Skip to content
Getting Digital
All LevelsUniversity of StrathclydeEnglish

Working Lives on Britain's Railways: Railway History and Heritage

Discover Britain's industrial heritage and learn about the lives of British railway workers from 1840-1914.

Suitable for everyone
Enroll in This Course
✓ Instant access•✓ Learn at your pace

Affiliate disclosure: course links are affiliate links; an enrolment through one may pay Getting Digital a commission from the provider, at no extra cost to the learner, and it does not influence how courses are described.

What You'll Learn in This Course

Master key concepts and practical skills through structured learning modules. By completing this curriculum, you'll gain valuable expertise applicable to real-world scenarios.

Learning Outcome 1

On this course, you will investigate the professional lives of the men and women working on the British railways from the 1840s until the First World War.

Learning Outcome 2

Using archival materials from the National Railway Museum, you will learn about the mental and physical hardship endured by railway workers, as well as the risks and pleasures that came with working in this new industry.

Learning Outcome 3

From Irish Catholic navvies to female office clerks based in industrial cities, you will discover the surprising diversity and complexity of the railway workforce.

Skills You'll Develop

This comprehensive Working Lives on Britain's Railways: Railway History and Heritage curriculum is designed to take you from foundational concepts to advanced implementation. Each module builds upon the previous, ensuring a structured learning path that maximizes knowledge retention and practical application.

Hands-on LearningPractical ExercisesReal-World ProjectsIndustry Best Practices

Course Requirements & Target Audience

Understand what you need to succeed in this course and determine if it's the right fit for your learning goals

Prerequisites & Requirements

What you need before starting this Working Lives on Britain's Railways: Railway History and Heritage course:

  • Discuss the range of activities involved in working on the railways in the long nineteenth century, and how these changed during the period covered by the course.
  • Assess representations of working lives on the railways and railway artefacts and discuss how they relate to wider questions of class, gender, and professional identity.
  • Explore written and oral material on workers’ lives within the appropriate historical and material contexts.
  • Perform searches in the online resources of the National Railway Museum and other archives for material relevant to railway history and workers’ lives.

Who This Course Is For

This course is perfect for:

  • Motivated learners at any level
  • Self-paced students
  • Anyone interested in the subject

This course might not be suitable if:

  • • You're looking for a quick tutorial rather than comprehensive learning
  • • You prefer learning without structured curriculum
  • • You need highly specialized or niche content

Course Information & Details

Everything you need to know about this online course, from duration to certification

Subject Category

History, British History, Social History

Course Language

English

All materials in English

Start Your Learning Journey Today

This online course offers comprehensive training with expert instruction, practical exercises, and a certificate of completion. Join thousands of students advancing their careers through quality online education.

University of Strathclyde Course

Course Enrollment

Get instant access to all course materials

View Current Pricing

Check provider for latest offers

Pricing may vary. Check the course provider for current promotions and exact pricing.

What's Included

  • Engine-drivers
  • Signallers
  • Navvies
  • Clerks
View Course & Enroll

Affiliate disclosure: course links are affiliate links; an enrolment through one may pay Getting Digital a commission from the provider, at no extra cost to the learner, and it does not influence how courses are described.

  • ✓Instant access after enrollment
  • ✓Learn at your own pace
  • ✓Direct enrollment with University of Strathclyde

Where this course fits

Wider context: all fields, the glossary and certification exams.

Last updated 20 August 2025 · Getting Digital