An institution with (rail) connections
A blog looking at the UK’s early electric railways and links with our Institution and its members by guest blogger David Knights FIET . Railway history is often dominated by the names of civil and mechanical engineers. As the “new” technology of electricity developed, railways were often “early adopters”. The IET has a long-standing relationship with the railway. Our past Presidents and members have played a significant role in the development of the railways, including their electrification. This article highlights some of the notable electrical engineers who contributed to these pioneering developments. A short history of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) The IET can trace its history back to 1871 when the Society of Telegraph Engineers (STE) was founded. In 1880 it…