Two broadly-based railway histories were written in the nineteenth century, recording contemporary events. The first, J. A. Francis’s A History of the English Railway, 1820-45, was published in 1851 and, as the title states, was limited to the first 25 years. It was reprinted by the late David & Charles publishers in 1967. The second appeared only two years after Francis: F. S. Williams’s Our Iron Roads, 1852, and was much more comprehensive and during the next 34 years went through as many as seven editions. Number two was revised by the author, forming a classic of nineteenth century railway literature. At the time he first wrote, railways were quite new and considered to be the marvel of the age. Many people had never travelled by train. In 1876 Williams followed Our Iron Roads with The Midland Railway: Its Rise and Progress, going through five editions up to 1888 and not succeeded until C. E. Stretton wrote his history of the Midland in 1901. The 1883 edition of Our Iron Roads, subtitled Their History, Construction and Administration, was published by Bemrose & Son of London and Derby. Now, 138 years later, it makes an interesting study in both content and layout.
The sixteen chapters do not have headings, but a detailed list of their contents instead. The first chapter, for instance, covers 42 topics from coaching days to early tramroads, the Stockton & Darlington Railway, the opening of the Liverpool & Manchester in 1830 and the Stephensons, father and son. The book is profusely illustrated with engravings, some of which are reproduced here. They range from one forming the initial letter of the first word
