INSTRUCTIONS TO RAILWAY TRAVELLERS - 1843

INSTRUCTIONS TO RAILWAY TRAVELLERS
   
APPLICABLE

To nearly all the Railways in Great Britain.

Proceed at once to the booking-office and procure a ticket for the class carriage you intend to travel by, and if near the time of starting, enter the departure shed.

Have your name legibly written on your luggage, and see it stowed away, and then take your seat in a carriage, carrying with you carpet bags or other light luggage, and wait till the starting bell rings.

Take care of your ticket to deliver at your journey's end, or to the attendant at starting, as the case may be.

The weight generally allowed to each passenger for luggage is about 100 lbs. and a charge is made for excess.

No smoking is allowed at the stations, nor in any of the carriages.

No dogs allowed to be taken inside the carriages, but they are conveyed in a proper vehicle at a small charge for each.

Do not leave your seat at any station, except the one at which refreshment is allowed, nor attempt to open the carriage doors yourself.

Females are in attendance at each terminus, and at the central refreshment station, to wait upon ladies and children.

Carriages and horses should be at the stations at least a quarter of an hour before the time of starting.

Post horses can always be obtained at each terminus and most of the stations.

Omnibuses, flys, coaches and cabs are always waiting the arrival of the trains at each terminus.

Children under ten years of age half-price, infants in arms, unable to walk, free of charge.

Every train is provided with guards and a conductor, who is responsible for the order and regularity of the journey.

Every guard, porter or policeman employed by the company has a distinguishing number on the collar of his coat.

The companies' servants are strictly enjoined, on pain of dismissal, to observe the utmost civility and attention towards all the passengers, nor are they to receive any fee or gratuity.

From: Henry Tuck, Every Traveller's Guide to the Railways of England, Scotland, Ireland, Belgium, France, and Germany, 1843

Complaining about the habits of Victorian railway passengers

It seems that the gripes Victorian railway travellers had about their fellow passengers were very similar to ours...

London Bridge, 1858

"Once I found myself racing north alone with an elderly spinster of forbidding aspect. She had long since left the “springs of fifty years” behind. She was gaunt, grey, and bony, She wore gleaming spectacles. She was like the elderly Englishwoman dear to Parisian caricature. And the first words she uttered of sepulchral tones were these: “I always travel in a ladies’ compartment when going even the shortest journey, for you never know what might happen!” This prudent spinster, it will be seen, was gifted with that priceless possession, a vivid imagination. With her, I remember, I was moved to formulate my views as to the Ideal Train. I argued that the whole classification of passengers required immediate rearrangement. There should not only be separate carriages for children, but compartments for the newly-wed, for men who smoke inferior cigars, for schoolboys, for people who want to discuss their private affairs, for folks recovering from dangerous illnesses, for ugly people, for “engaged” couples – or those who ought to be – for young ladies who giggle (there is no form of nerve-torture to compare to this on a long journey), and for people who regard railway travelling as an excuse for gnawing chicken-bones, drinking, potent-smelling liquors, and strewing themselves and everybody else with crumbs."

Miss Hepworth Dixon, Ladies Pictorial, August 1896

"No sound is heard in the cold air" - Observations on the arrival of trains in 1849

No sound is heard in the cold air but the hissing of a pilot engine, which, like a restless spirit advancing and retrograding, is stealing along the intermediate rails, waiting to carry off the next down-train; its course being marked by white steam meandering above it and by red-hot coals of different sizes which are continually falling from beneath it. In this obscure scene the Company's interminable lines of gaslights (there are 232 at the Euston Station), economically screwed down to the minimum of existence, are feebly illuminating the damp varnished panels of the line of carriages in waiting, the brass doorhandles of the cabs, the shining haims, brass browbands and other ornaments on the drooping heads and motionless backs of the cab-horses; and while the blood-red signal lamp is glaring near the tunnel to deter unauthorised intrusion, the stars of heaven cast a faint silvery light through the long strips of plate-glass in the roof above the platform. On a sudden is heard — the stranger hardly knows whence — the mysterious moan of compressed air, followed by the violent ringing of a bell. That instant every gaslight on and above a curve of 900 feet suddenly bursts into full power. The carriages, cabs, &c. appear, comparatively speaking, in broad daylight, and the beautiful iron reticulation which sustains the glazed roof appears like fairy work.

