Railways

The Britain in Pictures series presents an important collection of images from the Press Association's unique archive, most of which have lain unseen since they were first used in the newspapers of their day.

Britain's rail system began in 1825 with the opening of the first locomotive hauled public railway, culminating in more than 10,000 miles of track by 2000. From the romance of steam to the efficiency of diesel and electric rolling stock, a century saw the growth of private local lines, their amalgamation, nationalization, privatization, competition from road transport, closure of branch lines - and a renaissance with the creation of a rail link to Continental Europe via the Channel Tunnel.

RAILWAYS traces the history of rail transport in Britain, a journey in time accomplished through almost 300 images from the Press Association's archives. Hand-picked by Press Association Images' own archivists, many of these pictures have lain unseen since they were first published in the newspapers and magazines of their day.