The set contains the reports of the Royal Commissions and Select Committees whose thorough investigations of the economic, social and technical repercussions of railway development provided the information necessary for the formulation of government policy. The railway boom was over in the eighteen seventies and was followed by a period of amalgamations. During this period the level of railway rates and charges was under sustained attack by manufacturing and agricultural interests and several Select Committees were appointed to examine railway finances. The recommendations of these committees led to a complete reversal of government railway policy. Railway rates were brought under strict government control and remained frozen for nearly thirty years. While this benefited manufacturers and farmers initially, it prevented the railway companies from investing in new equipment and resulted in a deterioration in the quality of the service provided by the rail transport system. The set also includes papers dealing with railway accidents and accident prevention. Of particular interest are the reports of the Select Committees which investigated Goldsworthy Gurney’s steam engines.
Set Price £3,185 / $5,251 (if volumes are bought individually) Discounted Price for Complete Subject Set of 22 Volumes £2,850 / $4,725
