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Chemical Research in the Pre-Grouping Railway Industry and its Impact on Railway Engineering and Practice

Abstract All the large railway companies in existence prior to their amalgamation in 1923 into four groups had well-established chemistry laboratories with a staff of qualified chemists. The principal task of these laboratories was to perform quality control analyses on purchased materials. However, commencing in the 1890s, some of these laboratories were engaged in research projects. The principal areas of investigation were those of metals, lubrication and water treatment, but the railway chemists also conducted research on a considerable number of other topics. This paper considers the context in which chemical research was conducted in the railway laboratories, describes some of the work that was performed, and discusses its significance for the railway industry.