Victorian Britain, 1837-1901, was one of the most powerful countries in the world, controlling a large empire abroad and leading in trade and industry. Great advances in transportation mark this period.

Despite advances, horse power continued to be an essential part of the transport system. Wealthy people had their own horse and carriage; stagecoaches provided long-distance travel for people and post; carrier wagons moved heavy goods; hackney carriages or hansom cabs provided a taxi service for wealthier customers and in the country, horses and carts remained indispensable for farmers to plough their fields. Other heavy goods werre carried on Britain’s internal waterways in specially designed barges and narrow boats pulled by horses until the 1880’s when steam engines appeared.

British ships carried raw material and manufactured goods all over the world, and great ports such as London and Liverpool were booming centres of international trade. Fast, sleek ships know as clippers were designed to take valuable and perishable goods, such as tea from China. These ships were a forest of masts, ropes and billowing sails, needing large crews to maintain them. British shipbuilding progressed to steam ships, and although prone to mechanical failure and fumes, were much speedier than salilng poats.

Possibly the most far-reaching growth was that of the railways. Engineers such as Brunel designed the networks and labouring navvies built them, transforming the life-style of poorer Victorians, who coud now leave their homes and travel in search of work elsewhere, or enjoy day trips out of the city.

In the city, trams looking much like the horse-drawn omnibuses, were introduced. In 1885 they became steam powered and in 1901 electrically powered. Underground lines were built in 1863 for steam train locomotives.

Bone-shaker and penny farthing bikes led the craze for cycling, and automobiles, known as horseless carriages, later shortened to ‘cars’ made their entry at the end of the 19th century.

During the 20th Century, Britian developed transport into a huge industry, and lead the way in the international car market with such cars as the classic mini.