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The Railways Archive 2854 documents listed
2549 documents published
Last updated 8th Feb 2010
 Opening up Britain's railway history
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Current vote:
Would longer franchises mean more investment and better services, or would franchises get lazy?

Longer means better
Keep em on their toes

or just view the results...
 
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 Document Summary
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Gauge of Railways Act
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Sample Quote "WHEREAS it is expedient to define the Gauge on which Railways shall be constructed: Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty That after the passing of this Act it shall not be lawful to construct any Railway for the Conveyance of Passengers on any Gauge other than Four Feet Eight Inches and Half an Inch in Great Britain, and Five Feet Three Inches in Ireland: Provided always, that nothing herein-before contained shall be deemed to forbid the Maintenance and Repair of any Railway constructed before the passing of this Act on any Gauge other than those herein-before specified, or to forbid the laying of new Rails on the same Gauge on which such Railway is constructed within the Limits of Deviation authorized by the several Acts under the Authority of which such Railways are severally constructed."
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Archivist's Summary This act introduced mandated standard gauges of 4 feet 8½ inches for Britain, and 5 feet 3 inches for Ireland; thus signalling the beginning of the end for Brunel's broad gauge network.

Please note that this Act is presented in its original form as passed. This Act may have been amended by subsequent legislation. For details of amendments please see the UK Statute Law Database at www.statutelaw.gov.uk.
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Category Primary legislation
Related Event N/A
Date of Publication 18th August 1846
Author(s) Her Majesty's Government
Publisher Her Majesty's Stationery Office
Sourced? Yes
Source Parliamentary Archives
Original Document Link None
Source Format Paper
Document Copyright Crown (waived)
Permission Requested? No
Permission Granted? No
PDF Available? Yes
PDF File Copyright Creative Commons License The Railways Archive
Creative Commons License
No. of Pages 3
Size of Download (Mb) 0.5
Download Link view document (small download) 
 
  Timeline:
Railway mania 		 
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18th August 1846
Gauge of Railways Act

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25th June 1850
Railway Clearing Act

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Rail Accident Report: Derailment of a freight train near Stewarton, Ayrshire - 27 January 2009
 

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Just Arrived
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Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Gloucester Road on 23rd May 1900
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Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Pontypool Road on 16th May 1900
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