Railway Mania- impacts on the nation

What were the main impacts of the railways? (7)

employment

reduced journey times

town and city growth

growth of professions

food and retail expansion

landscape changes

impact on other transport

How did railway mania help to expand the iron industry? (2)

By 1840, rails accounted for 15% of the iron industry’s total output

Railways stimulated the establishment of new ironworks thanks to their high demand for iron

How did railway mania help to create employment and how did this help the government? (3)

The construction of the new lines required Navvies, numbering around 300,000 by 1847

Trains needed drivers, lines needed signal men and so on, there were a wide range of new jobs born from the railways

The working classes were therefore more likely to be employed and so less likely to find chartism and movements like it appealing.

What did the rise of rail companies like great western lead to?

The development of corporate images.

What was the biggest demographic that made up the Navvie workforce?

Irish people, having fled the famine

How did railways streamline the London-York commute?

It reduced the journey time from a day and a half to just 8 hours

What was Thomas Cook able to do in 1841 thanks to railway expansion?

Offer the very first holiday excursion tickets from Leicester to Loughborough

What 2 towns would not exist without railway mania?

Crewe and Swindon

How did the railways influence where people lived?

The middle classes could now move to the suburbs and commute in and out of the city for work.

How did the railways stimulate professions? (3)

Railway companies needed good lawyers to obtain planning permission among other things

Accountancy developed to help railway companies manage their finances

Militaristic managers became commonplace in the rail industry.

How did the railways stimulate the food industry?

Perishables, mainly milk and fish, could be transported overnight- changing people’s diets and expanding those businesses

How did the railways stimulate the retail industry?

Goods could now be transported efficiently and so demand for them increased. This let more shops open and gave consumers lower prices and more choice.

How did railway mania alter the landscape?

Viaducts and tunnels were pretty to some and eyesores that disrespected tradition to others.

How did railway mania impact the stagecoaches?

Turnpike roads had to raise their tolls so as to not go bankrupt. This led to the 1843 Rebecca riots and stagecoaches eventually lost relevance.

How did railway mania impact the canals?

They became less profitable. However, they still saw usage, for example, transporting people to rail stations as part of their train commute.

What was a big challenge facing early railway developments?

There was no standard gauge measurement for the rails- ranging from 143.5cm all the way to 214cm.

How did railway mania help journalism?

National newspapers could now be established as the news could reach people fast enough to maintain relevance nationwide.