Manuscript: ‘Our roads and Railways’ by Geo E Young. 28 November 1863. Building of roads by the Romans and their desecration when they left, the evolution of the first coach, cart and wagon building, postal service, movement of coal, Wylam, Stockton and Darlington Railway, Liverpool and Manchester Railway, Timothy Hackworth, quotes from Samuel Smiles and Charles Mackay, some newspapers slips have been pasted over notes – some of these humorous references to railways.

Notes: Robert Young’s hand refers to early transportation and fits in with the above; in a hand not known is written 60 years after the first public railway was opened and deals with mileage, capital, employment etc., much of which was used in the above ‘Road and Railways’. It is possible that these are copied from Smiles and Mackay’s work.