history. Considering the mighty
revolutions that have been wrought in social affairs and in the commerce
of the world by railways, John Bright was not far wrong when he said in
the House of Commons "Who are the greatest men of the present age? Not
your warriors, not your statesmen. They are your engineers."

The Railway era, although of modern date, has been rich in adventures and
incidents. Numerous works have been written upon Railways, also memoirs
of Railway Engineers, relating their struggles and triumphs, which have
charmed multitudes of readers. Yet no volume has been published
consisting exclusively of Railway Adventures and Anecdotes. Books having
the heading of Railway Anecdotes, or similar titles, containing few of
such anecdotes but many of a miscellaneous character, have from time to
time appeared. Anecdotes, racy of the Railway calling and circumstances
connected with it are very numerous: they are to be found scattered in
Parliamentary Blue Books, Journals, Biographies, and many out-of-the-way
channels. Many of them are highly instructive, diverting, and
mirth-provoking, having reference to persons in all conditions. The
"Railway Adventures and Anecdotes," illustrating many a quaint and
picturesque scene of railway life, have been drawn from a great variety
of sources. I have for a long time been collecting them, and am willing
to believe they may prove entertaining and profitable to the railway
traveller and the general reader, relieving the tedium of hours when the
mind is not disposed to grapple with profounder subjects.

The romance of railways is in the past and not in the future. How
desirable then it is that a well written history of British Railways
should speedily be produced, before their traditions, interesting
associations, and early workers shall be forgotten. A work of such
magnitude would need to be entrusted to a band of expert writers. With
an able man like Mr. Williams, the author of _Our Iron Roads_, and the
_History of the Midland Railway_, presiding over the enterprise, a
history might be produced which would be interesting to the present and
to future generations. The history although somewhat voluminous would be
a necessity to every public and private library. Many of our railway
companies might do worse than contribute 500 or 1000 pounds each to
encourage such an important literary undertaking. It would give an
impetus to the study of railway matters and it is not