Description
From the dawn of rail travel comes a story of daring engineering, human ambition and underground breakthroughs—The Early History of Railway Tunnels is an indispensable early railway tunnels history book that brings to life the hidden world of Britain’s first railway tunnels.
Written by historian Hubert Pragnell, this volume traces the evolution of tunnel construction from the earliest years of railways up to about 1870. It examines how railway companies grappled with hills, land‑owners, water‑inrush, ventilation issues and evolving engineering methods.
Richly illustrated with 80 mono photographs and architectural elevations, this book opens a window on the raw, dangerous and inventive world of early railway tunnel building.
Whether you are a railway historian, model‑railway enthusiast, or simply fascinated by Britain’s industrial heritage, this early railway tunnels history book offers a compelling mix of narrative, technical detail and period atmosphere.
Explore our collection to pair this with other titles on rail construction, viaducts and heritage lines. For further context on the sites featured, see the official heritage listing of Primrose Hill Tunnel and other early tunnel works.
Perfect for your specialist library, research shelf or as a distinctive gift for the rail‑aficionado in your life, The Early History of Railway Tunnels stands out as a finely produced, deeply researched addition to any transport history collection.
