Liverpool & Manchester Railway Named International Historic Civil & Mechanical Engineering Landmark

NEW YORK, New York, Sept 23, 2016 – ASME joined with the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) to name the United Kingdom’s Liverpool & Manchester Railway (L&MR) an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark at a ceremony held Sept. 14, 2016.

"With its innovative features and ability to adapt to the challenging terrain in the United Kingdom, the Liverpool and Manchester Railway is quite remarkable and truly is a revolutionary work of civil engineering," said Mark W. Woodson, P.E., L.S., F.ASCE, president of ASCE. "It joins the ranks of other historic icons like the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Titan Crane in the Scotland, and Grand Central Terminal in New York."

Built in 1830, the Liverpool & Manchester Railway was the world’s first mainline, steam-powered railway. Spanning between Liverpool and Manchester, this railway heralded a global transport revolution and set the standard for railroads in the region and the world. L&MR was the first railway where all the trains were operated by owners of the track and all motive power was provided by the railway company. It was also the first railway to operate on a "mainline" junction and to be double tracked throughout.

The railway is unique because of the engineering challenges it faced, including crossing the Chat Moss peat bog, and traversing tunnels, bridges, embankments and other complex rail crossings. Some of the most distinct accomplishments within L&MR are Edge Hill Station, crossing the River Irwell Bridge and cutting through the Olive Mount in Liverpool. Many well-known engineers participated in this challenging project – a forerunner for how railroads are constructed today.

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) is pleased to join in the recognition of this important and historic transportation system," said K. Keith Roe, president of ASME. "In addition to the incredible feat of engineering in the construction of the railway, the L&MR featured many important mechanical attributes that contributed to the future progress of rail engineering in England and around the world."

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ASME helps the global engineering community develop solutions to real world challenges. Founded in 1880 as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME is a not-for-profit professional organization that enables collaboration, knowledge sharing and skill development across all engineering disciplines, while promoting the vital role of the engineer in society. ASME codes and standards, publications, conferences, continuing education and professional development programs provide a foundation for advancing technical knowledge and a safer world. For more information visit www.asme.org

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