INTRODUCTION:

Britain has long been a pioneer in the development of transport and has been renowned for its technological innovation. Indeed Britain is home to many transport firsts. This country invented the railways and the famous Liverpool & Manchester Railway was the world's first intercity passenger railway when it opened in 1830.  From that small beginning developed today's railway system which was then introduced by other countries around the world. Other notable railways include the Metropolitan Railway (now the Metropolitan Line of the London Underground) which was the first underground railway in the world when it opened in 1863. The Liverpool Overhead Railway opened in 1893 and was the first electric overhead railway in the world. It became renowned as the "Dockers Umbrella" and was the forerunner for other overhead or elevated railways around the world such as those in American cities like Chicago and New York.

The world's first true modern ship and ocean liner - the S/S Great Britain - was also built  in 1843 in the UK and today can be seen preserved in her birthplace of Bristol. Thus Britain also invented the ocean liner which enabled people to travel for the first time between continents and revolutionised ocean travel. Britain is a truly great nation and was once the centre of the industrial revolution and had shipyards building great ships for the world and its railway works were renowned for building locomotives and carriages for the world.

Sir Frank Whittle, the British aerospace engineer, was the inventor of the jet engine and Britain also built the Comet jet airliner which was the first passenger jet airliner in the world. The Comet jet airliner made its first passenger flight in 1952 from London Heathrow Airport to Johannesburg. Thus giving birth to the jet age which has so revolutionised modern travel. Britain also has played a key role as a partner in the Airbus consortium in developing the A380 double-decker super jumbo jet, which is set to revolutionise air travel on the world hub routes in the 21st century. Britain therefore has had a pioneering and crucial role in the development of the railways, ocean liner and jet airliners. All three have revolutionised the way we travel.

Finally it was a British computer designer, Sir Tim Berners-Lee,  that invented the internet and further revolutionised communication by creating the world wide web (www) or internet. I believe that this remarkable history should be celebrated and what better way than via the internet. This Transport Britain collection of websites aims to do just that and celebrate and honour Britain's remarkable contribution to the development of transport.

Delta Queen

Final Whistle of the Delta Queen as she steams into New Orleans for perhaps the final time.
6th November 2008

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=aeJ6usTr0d8

The Delta Queen Hotel
http://www.deltaqueenhotel.com/

We hope that she can get her Congressional exception once again so that she can continue in operation.
http://www.save-the-delta-queen.org/

RAILWAYS
MARITIME
AVIATION


Welcome to our Transport Britain website that celebrates the wonderful and inspiring story of Britain's transport history and heritage.

For information contact: ajnaughton@hotmail.com

My Favourite Ship Whistles:

Click to hear the Whistle of the RMS Queen Elizabeth 2
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=hjeAN6OCdVw

Click to hear the Whistle of the S.S. Delta Queen
(Mississippi steamboat)!
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=pJ37487ucOc

Click to hear the Whistle of the S.S. Badger (Lake Michigan car ferry)
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ffDU8StlZ6k

HISTORIC SHIPS AT RISK

HISTORIC SHIPS RESERVE LIST

UK FERRY CONNECTIONS GAZETTEER

HMS WHIMBREL (1942) - THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC MEMORIAL PROJECT

T.S. QUEEN MARY (1933) - THE LAST CLYDE TURBINE STEAMER

FAMOUS MODEL TOY MANUFACTURERS

HELP REVIVE THE BRIGHTON BELLE



OUR WEBSITES:

RAILWAY BRITAIN

THE OCEAN LINER VIRTUAL MUSEUM

THE "SAVE THE CLASSIC LINERS" CAMPAIGN

THE CUNARDERS

P.O.S.H. - THE SHIPS OF P&O

TOURISM WEBSITES: