The concept of railway tracks came to England in the 16th century from Europe where tram- ways had been used in mines since the Middle Ages. However, the history of steam railway began later.
The name of George Stephenson should be mentioned in connection with the development of steam traction in Britain. He carefully studied the steam engines made by Thomas Newcomen and James Watt. In 1813 he tried to produce a steam powered machine. In 1814 George Stephenson constructed a locomotive named the Blucher; it was capable of pulling a thirty ton train up a hill at 4 mph and was “worth fifty horses”.
The first public steam railway in the world was opened on the 27th of September, 1825. It was the Stockton and Darlington Railway. The work on this track began in 1822. Stephenson used malleable iron rails carried on cast iron chairs. These rails were laid on wooden blocks for 12 miles between Stockton and Darlington. The 15 miles track was laid on stone blocks. There was only one locomotive, which was named the Locomotion, by George Stephenson. The train consisted of 38 open top cars and reached a speed of 15 mph (24 km/h).
The most famous locomotive built by George Stephenson and his son Robert was called the Rocket. It won the competition at the Rainhill Trails in October 1829.
The Liverpool - Manchester line, approximately 30 miles (about 48 km) long, was opened on the 15th of September, 1830. Large crowds assembled along the line to watch an 8 locomotive procession. The railway was a great success and it became a classic example of a steam railway. Since then many railways in Britain were constructed and put into operation.
The first railway into London was the London - Birmingham line. In 1833 Robert Stephenson was appointed the chief engineer of this line.
The building of the London - Brighton Railway started in 1838 and was completed in 1841. Over 3,500 men and 570 horses were used in the construction of this railway.
The early first class carriages were not very comfortable. Later Nathaniel Worsdell designed carriages which had three enclosed compartments. The second class carriages had wooden benches and were opened at the sides. The third class carriages had holes in the floor to allow the rainwater to drain away.
In 1839 John Ramsey designed a Travelling Post Office carriage. The post office workers were able to collect mail at stations without a train having a stop.
In the early days the railways began to employ “policemen” to regulate traffic. Some years later it became the practice to provide fixed signals (three colored system of lamps at night and flags or colored boards by day). The railway semaphore was first seen in 1841 on the London - Croidon Railway. This signal system was conceived by Charles Hutton Gregory. With the invention of the electric telegraph the next step forward was made. Soon the “block system” was introduced. In 1843 a central frame from which both points and signals could be operated was constructed. A complete interlocking system was set up by 1858.
In 1845 Royal Commission looked into the subject of the railway gauge. It was decided to use a standard one. In 1857 the first steel rails were made and laid in Derby. Steel rails gradually replaced cast iron ones everywhere.
Britain presented the world witha complete system for the construction and operation of the railway. A lot of important inventions were made in the field of civil engineering, motive power design and the details of rolling stock. Railways went back to Europe in the 19th century as an English invention.
1. Match the Words to their Definitions:
| 1. One of the two long metal tracks fastened to the ground that trains move along. | Locomotive |
| 2. One of the separate areas into which a train is divided. | Mine |
| 3. A method of sending messages using radio or electrical signals. | Rail |
| 4. A railway engine. | Carriage |
| 5. The part of a vehicle that produces power to make it move. | Compartment |
| 6. Holes in the ground that people dig so that they can remove coal, gold etc. | Telegraph |
| 7. One of the parts of a train where passengers sit. | Engine |
2. Translate the international words:
Locomotive; to assemble; classic; comfortable; to design; to collect; station; stop; practice; system; lamp; flag; electric; telegraph; semaphore; central; commission; standard.
3. Complete the sentences according to the text:
1. Railway tracks came to England from…
2. In 1814 George Stephenson constructed…
3. The first public steam railway in the world was opened between…
4. Large crowds assembled along the line to watch…
5. The third class carriages had holes in the floor to…
6. The post office workers were able to collect mail…
7. On the first days the railways began to employ “policemen” to…
8. The railway semaphore was first seen …
9. In 1845 Royal Commission looked into the subject of…
Which word is missed?
1. A locomotive named The Blucher was “worth fifty…”
2. On the Stockton and Darlington Railway there was only one…
3. The train consisted of 38 open top…
4. The speed of 15mph was… by the train.
5. …won the competition at the Rainhill Trails.
6. Nathaniel Worsdell designed carriages which had three enclosed…
7. Some years later it became the practice to provide … signals.
8. The railway …was first seen on the London and Croidon Railway in 1841.
9. A complete… system was set up by 1858.
5. Translate the sentences into English:
1. Поезд состоял из 38 открытых вагонов.
2. Локомотив «Ракета» победил в соревнованиях в октябре 1829 года.
3. Большие толпы собирались вдоль линии, чтобы посмотреть на процессию из 8 локомотивов.
4. Вагоны третьего класса имели отверстия в полу для стока дождевой воды.
5. В 1839 Джон Рамсей спроектировал передвижной почтамт.
6. Железнодорожный семафор впервые увидели на дороге Лондон – Кройдон в 1841 году.
7. С изобретением телеграфа был сделан следующий шаг вперед.
8. В 1845 было решено использовать стандартную колею.