Sir Francis Head, Stokers and Pokers, 1849

"We would have the public…somewhat more mindful" a view on the benifits of railways from 1856

We would have the public…somewhat more mindful of the benefits they have already derived from the railways; it would improve their patience under evils for the time unavoidable…They save the public two-thirds of their time in transit, and two-thirds in fares and tills; they have given us the penny post, which would not have existed without them; they have intersected the country with telegraph wires employing 3000 persons, stretching a distance of 86,000 miles and flashing a million messages a year, many of them to and from places hundreds of miles apart; they have reduced the cost of many articles of general consumption, and rendered others common where nature seemed to plant an interdict against them…In 1854 they transported 111,000,000 passengers…in such safety that in the first half of the year but one accident happened to every 7,195,341 passengers. In these journeys, each passenger gains an hour in time, amounting in all to 38,000 years of working life at eight hours a day. Supposing the day’s labour to be worth three shillings, these deplorable railways save the nation £2,000,000 a year in the item of time alone.

Chamber’s Journal (1856), 227

Advertising Christmas: Posters for Christmas trains before 1914

London and North Western Railway - 1853

York, Newcastle and Berwick; York and North Midland and Leeds Northern Railways - 1853

Stockton & Darlington Railway -1856

Liskeard & Looe Railway - 1906

Dismissed for being drunk - 1899

These chaps were dismissed by Great Northern Railway in 1899 for having a bit too much...

Pallender, J.W. - Parcels Porter, Peterboro' Passenger [station], for being asleep and under the influence of drink when on duty.

Thorndike, Geo. Wm. - Superior Foreman Prorter, Manchester Goods [station], for being under the influence of drink, and asleep in a wagon whilst on duty.

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Source: The National Archives, RAIL 236/160, Traffic Committee Minute Book, 5/10/1899, p.257

London and North Western Railway Criminal Prosecutions - December 1878

In December 1878 the London and North Western Railway prosecuted the following number of cases:

Crime                                                                                          Number of cases

Robbery                                                                                                 6

Drunk and disorderly                                                                               4

Attempting to enter a train in motion                                                         3

Travelling in a superior class of carriage to that for which tickets were 

held + obstructing the company’s servants in the execution of their duty     3

Receiving stolen property                                                                         3

Travelling without a ticket                                                                         2

Interfering with comfort of passengers + obstructing the company’s 

servants in the execution of their duty                                                       2

Travelling with platform tickets                                                                  2

Pocket-Picking                                                                                       1

Drunk and assaulting a company’s servant                                               1

Travelling with ticket over date                                                                 1

Assaulting Company’s servant                                                                 1

Trespass                                                                                               1

 Source: The National Archives, RAIL 410/183, Traffic Committee minute book, Minute 31173, 10 January 1879

A Temporary End to Turnip Rail

Dear all. It is with much sadness that I write this post.

On Monday I had my Thesis Advisory Panel, where, after much discussion, it was decided that I need more work on my PhD than could be done within the three months of my remaining registration. Indeed, I may even need to extend my work until Christmas. Consequently, this has left me very disheartened, as I was hoping to start a book in October.

*UPDATE* I have decided not to pursue a career as an author and have decided to go into academia full-time when my PhD is over. It is why I did the PhD and, ultimately, I'll have the opportunity to do the thing I love, research. I am not saying I will never write a popular book - just not yet.

However, this said, I am determined to get the work done as soon is as humanly possible (before Christmas hopefully). The problem with a thesis, any thesis, is by the end those doing them want to get shot of them. Indeed, while I love my topic and the subject matter, I feel that after six years it is time to move on. Therefore, to speed my work, I have taken the decision to virtually suspend working on anything new for my sites, 'Turnip Rail' and 'Turnip Rail's Waiting Room'. Given my lovely, loyal readership, this decision has not been taken easily, and I do feel I am letting down the people who like the site and who have made it such a success over the past two and a half years. I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for their support. But I have to get the thesis done ASAP. My career, and my sanity perhaps, depends on it.

But I will leave you with this thought: Turnip Rail will return, you can be sure of it.

With Love

David

Some Images of Railfest 2012

Weekly Round-Up

I have been working on my book proposal this week before my big meeting on Monday (in York) with my supervisor which, I hope, will set me up for four months of hard editing of the thesis. Bring it on!

