The reason why the railway first appeared in Britain

An Analysis of the Reasons for the Rise of British Railways in the Industrialization Period (1830- 1870)

Xu

Abstract: The rise of railway and the great social changes it brought became an important feature of the British industrialization period. This paper will discuss the reasons for the rise of British railways during the industrialization period (1830- 1870). The rise of railways in Britain during the British industrialization period lies not only in the promotion of related industries, but also in the technological changes in the transportation field, and also in the endless exploration of railways by countless pioneers. 19th century, with the deepening of industrialization, the railway is a milestone of an era, so that many historians call this period in Britain the "railway era".

Keywords:: the reasons for British railway industrialization

Britain is the first industrialized country in the world, and it was the first to complete the transformation from agricultural civilization to industrial civilization. The industrial revolution has played a vital role in the process of British modernization. The rise of railways has a special position in the industrial revolution and plays a special role in Britain's economic prosperity and overall modernization. The study of British railways during the industrialization period is helpful to deepen the understanding of the industrial revolution.

1. Promotion of related industries

/kloc-At the beginning of the 9th century, Britain began the "railway age". It is no accident that modern railways first appeared in Britain, because the industrial revolution first occurred in Britain, which played a vital role in promoting the arrival of the British railway era. The invention and popularization of the steam engine during the industrial revolution provided power preparation for the development of the railway. The continuous improvement of smelting technology and the steady growth of pig iron output provide necessary raw materials for the development of railways; With the application of steam power in coal mining and transportation, the existing railway prototype gradually develops to modern standard track. The interaction of steam engine, smelting industry and mining industry has become three important factors for the development of British railways.

From the second half of18th century to the first half of19th century, the industrial revolution brought by the technological revolution became the theme of this era. The generation of modern steam power is the most important innovation in the first industrial revolution. After the invention of the steam engine, it was widely used in all walks of life in Britain. After it was applied to the transportation industry, it caused the revolution of the transportation industry and promoted the arrival of the railway era. Since the steam engine is the most important factor to solve the problem of train traction, its invention and use are of great significance to railway development.

In industrial development, the problem of power is a prominent one. After the beginning of the industrial revolution, water power has increasingly become the main driving force, replacing the previous human and animal power. However, the natural factor of water resources is changeable and limited by geographical location. With the development of industrial revolution, this limitation is getting bigger and bigger. In this way, new impetus has become the key to the development of the industrial revolution.

1782, Watt made a double-acting steam engine on the basis of previous research, and used it to drive blowers, rolling mills and steam hammers in factory production. Steam power replaces water power as mechanical power, which fundamentally overcomes the limitations brought by water power to industrial production. From then on, the factory can be located in a place with favorable raw materials, fuel, labor resources, transportation and market conditions, and the production factors can break through the geographical restrictions and achieve the optimal combination to the greatest extent. By 1783, 66 steam engines have been put into use. [1] (P. 122) 82 steam engines produced by1785-1800 are used by cotton mills. [2] From (P. 134) to 183 1, there are 4 1 steam driven cotton mills in Glasgow. [3] (p. 292) From 65438 to the 1930s and 40s of 2009, the cotton textile industry, as a pioneer of the industrial revolution, took the lead in realizing the steaming of mechanical power.

Driven by the cotton textile industry, other departments have also begun the process of steam power. The wide application of steam power is a great leap in human production technology and a breakthrough in human understanding and utilization of nature. It greatly promoted the industrial revolution, ensured the in-depth development of the British industrial revolution, and prepared for the transformation of transportation. In Britain, attempts to apply steam engines to trains soon appeared, which were carried out by some railway pioneers. Because it will be mentioned later, I won't go into details here.

The development and final victory of British railways depends not only on steam power, but also on the development of metallurgical industry. Only by developing iron smelting industry can we provide materials for manufacturing railway equipment such as rails and locomotives and make railway development possible.

Before the industrial revolution, iron smelting was one of the important industries in Britain. With the improvement and wide application of coke smelting method, by the end of 18, Britain had entered the historical period of using coke to make iron. The iron smelting industry in Britain has developed rapidly on the basis of the combination of coal mine and iron ore. 1806 The annual output of pig iron reached 260,000 tons. [4](p. 1 16) According to statistics, the output increased from 1788 to 10 times, reaching 1830. [5](p. 124) By the end of 18, the iron ore output of Darby's family alone was equivalent to 3/4 of the total British pig iron production before coke smelting. [6] (page 239) It can be seen that with the development of steam blast equipment, the coke iron smelting method has been improved, which has made a leap in the British iron smelting industry.

