The railway was invented in Britain. From sleepers to stations, every part of our infrastructure has a story to tell.

Today’s railway represents 200 years of engineering innovation and determination. Network Rail is the 21st century chapter in this astounding story.

Here you can explore our own archives online and learn more about railway records to help with your research. Find out about how the railway was built, the great engineers and visionaries involved, as well as our most iconic stations, bridges and tunnels. Through our ‘Making the Connection‘ series of articles we also investigate the links between the railway, its history and the world we live in today.