Railway Mania

Term Paper # 115988

History > British

Railway Mania

This paper explores the validity of the concept of 'railway mania' in early Victorian Britain.

1,758 words () | 7 sources | MLA | 2009 United Kingdom

Paper Summary:

The paper explains the history behind 'railway mania', the term given to the speculative frenzy in Britain over the railways in the 1830s-50s. Specifically, the evidence for 'mania' on the railway and whether there was any phobia or anxiety towards railways is examined. The paper argues that the view of railway mania seems to suggest exaggeration, and there is also more evidence of a phobia than a mania towards the railway.

From the Paper:

"Therefore, 'railway mania' was present in Britain as people were obsessed in owning part of the railway network, which resulted in more jobs being created in the country to deal with the flood of railway share seekers. Also, 'railway mania' allowed people to become very rich, such as George Hudson, the 'Railway King', but this could cause them financial ruin as they could be come greedy and want more money. However, there is some disagreement as to the validity of 'railway mania'. It is a valid concept, but it has perhaps being exaggerated, as not everyone was enthusiastic about the railways."

Sample of Sources Used:

Martin Dickinson History In The Making Britain, Europe and Beyond 1700-1900 1979 Hong Kong Macmillan Education Limited
Ralph Harrington The Neuroses of the Railway article
Henry Grote Lewin (Introduction to revised edition by C. R. Clinker) The Railway Mania and its Aftermath 1968 Great Britain Latimer Trend Co.
E. J. Hobsbawm Industry and Empire 1990 England Penguin Books
Peter Mathias The First Industrial Nation An Economic History of Britain 1700-1914 1969 Great Britain Butler & Tanner Ltd.