A history of railway tunnelling in Britain in the first few decades of railway operation up until about 1870.
The book describes the construction methods used, the various designs of tunnel portal and the problems associated with building a railway tunnel including geographical issues and opposition from landowners. There are detailed accounts of the construction and design of a number of tunnels on Britain’s major rail routes including Primrose Hill, Kilsby and Watford Tunnels on the West Coast Main Line, Box Tunnel on the Great Western Main Line, and Clayton Tunnel on the Brighton Main Line. Features contemporary accounts including the dangers of railway travel by Charles Dickens and the excitement of travelling through Liverpool Wapping Tunnel by composer Felix Mendelssohn.
Includes around 80 black & white images. Hardback. 280 pages.