The technological innovation of pig iron smelting has promoted the reform of wrought iron production and steelmaking technology. 1784, Henry Cote invented "mixing method" [7] and "rolling method" [8], and since then, Britain's self-sufficient steel industry has been established. With the popularization and wide application of the family workshop method, by the 1920s 19, many comprehensive metallurgical enterprises had been established in Staffordshire, Yorkshire and especially in South Wales. From the mining of coal and ore to the cutting of iron bars and the production of finished products, they are all carried out by the same enterprise in the same place. The integration of metallurgical industry has accelerated the production process, improved the production efficiency, promoted the development of metallurgical industry in all aspects, produced enough steel for Britain, and ensured a large number of steel needed for the development of British railways.

With the continuous development of the industrial revolution, the popularization of coke smelting technology and the rapid expansion of population during the industrial revolution, the demand for coal has greatly increased, making coal "the key fuel for industrial technological change in Britain". [9] (page 36) The application of steam power occupies a prominent position in the technological innovation of the coal industry, which makes the coal production in Britain grow very rapidly. 1700- 1760, British coal production increased from 3 million tons to 5 million tons, 1760- 1800 from 5 million tons to1kloc-0/840. [ 10](p.2 16)

The rapid development of British coal industry has also become another factor of railway development. Because the British coal industry was the first industry to use railways. 1700 years ago, coal miners in Northumberland and Durham in the Tyne River region used these tracks to drag the mined coal mines to the ground. [1 1](p.7) In Scotland, an early railway across Preston appeared in 1722. After 1745, this railway line will transport the coal mine in Trent pit to the nearby wharf. [12](p.9) It can be seen that the coal mining industry in Britain is the birthplace of railways, and the coal output in Britain is increasing day by day. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the construction of mining railways, so that coal transportation can be smoothly distributed throughout the country, which promotes the transition from early railways to modern railways.

To sum up, the invention of steam engine, the development of iron smelting industry and the technological innovation of mining industry have become the three most important factors for the development of British railways, and also promoted Britain to enter the railway era for the first time.

2. Technological changes in the field of transportation

Transportation is not only the leading sector of the national economy, but also an important basic sector. It is in the middle of production and consumption, is the continuation of the production process in the circulation field, and plays a connecting role in the whole national economy. Therefore, every major leap in social economy is inevitably accompanied by changes in the transportation industry. The rise of British railways is the result of technological innovation in the field of transportation.

The railway transportation industry is established through the modernization of transportation tracks and the steaming of transportation power. "Professional track" is the basic condition for the development of railway transportation industry, which has gone through a long development process. The earliest track in human history is stone track, and the real ancestor of modern railway is tram track. At about 1630, wooden tram tracks were first used in coal mines near Newcastle. By 1738, the wooden beam track reinforced with iron sheet appeared in Whitehaven, England. From the 65438+60s, cast iron track began to replace wooden track. With the in-depth development of the British industrial revolution, the smelting technology and forging technology have made breakthroughs, and wrought iron has been produced and made into tracks, and railway tracks have entered a new stage of development. /kloc-at the end of 0/8, wrought iron tracks were used in coal mines near Newcastle, and/kloc-was popularized at the beginning of 0/9 century. When the railway era came (1825), Britain had built 300-400 miles of original railway tracks. Page 230)

Using wrought iron instead of cast iron solves the problem of rail durability, and the next task is to improve rail. In the original rail, the bottom of the rail is left on the rail to prevent the wheel from derailing. 1785, the British Jessop designed the convex rail in use. At 1789, the rail bottom was changed into wheels, which became the basic mode of rail manufacturing later.

After the rails are basically solved, the wheels are standardized. According to national regulations, if the wheel is larger than 6 inches, its contact surface shall not be more than 1/2 inches away from the precise horizon, and its width shall be less than 6 inches, and shall not be more than 1/4 inches. Nails on wheels should not protrude more than 1/4 inches. [14] (page 54) When laying the track, the track must completely match the ground. This requires that the rail must have a flat surface, so that the train can run smoothly on the rail. In a sense, professional track, professional design and exclusive use are the basic elements of modern railways.