So here's the round-up:

Monday: Britain's first Dining Car - 1879
Tuesday: "He was ordered to leave" - A Drunk at the Victoria Station - 1872
Thursday: "Special Trains to London for the Duke [of Wellington's] Funeral" - 1852
Friday: Britain's Largest Employers in 1907
Saturday: Some Railway Worker's Accidents in the 1880s

No main blog post this week (I've too much on I'm afraid). But check out last week's offeringDid the Management Ever Control Britain's 19th Century Railways?

Some Railway Worker's Accidents in the 1880s

Occasionally, I just like to browse the railway staff records on the Ancestry.com website. One of the saddest files I know is the London, Chatham and Dover Railway's book of injuries that its employees sustained. Indeed, there are some truly shocking stories recorded that highlight how dangerous working on the Victorian railway was:

Date: 14 November 1882
Name: Hibbert, G.
Grade: Engineman
Nature of Accident: Forefingers taken off (end of) had his hand on Brake block when fireman unexpectedly applied the brake - fingers caught between block and wheel.[1]

Date: 4 January 1884
Name: Driver of a cart
Nature of Accident: Knocked down while shunting train in Hatton's Yard, Faversham Creek, arm had to be amputated - Pilot Engineman R. Broadberry [2]

Date: 12 June 1885
Name: None given
Grade: Platelayer
Nature of Accident: Forefingers taken off (end of) had his hand on Brake block when fireman unexpectedly applied the brake - fingers caught between block and wheel.[3]

Date: 18 July 1887
Name: Foster, W.G.
Grade: Fireman
Nature of Accident: Head cut and body bruised thro. slipping off into pit in Battersea Shed. Engine 118, Driver, Goodhew [4]

Date: 31 December 1888
Name: J. Coventry
Grade: Engineman
Nature of Accident: When oiling engine at Victoria was struck on the back of his head with a bottle thrown from the 5.30 pm boat train. [5]

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[1] The National Archives [TNA], RAIL 415/108, Register of injuries to workmen: 1880 - 1891, p.45
[2] TNA, RAIL 415/108, Register of injuries to workmen: 1880 - 1891, p.46
[3] TNA, RAIL 415/108, Register of injuries to workmen: 1880 - 1891, p.87
[4] TNA, RAIL 415/108, Register of injuries to workmen: 1880 - 1891, p.112
[5] TNA, RAIL 415/108, Register of injuries to workmen: 1880 - 1891, p.124

Britain's Largest Employers in 1907

Britain's railways before 1914 were some of Britain's largest employers. Indeed, table below shows that of Britain's twenty-five leading employers in 1907, thirteen were railways.

"Special Trains to London for the Duke [of Wellington's] Funeral" - 1852

This small article appeared in The Leicester Chronicle on Saturday 30 October 1852 in the wake of the death of the Duke of Wellington. The 'Mr Cook' is, I presume, Mr Thomas Cook, who in the period arranged a great many excursions in the period. Notice also that the train went via Derby, as the shorter Great Northern Main Line was at that point incomplete.

"SPECIAL TRAINS TO LONDON FOR THE DUKE'S FUNERAL - Although the arrangements for visiting London are not yet completed, it will be seen by advertisement that Mr. Cook is desirous of consulting teh convenience of two classes-those who wish for an opportunity of being in town at the Lying-in-State, and the working classes, who can only make it convenient to be present at the funeral. The Scottish newspapers announce a special train, under Mr Cooke's management, from the extreme point of the northern railway, commencing at Aberdeen, and bringing passengers from Montrose, Dundee, Perth, St. Andrews, Coupar Fife, Coupar Angus, Stirling, Edinburgh, Galashiels, Haddington, Berwick, and other towns. The whole distance from Aberdeen to London is about 570 miles. The train is arranged to reach Derby at 6 o'clock on Tuesday morning, November 16th and the party will stop here for an hour for breakfast, Mr Cuff having arranged to provide on liberal terms at the station refreshment rooms. It is hoped Mr Cook will succeed in promoting a spirit of reciprocity amongst those north of the Tweed who have benefited so much from his arrangements from these parts to Scotland."

