The Industrial Revolution has its root in the early nineteenth century and within fifty years had changed the rural life of Britain forever with the cities attracting people with work  and money.

At which point the population of cities out numbered the rural communities and Britain was the manufacturing centre of the world. Centred around rivers for power from waterwheels although steam engines were available the cost and reliability of water kept it as the main source of energy throughout the century.

The most prominent advance for steam on the country that remains today was the railways. The first commercial line was opened in 1830 and ran between Liverpool and Manchester, designed by George Stephenson the inventor of the rocket which was tested on a stretch of track between Stockton and Darlington.

This rapid advance in speed of travel on numerous lines which ran out from London in all directions left the roads and stagecoaches empty for almost century till the automobile brought them back to life.

The railways also gave the rural coal and ore mining industries an increased worldwide market place, bringing the raw materials in bulk down to the heavy engineering centres on the rivers. Shipyard sprang up along all major rivers building the transportation for the raw materials to continue its journey to the International market.

One of the most spectacular of these lines remains today as testimony to Railwaymen of the nineteenth century and runs 72 miles from Carlisle to Settle. Completed in 1876 it climbs over a 1000 feet via 14 tunnels and 20 viaducts as it display spectacular views of the surrounding countryside.