1851
J E McConnell introduces his 2-2-2 class on London & North Western Railway (LNWR)known as the ‘Bloomers‘.
Stratford Works, Eastern Counties Railway, builds its first engine.
1853
The Great Northern sets up its locomotive works at Doncaster.
1856
John Ramsbottom (LNWR) introduces his ‘foolproof’ safety valve and the screw reverser. The Caledonian Railway opens its works at St Rollox, Glasgow.
The ‘Bloomers’ class
1859
The steam injector is developed by the French engineer Henri Giffard and is rapidly taken up in Britain.
1860
First water troughs installed, by John Ramsbottom, on the LNWR Chester & Holyhead line. Between 1860 and 1863 Alfred Jules Belpaire, Belgian engineer, develops his flat-topped firebox, used by many British locomotive designers.
1863
Steam engines replace horses on the Festiniog Railway (opened 1836).
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(Right) The restored Furness
Railway 0-4-0 No 20 is Britain’s oldest working locomotive, built in 1863. In 1870, it was sold to the local steelworks and converted to a saddle tank, working in this form untiil960. The Furness Railway Trust restored it to its original appearance, and it has been in steam again since January 1999.
1864
John Fowler’s ‘Metropolitan’ 4-4-0T is introduced for underground running. Robert Fairlie patents his double-bogie articulated locomotive design.
1866
William Stroudley develops three sizes of locomotive-mounted snowplough (HR).
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1867
The Cambrian Railway’s viaduct across the Mawddach at Barmouth built in 1867, is the longest wooden structure of its kind in Britain. At the northern end, a metal bowstringgirder section was built as a swing bridge to enable coastal vessels to sail up the estuary. A ShrewsburyPwllheli train is crossing.
1869
Fairlie double-ended engine first used, on the Festiniog line.
1870
The first of Patrick Stirling’s 8ft (243.8cm) bogie singles, 4-2-2, is built, for the GNR.
Patrick Stirling’s bogie single
1871
The first inside-cylinder, inside- frame 4-4-0 express type is built by Thomas Wheatley for the NBR.
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1872
(Left) A- diminutive ‘Terrier’ 0-6-0T, No 55, leaves Sheffield Park station on a Bluebell line train. This was class AI, designed by William Stroudley in 1872, for the London Brighton & .South Coast Railway.
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1873
(Right) The first Pullman cars in Britain
were introduced from the USA by the Midland Railway, when sleeping and
parlour cars were used on its new Anglo-Scottish main line via Leeds and Dumfries. This later example shows the distinctive styling and colour scheme, and the fine detail, of these sumptuous cars.
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1874
F W Webb’s ‘Jumbo’ class 2-4-0 is introduced (LNWR); the first is called Precedent.
James Stirling introduces steam reversing gear (GSWR).
Presedent
1876
Crewe Works builds its 2,000th locomotive. First British use of the Walschaerts valve gear, developed in Belgium by Egide Walschaerts in 1844, is on an 0-6-6-0 Fairlie locomotive of the East & West Junction Railway.
1878
The GER introduces the first British outside cylinder 2-6-0 Mogul engines.
Corris narrow-gauge railway (opened 1859) acquires locomotives.
1880
F W Webb’s ‘Cauliflower’ 0-6-0 class is introduced (LNWR).
The Cauliflower Class
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Although Swift of Coventry were aiming at the same market as Clyno, they were hardly in the same league. Originally sewing machine makers, Swift became the first British company to manufacture bicycles, in 1869. Their first car appeared in 1902 and, up to 1914, their range was highly complex. The 1912 10hp model formed the basis of ‘Swift’ s vintage production, which was always on a modest scale. This is the largest Swift of the 1920s, the 1954cc 14/40hp of 1927. 
Retrorambling 