Fire and Steam

A new and updated edition of the classic history of the British railway, published to coincide with the 200th anniversary of train travel in 2025. The opening of the pioneering Stockton and Darlington railway, the world’s first passenger line, in 1825 marked the beginning of the railways’ vital role in changing the face of Britain. Fire and Steam celebrates the vision and determination of the ambitious Victorian pioneers who developed this revolutionary transport system and the navvies who cut through the land to enable a country-wide network to emerge. From the early days of steam to electrification, via the railways’ magnificent contribution in two world wars, the chequered history of British Rail and the disaster of privatization, Fire and Steam examines the social and economical importance of the railway and how it helped form the Britain of today.