Early in the history of Railways, Plymouth used technologies which elsewhere were in use in the mining industries of the British Isles. Wooden and then iron tramroads were used in Plymouth in a more maritime context. ...
The first railways in the area were of wooden rails used during the construction of docks facilities. Some were in use in the Naval Dockyard in 1724, and in 1756 John Smeaton laid some more to help move materials in his workyard on the mainland which was preparing stonework for the Eddystone Lighthouse.