Timeline

Travel back in time to some of the major moments that defined the railway, shaping nations and the lives of people around the globe.
Browse by theme

  1. William James, a land-agent, anticipated the success of railways and asked Joseph Sanders, a Liverpool corn merchant, to promote a railway from Liverpool to Manchester. James undertook a survey in 1821-22, but after his bankruptcy in 1823, Sanders planned the railway without him. 

    Technology
    Images of James a young gentlemen in victorian clothing. He has dark hair
    W James Civil Engineer. © Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

  2. John Moss became the Deputy Chairman of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. Moss was a wealthy banker who owned slaves in the Bahamas. Merchants involved in the early railway profited from slavery, whilst some were ardent abolitionists like James Cropper.

    Society

  3. The Committee of the Liverpool and Manchester Railroad Company issued a prospectus written by Henry Booth (1789-1869)  to raise funds for the railway. Booth became the Company secretary and treasurer, a supporter of George Stephenson’s plans, Booth is also known for inventing innovative locomotive parts like the screw coupling.

    Society
    Henry Booth Young man sitting down dressed in victorian clothing
    Henry Booth. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

  4. Engineer George Stephenson surveyed the route from Liverpool to Manchester, which was engraved and published by John and Alexander Walker. The Walker family were based in Liverpool and London, producing maps and nautical charts.

    Technology

  5. The Railway Company withdrew the first Liverpool and Manchester Railway Bill after strong opposition. Engineer George Stephenson had delegated parts of the survey for the proposed line, and the route was heavily criticised. Opposition to the Bill also came from the rival Bridgewater Canal Company.

    Political events

  6. William Huskisson (1770–1830), MP for Liverpool, became president of the Liverpool Mechanic’s Institute.

    Culture
    Image of William Huskisson M.P sat in a chair with curly black hair and wearing a victorian dress suite.
    William Huskisson MP. © Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

  7. Opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway. George Stephenson drew upon his experience here in the construction of the LMR, later, construction workers were hired to oversee the building of the Liverpool and Manchester line.

    Technology

  8. George Rennie (1791–1866) and Sir John Rennie (1794–1874) hired Charles Vignoles (1793–1875) to conduct a new survey of the route for the Liverpool and Manchester Railway

    Technology
    Portrait of john rennie. an elder man with curly hair and victorian clothing
    Sir John Rennie. © Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

  9. The first section of the Springwell Colliery and Railway (later the Bowes Railway) designed by George Stephenson opened.

    Technology
    Image of the a old stream train and carriage in blck and while
    Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

  10. A House of Commons debate approved the Liverpool and Manchester Railway.

    Political events
    Print of the houses of parliament in London black and white large buildings
    Print of Houses of Parliament before 1834. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

  11. The ‘Act for making and maintaining a railway or tram-road from the town of Liverpool to the town of Manchester, with certain branches therefrom’ was passed into law on the third attempt.

    Political events

  12. The draining of Chat Moss began; however, this approach to building the railway across the peat bog initially proved unsuccessful.

    Technology

  13. George Stephenson is made engineer of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway

    Technology
    portrait of George Stephenson standing on Chat Moss. A gentleman standing in old clothes and a hat in hand against a backdrop of countryside
    Portrait of George Stephenson standing on Chat Moss. © Board of Trustees of the Science Museum.

  14. The Liverpool and Manchester Railway construction progressed, excavations for the Wapping Tunnel in Liverpool began. 

    Technology

  15. The ‘Royal George’ locomotive designed by Timothy Hackworth runs for the first time on the Stockton and Darlington Railway.

    A model of an old locomotive train with a funnel at the front, with gold wheels
    Model of Stockton & Darlington Railway locomotive no. 5 "Royal George". © Board of Trustees of the Science Museum.

  16. The Patricroft Tavern (later renamed the Queen’s Arms) was built in anticipation of the Railway.

    Society
    The red-brick Queens Arms building with outdoor seating, canopy and the pub sign above the entrance
    © Chris Iles

  17. Excavations for the Liverpool and Manchester Railway include sites at Olive Mount, Sankey Valley and Newton Bridge.

    Technology

  18. The Liverpool and Manchester Railway Act was introduced in Parliament, and given Royal assent on 26 March 1828.

    Political events

  19. ‘Lancashire Witch’ locomotive designed by Robert Stephenson is completed for the Bolton and Leigh Railway.

