first passenger railway. It was engineered by George Stephenson and used locomotives designed by his son Robert, including the famous 'Rocket'.
The success of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway paved the way for the general introduction of steam railways around the world. By 1850 Britain had a network of
main-line railways that would be recognisable today.
