Britain’s rail history explored in new puzzle book by York’s National Railway Museum

Now, the National Railway Museum in York has published one of its own, taking readers through the history of Britain’s railways with more than 100 brain teasers, anagrams, crosswords and other puzzles.

“Puzzle books have long been enjoyed on railway journeys so it seemed only fitting that we would help create a puzzle book about the railways,” says Wendy Burford, group publishing manager at the Science Museum Group, which includes the Railway Museum.

“The book is a great way of sharing just some of the fascinating history and images that can be found in our collection, while enjoying all the usual fun of a puzzle book.”

Released today, The Big British Railway Puzzle Book features puzzles about railways and locomotives as well as express trains and personalities associated with the railways.

The puzzles are accompanied by historical facts and figures, trivia and introductions to each section authored by Dr Thomas Spain, a research associate at the museum.

“There is always a hint of nostalgia behind railway heritage,” he says. “[Railways] evoke experiences of the journey being just as exciting as the destination, and of solid engineering battling against the elements. 

“While this glosses over the drudgery of the everyday commute, there is something to be said for being on any train and seeing the landscape pass effortlessly by the window, all the while appreciating the skills, expertise and dedication that has brought the whole package together for nearly two centuries.”

After the development of Richard Trevithick’s steam locomotive - considered the world’s first steam-powered railway vehicle - in South Wales in 1804, railway technology was refined through to the 1830s.

From then on, the railways “knitted the country together”, Dr Spain says.

“To pay for this, vast amounts of money was invested by businesspeople and the public during several ’Railway Manias’, creating a network that reached over 20,000 miles. 

“In the process, there were heroes and villains as well as excitement, tragedy and missed opportunities. 

“Millions of tons of freight were carried for industry, while for many they would become the only way to travel around the country.

“They also had to adapt with the times; government intervention and world wars wrought profound changes in rail safety and how the network was run. 

“Following nationalisation, competition from the car and lorry wrought a heavy toll on the railways; a prescription of rationalisation and controversial cut-backs to address financial losses followed in the 1960s and 1970s. 

“The technology itself was adapted, the twentieth century witnessing the transition from steam to diesel and electric traction. 

“More recently, though before the outbreak of Covid-19, the railways have seen a resurgence in use as a more environmentally friendly alternative to the car, while new projects promise to improve the network’s capacity to meet the demands made of it. The railways remain a dynamic force.”

The new puzzle book can be purchased from all major book retailers, including the National Railway Museum and online shop. Royalties from its sale will help fund the museum’s exhibitions and programmes.

The Big British Railway Puzzle Book by The National Railway Museum is published by Seven Dials and is out now. Visit www.railwaymuseum.org.uk

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