    Technology
    Graphical image of the witch locomotive train
    Lancashire Witch Locomotive. © Board of Trustees of the Science Museum.

  20. Construction began on the Baltimore & Ohio railroad in America, where engineers closely followed reports of Stephenson’s progress with the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. 

    Technology

  21. Robert Stannard convinced George Stephenson to lay timber in a herringbone pattern so the railway could effectively ‘float’ across Chat Moss. The method proved successful.

    Technology

  22. A Stephenson designed locomotive named ‘America’ (originally the ‘Pride of Newcastle’) arrived in New York bound for the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company.

    Technology
    A black and white image of a steam locomotive.
    Pride of Newcastle - America. © Public Domain Wiki

  23. Delegates from Liverpool, Manchester and Glasgow pressed the Prime Minister, the Duke of Wellington, and the cabinet for free trade with India and China.

    Political events

  24. The railway company received parliamentary approval to terminate at Liverpool Road in Manchester.

    Political events
    Painting of the entrance of Water Street. Picture of building with people milling around and a railway bridge in the distance.
    Entrance into Manchester across Water Street. © Board of Trustees of the Science Museum.

  25. ‘Lancashire Witch’ was loaned from the Bolton and Leigh Railway to work on the construction of the railway at Eccles for three months.

    Technology

  26. The Rainhill Trials: competition held to decide the form of locomotive to be used on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. The ‘Rocket’ is the only engine to complete the trial, Robert Stephenson was commissioned to make locomotives for the railway.

    Technology
    Artists impression of Stephenson's Rocket passing under Skew Bridge at Rainhill
    © Rainhill Railway & Heritage Society

  27. ‘Rocket’ crossed Chat Moss pulling several carriages with forty passengers at average of 16 mph, reaching 30 mph on the return trip.

    Technology
    Old painting of Chat Moss a flat bit of land with a steam train running along a track. Big blue sky with clouds
    Chat Moss. © Board of Trustees of the Science Museum.

  28. Vulcan Foundry was established at Newton-le-willows by Charles Tayleur to make ironwork like girders for the railway. 

    Society

  29. Eaton Hodkinson delivered a lecture on iron beam research to the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society. Hodkinson’s work with Lillie and Fairbairn, Ancoats-based engineers, enabled Stephenson to use cast iron beams for the bridge over Water Street. 

    Technology
    Lithograph: Bridge over Water-Street, Manchester.
    Lithograph: Bridge over Water-Street, Manchester. © Board of Trustees of the Science Museum.

  30. The first full journey of the directors of the Railway Company from Liverpool to Manchester on the railway took place.

    Society

  31. Death of George IV / accession of William IV

    Political events
    Painting of William IV. Standing in fine clothing with large cape and fur
    William IV. © Public Domain Wiki

  32. Actress and socialite, Fanny Kemble, rode on an exclusive trip along 15 miles of the railway with George Stephenson. Fanny wrote a vivid letter detailing the sensation of the train ‘cutting the air’, yet ‘the motion was as smooth as possible’. ‘When I closed my eyes this sensation of flying was quite delightful and strange beyond description.’ 

    Society
    Portrait of Fanny Kemble. A handsome woman with dark hair a fair complexion wearing a off the should gown.
    Fanny Kemble. © Public Domain Wiki

  33. Opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. William Huskisson MP died after an accident on the railway at Parkside.

    Society
    The opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. © Board of Trustees of the Science Museum.

  34. John Thomas, whose face was wounded during the firing of cannons at the opening ceremony was granted £10 compensation.

    Society

  35. A timetable for passengers between Liverpool and Manchester began, with four services for first class coaches and two services for second class coaches per day.

    Society

  36. Royal Mail coaches mark the first transportation of mail by a railway.

    Society
    A mail train in bright colours travelling along the track. Steam coming out of locomotive.
    Travelling on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. © Board of Trustees of the Science Museum.

  37. Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey became Prime Minister.

    Political events
    Portrait of Earl Grey. A fine man with dark hair, slim build standing in a regal pose.
    Portrait of Earl Grey by John Jackson. © Public Domain Wiki.

  38. The ‘Planet’ locomotive, built by Robert Stephenson, reaches Manchester from Liverpool in sixty minutes.

    Technology

  39. The first freight was transported on the railway.

    Technology
    Travelling on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. © Board of Trustees of the Science Museum.