I didn't realise that there were railways in the UK in 1745.

The first ones recorded are near Nottingham in 1604/5, and roughly contemporaneously at Broseley near what is now Ironbridge in Shropshire. They were well established around Newcastle by the late 17th century.

Given the serfdom of the colliers, one might expect them (at least those without family responsibilities) to join the victorious Jacobites in a bid for freedom- did this happen?

And Sandy, why is triumphalism about Prestonpans OK, if the same about Cullodden isn't?