"He was ordered to leave" - A Drunk at the Victoria Station - 1872

On Saturday I posted a story about a drunk at the Midland Railway's Sheffield Station in 1872. However, this story was found directly below it:

'DRUNK AT THE VICTORIA STATION - Thomas Williams, miner, living at Handsworth was charged with being drunk at the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Station. at about seven o'clock on Saturday evening the prisoner went to the Victoria Station in a state of intoxication. He was ordered to leave, and two porters accompanied him off the premises to see him safe away. Shortly after eight he was found wandering upon the line a short distance from the station, and narrowly escaped being run over by a train. He was given into custody. - The bench inflicted a fine of 20s and costs.'[1]

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[1] The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent, Tuesday, February 06, 1872, p. 7

Britain's first Dining Car - 1879

On Monday 27 October 1879, Britain's railways witnessed the first appearance of a dining car on the Great Northern Railway (GNR). This car was not how we would expect railway dining facilities to be today, and there were actually two coaches, one when the passengers ate and another where the food was cooked. This was a widely reported event, and the press heaped praise on the GNR, with poetry being produced to mark the occasion. If you would like to read more about this event, I wrote a whole blog post on it last year.

Weekly Round-Up

Another busy week, but I managed to get my work off on Wednesday so now I am a bit freer to do things. I am so glad I got a main Turnip rail Blog Post out this week. I hate it when I cannot. Anyway, on with the round-up.

Tuesday: 'A Disgraceful Clergyman' (or not) - On a train - 1859
Thursday:'Watch Out' for Fagin and co. on a train - 1863
Friday:
Sack containing overcoat, boots etc. without a label- 1912
Saturday:
Great Western Railway 'Camp Coaches' - 1935
Saturday:
"Could not give any account of himself" - Drunk on a train -1872


And don't forget the latest main Turnip Rail post - Did the Mangement Ever Control Britain's 19th Century Railways?

"Could not give any account of himself" - Drunk on a train -1872

In know people who have been in a similar situation...really I do:

'DRUNK IN A RAILWAY TRAIN' - Richard Shaw, turner, Leeds, was charged with being drunk at the Midland Station. Mr Curtis stated that the prisoner was found drunk in a train on its arrival at the station, on Saturday evening. He had no ticket, and was so drunk that he could not give any account of himself, and was locked up. His ticket was afterwards found in the carriage - Fined 10s and costs, or 14 days.[1]

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[1] The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent, Tuesday, February 06, 1872, p. 7

Great Western Railway 'Camp Coaches' - 1935

In the inter-war years large numbers of Victorian railway carriages were taken out of service and transformed into 'camp coaches.' One of the largest providers of these was the Great Western Railway, and in April 1935 the company's staff magazine carried a feature on them with images from one stationed at Dyffryn-on-Sea in North Wales. The article revealed that for the coming summer the number of coaches the company would be offering around its network was being increased to thirty-eight. Available for six, eight or ten people, all came equipped with a living room, kitchen and two sleeping compartments. The cost of such accommodation, which the magazine stated would not increase during the holiday season, was £3 per week for a six berth coach, £4 for an eight and £5 for a ten.

Sack containing overcoat, boots etc. without a label- 1912

Sometimes I am astounded by the amount of paper the railways in the past generated. This one such example of a little bit of paper generated in the period. It appears someone didn't label their sack correctly...

'Watch Out' for Fagin and co. on a train - 1863

The Caledonian Railway's book of standing orders for the officer's and men of the company from 1863 is one of the most interesting railway instruction books that I have a digital copy of, as it contains rules that I have not seen anywhere else within the Victorian railway industry. Probably, the most interesting instruction is this one covering the petty criminals of the age, and when reading it I immediately though 'FAGIN!' What do you think?

'70. Gangs of gamblers and pickpockets are occasionally in the habit of travelling by the trains. Guards are particularly desired to make themselves acquainted with the individuals composing the gang; and having done so, to point them out to the passengers, station-masters, police, and porters, at every station the train stops at.

When the law cannot be brought to bear against these men, the object of every person must be to expose them.

Their tickets must be frequently examined; they must be watched at stations, and not allowed to enter on to the platform without having first purchased tickets. If there are more than one, they must all be locked up in one compartment, and never allowed to change carriages: and whenever they are discovered to be without tickets, or travelling beyond the station for which their tickets were issued, they must be removed from the train, and prosecuted before a magistrate for defrauding the company.

Ticket clerks must be cautious in receiving money from these men, as they endeavour to pass base coin and forged notes.'[1]

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[1] London School of Economics, HE1 (42)/221, Caledonian Railway: standing orders based on the rules and regulations of the company, and to be observed by the officers and men in the superintendent's department in the company's services, February 1863, p.30