The most important problem of railway development is power, and the power substitution of vehicles is often described as a revolution in traffic development. "Mechanical traction" is a factor related to speed. /kloc-the steam engine that appeared in the British industrial revolution in the 0/8th century brought new impetus to the booming railway in the 0/9th century. The power of steam locomotive essentially replaced the physical traction, which brought about the leap-forward development of running speed and seriously hit the power of carriage and river transportation. The speed brought by mechanical traction produced by steam locomotives means that trains can be popularized and developed rapidly in the19th century.

A steam engine is a reciprocating power machine, which converts steam energy into mechanical work. With the deepening of the industrial revolution, the steam engine was also moved to the transportation industry. 1784, William Murdoch made a motorcycle model in Cornwall. 180 1 year, William's younger brother, Trevithick, put forward the concept of a movable steam engine and made the first steam-powered car that could run on ordinary roads. 1804, Trevithick invented the world's first steam locomotive running on the track. This 5-ton locomotive was tested for the first time on the track between Messer Tidwell and Abatai in South Wales, with a speed of 8 kilometers per hour, thus opening the way for the development of steam locomotives in the world railway history.

After Trevithick, in 18 14, British engineer george stephenson designed and manufactured the world's first practical steam locomotive, named "Half Boot". Its own weight is 6.5 tons, and it can haul 30 tons of goods. The diameter of the moving wheel is 4 feet, and the gauge is 4 feet 8 inches (1423 mm). Stephenson drove it to haul 10 tons of goods at a speed of 5 miles per hour in a coal mine in Wales. 1825, the 37-mile stockton-Darlington railway was completed and opened to traffic. Stephenson's locomotive successfully pulled an 80-ton train with an average speed of 12 miles per hour. [16](p.3 1) This railway is the first public railway that uses steam locomotives to pull passenger and freight trains. However, this kind of train still needs horsepower traction in some areas.

1830, the 35-mile Liverpool-Manchester railway line was completed and opened to traffic. Stephenson drives a "rocket" with the basic characteristics of a modern steam locomotive. The locomotive pulls a car with 30 people, with an average speed of 30 kilometers per hour, and the traction object is 18 tons. [17] (p.17) He initiated a new era of railway transportation, because it was the first railway drawn by steam locomotives and officially engaged in passenger transport.

The steaming of transportation power and the railway of transportation track are the basic elements and the most important elements of modern railway development. Without the technical foreshadowing in the industrialization period, there would be no railway industry in its heyday.

Third, the continuous exploration of railway pioneers.

In addition to the promotion of industrial revolution and the transformation of transportation technology, the emergence of British railways also has a very important "human" factor, which is the pioneer of railway construction. This is an amazing group and a key group in the history of British railway development. It is this group's inventions and innovations in a series of links such as railways and locomotives that have promoted the rise and development of the British railway industry.

/kloc-The most breakthrough invention in the 9th century was the steam engine, and since then, human society has entered age of steam. The invention of steam engine is a key link in railway development, which solves the traction problem of locomotive, but it takes a long time for steam engine to be applied to transportation. Richard Trevithick was the first person in the world to apply steam power to locomotives, thus inventing steam locomotives and opening up a glorious road for steam locomotives in the world railway history.

After Richard Trevithick, William James and Thomson Gregor were far-sighted and closely integrated steam locomotives with the national transportation industry. They were the first people to consider building a railway network before 1830.

George stephenson was one of the steam locomotive reformers at that time. He achieved great success and brought the railway into real life. In the history of railway development, Stephenson was the most successful engineer to improve British steam locomotives at that time. Moreover, he was also the founder of railway construction, which opened the prelude of British railway construction. Stephenson, together with his son, presided over the construction of Liverpool-Manchester line, the first real railway trunk line in Britain, and became a prominent figure in British society and even the world railway industry. In the process of railway construction, Stephenson also stipulated the rail spacing, which is 4 feet, 8 inches and a half [18] (page 77). In the process of construction, he also put forward the management concept of railway industry: that is, railway construction, electric power, commercial potential and internal management are integrated.

Stephenson presided over the construction of the Liverpool-Manchester railway line, and also devoted himself to other railway construction projects. 1829, Stephenson presided over the construction of the Leicester-Swanington railway line. Later, he presided over most of the construction of the railway network in northern England. As the main director of this revolutionary means of transportation, Stephenson has solved many problems such as railway construction, bridge design, rolling stock manufacturing, etc., and promoted the rapid development of British railways, and also promoted the rapid development of railways in continental Europe and North America. Because he presided over the construction of many railways all his life, he is also known as the "father of railways".

