Main entry:

Gerhold, Dorian.

Title & Author:

Road transport before the railways : Russell's London flying waggons / Dorian Gerhold.

Publication:

Cambridge [England] ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 1993.

Description:

xv, 316 pages : illustrations, maps ; 26 cm

Notes:
Includes bibliographical references (pages 247-303) and index.
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. Conclusions -- App. 1 West Country carriers, 1681-1840 -- App. 2 Carriers' costs -- App. 3 London District accounts, 1817-21 -- App. 4 Thomas Russell & Co.'s mileage accounts, 1827-36 -- App. 5 Premises used by Thomas Russell & Co. and their predecessors and successors -- App. 6 Currency, weights and measures.

Summary:

"This book examines the road haulage trade in England when it depended on horses and waggons, 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 an 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. Much new information is provided on the gradual spread of the influence of London, the effect of turnpike roads, the nature of the West Country economy and the role of transport in the regional and national economy. In sum the book provides the fullest account yet written of the road haulage industry from the seventeenth century until the coming of the railways."--BOOK JACKET.

Resources:
Table of contents

ISBN:

0521419506 (hardback)
9780521419505 (hardback)

Subject:

Robert Russell & Co. Archives.
Thomas Russell & Co. Archives.
Thomas Russell & Co.
Robert Russell & Co.
Carriers England West Country History Sources.
Freight forwarders England West Country History Sources.
Wagons England West Country History Sources.
Transportation England West Country History Sources.
Transporteurs Angleterre (Sud-Ouest) Histoire Sources.
Transitaires Angleterre (Sud-Ouest) Histoire Sources.
Chariots Angleterre (Sud-Ouest) Histoire Sources.
Transport Angleterre (Sud-Ouest) Histoire Sources.
Carriers
Freight forwarders
Transportation
Wagons
Güterverkehr
Geschichte
Wegvervoer.
Vervoersbedrijven.
Transportes terrestres (aspectos economicos)
Carriers Great Britain History Sources.
Freight forwarders Great Britain History Sources.
Wagons Great Britain History Sources.
Transportation Great Britain History Sources.
Transports routiers Grande-Bretagne.
Geschichte (1670-1850)
England West Country
England Südwest
Grande-Bretagne Histoire.
Road transport History
England

Form/genre:

Archives
History
Sources

Holdings:

Location: Library main 99769
Call No.: ID PLS HE5999.Z7.G74; ID:94-B107
Status: Available