Transport Archive: the Learning Zone

Socio-Economic Background
	The Socio Economic Background theme illustrates the financial and social circumstances that have affected transport in the UK. Use the links below to see items from the Transport Archive about this theme.

Decline of the Great Central

Financial pressure caused the Great Central to close in the 1960s. Here are some sad pictures showing its decline:


Remains of Slater Street Viaduct.	Remains of Rugby Central Station.

Former Leicester Central locomotive shed.	Demolition of Leicester Central Station.

First of the modern airliners: the Bristol Brabazon

This story from the Aviation Archive charts the design and construction of one of Britain's most ambitious aircraft. The Brabazon was originally proposed in 1942 in an attempt to create the first of the modern airliners, in anticipation of the modern-day aviation industry.

Four commodities that passed along the Manchester Ship Canal

These pictures depict four of the products that flowed along the Manchester Ship Canal over the past century:

Grain- massive stores were built to load and unload it.

Soap- manufactured by the Co-Operative Wholesale Society.

Coal- the ship canal brought Lancashire and Yorkshire's collieries closer to the sea.

Oil- took over from coal as a major source of fuel.

Sir George White: Chairman of the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company.

Here are four pictures that briefly illustrate the career of Sir George White, the first great British aviation entrepreneur:


Wilbur Wright: discovered the principles of powered flight.	Postcard portrait of Sir George from the 1920s.

Sir George with his new venture, the Boxkite, in 1910.	Sir George purchased six Zodiac biplanes for his company.