Road Transport before the Railways
Russell's London Flying Waggons

This 1993 book examines the road haulage trade in England when it depended on horses and wagons.

Dorian Gerhold (Author)

9780521419505, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 26 February 1993

336 pages
24.4 x 17 x 1.9 cm, 0.74 kg

This 1993 book examines the road haulage trade in England when it depended on horses and wagons, chiefly through the letters and papers of one of the largest firms which operated between the West Country and London in the early nineteenth century. Other documents extend the coverage of the firm's history from the seventeenth century to the mid-nineteenth century, making it possible to examine how road transport changed during the course of two centuries. The Russell letters are all extraordinary and unique survival, showing in detail how the firm managed to convey up to six tons at a time in all weathers, how dominated it was by the capabilities and needs of the horse, how reliable its services were, who it served and how important it was to a variety of users. In sum the book provides a full account of the road haulage industry from the seventeenth century until the coming of the railways.

1. Introduction
2. The rise of a regional carrier
3. The partnership
4. Operation
5. Customers
6. Costs
7. Prices and profits
8. Competition and competitors
9. The quest for greater speed
10. Railway carriers
11. Conclusion.

Subject Areas: Early modern history: c 1450/1500 to c 1700 [HBLH], British & Irish history [HBJD1]