This is the first encyclopedia to chart the progress of Britain's railway development. It begins with primitive 17th-century wagonways, fully considers the eras of horse, steam, diesel, and electric traction, and then charts the change from private to public ownership. Finally, it describes in detail the privatizations of the late 1990s. Over six hundred entries by eighty-eight expert contributors provide a comprehensive and unique reference to all aspects of railways.About the Author: Jack Simmons, Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Leicester, is the leading authority on British railway history and has published widely on the subject. Gordon Biddle, a retired surveyor, is the author of over ten books on waterways and railway history.