I think most of the original railways were built by consortiums of business men who just got governent approval for the routes. The railways weren't taken into public ownership or responsibility until the network was complete.

roads just happen, that's why they are so twisty in the countryside. Read a poem "The rolling English road" you'll get the idea. And the same thing applies to streets in town. They are so narrow and congested is because we won the second WW. Germanys are nice and clear. Ever thought why?
It is so vey easy to blame rich Englishmen for every little woe in life.