Icon of the Industrial Revolution

Britain’s impressive railway network was a product of the Industrial Revolution during the 1800’s. Together with the engineering of canals and the construction of factories, the UK’s economy was completely transformed by the increased scope for manufacturing goods, and the greater transport links through which to trade them.

As the birthplace of the steam engine, Britain’s railway is especially iconic. By 1850, most of the nation’s towns and cities had at least one rail connection, and there were a number of companies running different parts of the network. In the earliest days of the railway, one of the main operating companies was the Great Western Railway (GWR). The GWR served a very large area, connecting London with South-West England, the Midlands, and much of Wales. An effective maintenance system was therefore necessary, and the town of Swindon - between Bristol and Reading - was considered prime location.