Stephenson's son Robertson inherited his father's career and devoted his life to improving the running speed of steam locomotives and becoming the leader of the next generation of railway locomotives. Robert is a famous engineer in China. He has a comprehensive and clear understanding of the topography of railway construction and possible problems in various situations, and also has unique views on tunnel construction across the isthmus. At that time, many railway construction projects in Britain were mainly based on his design. Robert's best design is to cross the river canyon with a bridge and a tubular bridge of an elevated railway, which connects Angus and Wales. The most energy-consuming railway line he built in his life was the London-Birmingham railway line, and the Chester-Holyhead railway line was the most important railway line he built. At that time, Robert's efforts for the railway made him the most attractive figure among the engineering designers of that era. Under his leadership, his students and assistants tried their best to make age of steam have the characteristics of railway.

In the process of railway construction, Isambard Kinton brunell was the most original engineer at that time. In the process of railway construction, he often puts forward suitable solutions to some practical problems, which are accepted by practice. In the history of railway development, brunell's greatest contribution is to design parallel and equally spaced horizontal sleepers. Replacing the cross sleeper with this sleeper makes the track more stable, which is the most critical link in the development of railway track.

Finally, I would like to mention some people who also have a certain position in railway development. Joseph Charles Francis Rock was Robert Stephenson's right-hand man when building the railway line from Liverpool to Manchester, which showed his unique working ability. He was appointed as an engineer when he later built the Great Johnson Railway, which connected the Liverpool-Manchester route and Birmingham to the south. Under Locke's leadership, this railway achieved the record of not exceeding the original budget cost of the project for the first time. In addition, Locke also presided over the construction of the London-Sharpton railway line and later some railway lines in continental Europe.

Charles Wiggers is a man who is seldom mentioned. After the Battle of Waterloo, Wiggers turned to domestic projects and participated in the construction of the Liverpool-Manchester railway line. Even before george stephenson, he had already started his engineering design. He presided over the construction of the railway line from Leicester to Derby and Nottingham Midland. In the history of British railway development, his greatest contribution was to build a three-mile tunnel in Sheffield, which reflected his unique views and ideas on tunnel construction.

These figures are pioneers who directly contributed to the construction of a series of railways such as railway locomotives, tracks and tunnels. Thomas Bryce was not a professional engineer, but a contractor of railway construction at that time. Bryce noticed the new industry of railway construction and became a famous leader in this cause. He undertook many railway construction projects in Britain and overseas, and made considerable contributions to the development of the railway industry. During 65438+11840s and 1950s, his employees could be seen almost anywhere in the UK. With the arrival of the19th century, the rise of British railways has developed rapidly with the attention and efforts of these innovative geniuses. These railway pioneers were the man-made forces that promoted the arrival of the British railway era in the19th century.

Based on the above three parts, we can clearly see that the rise of British railway industry in the19th century mainly benefited from the promotion of related industries in the industrial revolution, technological innovation in the transportation field and the continuous exploration of railway pioneers. When we observe the problem with historical thinking, we will find that the rise of railways is closely related to the economic development of Britain, especially the vigorous development of the industrial revolution. In human history, the emergence of a new and more perfect mode of transportation can't be without reason, but it can find the deepest root in economy and society. Under the background of industrial revolution, driven by rapid economic development and technological breakthroughs, it is only a matter of time before the railway, a more perfect mode of transportation, appears. Among them, the invention and development of steam engine, iron smelting industry and coal industry are all important factors in the emergence of railways. It can be said that without the development of economic and technological factors in the industrial revolution, modern railways will become rootless trees. At the same time, the railway is definitely not a completely passive historical product, and it has had a huge reaction to the economic and industrial revolution from the beginning. Especially the promotion of steel, coal and manufacturing, made the industrial revolution develop faster and better. The role of railway and industrial revolution is two-way interaction and mutual cause and effect.

With the rapid development of the industrial revolution and the new era of higher and higher economy, this iron law once again shows the coldness to human society. The great superiority of railway transportation mode is the result and embodiment of this law. It is this combination of deep social needs and realistic appearances that led to the climax of British railway construction.