What Does 'Gravity Working' Mean In Relation To Railways?

Gravity working simply means using the force of gravity to shift railway carriages and wagons. By making use of a slight gradient it was possible to move heavy loads without investing in any means of traction. Of course the train has to get back up the slight slope and this was achieved in the early days with horses. At first the horse trotted along behind the train but in 1826 George Stephenson suggested a horse box be attached to the train. This became known as a 'dandy'. Gravity was also used in so-called 'hump' shunting. Wagons would be shunted up a deliberately created bumps so that they would speed down the other side to their destination unescorted. One of the most well known lines to use gravity working was the Festiniog Railway. This was unusual in that it combined the use of locomotives with gravity working.