Royals on the rails

The appeal of being lulled to sleep as a sleeper train rattles homewards is synonymous with adventure and romance, says Mary Miers

The railway revolution opened up new destinations, expanded our culinary horizons and dramatically improved trade. Jonathan Self takes us on a whistle-stop tour of ‘railway mania’

We’re heading into a momentous year for railway preservation as the Talyllyn Railway marks 75 years since it was saved from almost certain extinction to become the first heritage railway. But how did the concept of railway preservation emerge and develop? MARK PEARCE digs deeper.

Whether Metroland breakfasts or picnics on the go, the railways have transformed how we eat forever, finds Emma Hughes

Although some perceived the advent of the locomotive as a threat to the countryside, by allowing artists a quick and easy way to travel, it broadened their choice of painting horizons, discovers Carla Passino

Something to say? This is your platform...