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Tring cutting, London & Birmingham Railway, 17 June 1837 (1839). Artist: John Cooke Bourne
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Tring cutting, London & Birmingham Railway, 17 June 1837 (1839). Artist: John Cooke Bourne
Tring cutting, London & Birmingham Railway, 17 June 1837 (1839). Navvies excavating the cutting. Wheelbarrows are filled with spoil at the bottom, and then winched to the top using a line attached to the wheel along a narrow plank with a labourer walking behind and guiding. Robert Stephenson (1803-1859) was appointed chief engineer of the London & Birmingham Railway (LBR), the first railway into London. Running between Curzon Street Station, Birmingham, and Euston Station, London, the 112 mile long line took 20, 000 men nearly five years to build, at a cost of five and a half million pounds. From Drawings of the London and Birmingham Railway by J Bourne, 1839
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Media ID 14863945
© Oxford Science Archive / Heritage-Images
Bourne Civil Engineering Construction Construction Site Excavating Excavation Excavations Hertfordshire Industrial Revolution John Cooke Navvy Oxford Science Archive Railway Cutting Robert Stephenson Stephenson Tring
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures a significant moment in the history of the London & Birmingham Railway, taken on 17 June 1837 by artist John Cooke Bourne. The image showcases a group of hardworking navvies excavating the Tring cutting, an essential part of this groundbreaking railway project. Intriguingly, wheelbarrows filled with spoil can be seen at the bottom of the cutting, while a laborer walks behind and guides them along a narrow plank attached to a line that is winched to the top using a wheel. This ingenious method allowed for efficient transportation of materials during construction. The London & Birmingham Railway was an engineering marvel led by Robert Stephenson, who served as its chief engineer. Spanning over 112 miles between Curzon Street Station in Birmingham and Euston Station in London, this ambitious endeavor took nearly five years and employed around 20,000 men to complete. With its vibrant colors and meticulous details, this print provides us with a glimpse into the bustling construction site during the Industrial Revolution era. It highlights not only the physical challenges faced by workers but also their dedication and expertise in shaping England's transport infrastructure. Today, this historic photograph serves as both an artistic masterpiece and an invaluable record of one of Britain's most remarkable engineering achievements.
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