Buy a book... 
| Electric Railways 1880–1990 | Buy a book...
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| Author(s): | M. C. Duffy |
| Publisher: | IEE |
| ISBN: | 0852968051 |
| Format: | hardback |
| 452pp | |
| Price: | £55.00 |
| Review Date: | 11 April 2003 |
| Review: | Professor Duffy here traces the beginnings, early development, growth and setbacks in the applications of electricity to railways. The main theme is the progressive integration of the traction, signalling, control and communication elements of the railway into one system. The narrative passes backwards and forwards between traction, signalling and power supply, with each topic having its own chapter or section. The history of the electric traction begins with signalling and control before 1890; between 1840 and 1890 electricity was an auxiliary to a basically mechanical system. After 1900 electrical signalling, track circuitry and telephony were developed and signalling became important. Prof Duffy argues that the current electric railway cannot be understood without affording equal status to rolling stock and signalling. |