First Class Rail Travel Through England in the 1870's
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Saturday morning 1874
Henry has been working so hard at the bank lately that we decided to take a seaside holiday with the children to relax. We have heard great things about Blackpool, so we were up before dawn to catch the train to make it there by breakfast. It's nothing but first class for my Henry as we were greeted at the train station with our own ticketing window and waiting area, as to not mix with the workers riding third class. The train station was bustling with other families on holiday who were also taking advantage of the long weekend and heading to the seaside. Our carriage was beautiful and very comfortable. The children settled in quickly to their seats, which were plush and covered in gold and red fabric. Through the windows you could see the countryside speeding by, the speed was exhilarating. It was drizzling a little bit, but cleared up before we arrived in Blackpool. |
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Saturday afternoon 1874
As we pulled up to the train station in Blackpool, the children lit up as they saw the promenade. As we walked closer to the water you could hear the band playing, see people merrily dancing, and the smell of food filled the air. As the children danced to the music, Henry was pulled in by a phrenologist to have his character read, and I was most excited about the donkey rides being offered. After the kids filled up on rock candy and Henry and I on fish and chips, we walked along the pier and played the slot machines. It was a great day had by all, and our family returned home that evening with a commemorative Blackpool mug to remember it by, and the children asked to keep our printed travel guide. |
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Planning our next holiday
Our family had such a great time at Blackpool that we're already planning our next holiday. Henry wants to take in an FA Cup game, and I'm most looking forward to attending a religious meeting out of town with my best ladies. In the past, this travel would have been too expensive for us to accommodate, and the horse drawn carriages scare me. They were so bumpy and I was afraid of getting injured on them. Not to mention they also were very slow compared to the new steam engines.
Our family had such a great time at Blackpool that we're already planning our next holiday. Henry wants to take in an FA Cup game, and I'm most looking forward to attending a religious meeting out of town with my best ladies. In the past, this travel would have been too expensive for us to accommodate, and the horse drawn carriages scare me. They were so bumpy and I was afraid of getting injured on them. Not to mention they also were very slow compared to the new steam engines.
Third Class Rail Travel Through England in the 1870's
Saturday morning 1874
George caught wind of a big job in the next town over, so we got to the train station first thing the next morning. There was a fancy seaside train going out that day that also had carriages for workers, and we were hoping it had enough room for us to hop on. It wasn't a glamorous ride by any means, but it was cheap and it worked. If you picture a cattle car with wood slats for some people to sit on, if you were lucky, then you'd have third class rail.
Today was drizzling a little bit and there wasn't a dry person on this ride by the time we got to the next city. In addition to getting wet, we also got bumped and jostled all over the place, as it was not a smooth ride at all. If you hit a big bump that you weren't prepared for, it could send you flying! I really hate to complain though. Jobs have been so hard to find back home lately, and this beats walking or taking a horse to look for work. I've also been able to meet some great blokes traveling from town to town working on the rails.
George caught wind of a big job in the next town over, so we got to the train station first thing the next morning. There was a fancy seaside train going out that day that also had carriages for workers, and we were hoping it had enough room for us to hop on. It wasn't a glamorous ride by any means, but it was cheap and it worked. If you picture a cattle car with wood slats for some people to sit on, if you were lucky, then you'd have third class rail.
Today was drizzling a little bit and there wasn't a dry person on this ride by the time we got to the next city. In addition to getting wet, we also got bumped and jostled all over the place, as it was not a smooth ride at all. If you hit a big bump that you weren't prepared for, it could send you flying! I really hate to complain though. Jobs have been so hard to find back home lately, and this beats walking or taking a horse to look for work. I've also been able to meet some great blokes traveling from town to town working on the rails.
Looking back
Back in my father's day, they passed the Railways Act which helped workers like George and I a lot. It assured we'd have a third class working carriage on trains, and that the train would stop at each stop, and not just go straight to the fancy holiday spots. It also kept the trains affordable for us workers. Without that law, work would be a lot harder for us to find.
Back in my father's day, they passed the Railways Act which helped workers like George and I a lot. It assured we'd have a third class working carriage on trains, and that the train would stop at each stop, and not just go straight to the fancy holiday spots. It also kept the trains affordable for us workers. Without that law, work would be a lot harder for us to find.
Primary Sources
“The Official Illustrated Guide to the Great Western Railway.” The British Library. The British Library, February 6, 2014. https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/the-official-illustrated-guide-to-the-great-western-railway.
“Print of Engraving, Captioned The Opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. Sept 15, 1830: Science Museum Group Collection.” Print of engraving, captioned The opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. Sept 15, 1830 | Science Museum Group. Accessed July 13, 2021. https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co65572.
“Railway and Steam-Boat Excursions' from the Morning Chronicle.” The British Library. The British Library, May 13, 2015. https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/railway-and-steam-boat-excursions-from-the-morning-chronicle.
“Railway Regulation Act.” Railway Regulation Act :: The Railways Archive. Accessed July 13, 2021. https://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docsummary.php?docID=58.
“'The Railway Station' from the Graphic.” The British Library. The British Library, February 6, 2014. https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/the-railway-station-from-the-graphic.
Secondary Sources
“First in the World: The Making of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway.” Science and Industry Museum. Accessed July 13, 2021. https://www.scienceandindustrymuseum.org.uk/objects-and-stories/making-the-liverpool-and-manchester-railway.
“How Did the Railways Change the Lives of People in Victorian Britain?” The National Archives. Accessed July 13, 2021. https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/victorianbritain/happy/default.htm.
“Railways in Early Nineteenth Century Britain.” UK Parliament. Accessed July 13, 2021. https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/transportcomms/roadsrail/kent-case-study/introduction/railways-in-early-nineteenth-century-britain/.
Simkin, John. “Railway Mania.” Spartacus Educational. Spartacus Educational. Accessed July 13, 2021. https://spartacus-educational.com/SteamRailwayMania.htm.
“Travel, Transport and Communications.” The British Library. The British Library, April 22, 2015. https://www.bl.uk/victorian-britain/articles/travel-transport-and-communications#.
“The Great Escape: Britain’s Love Affair with the Seaside Holiday.” History Extra. BBC History Magazine, April 16, 2018. https://www.historyextra.com/period/modern/the-great-escape-britains-love-affair-with-the-seaside-holiday/.
“The Official Illustrated Guide to the Great Western Railway.” The British Library. The British Library, February 6, 2014. https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/the-official-illustrated-guide-to-the-great-western-railway.
“Print of Engraving, Captioned The Opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. Sept 15, 1830: Science Museum Group Collection.” Print of engraving, captioned The opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. Sept 15, 1830 | Science Museum Group. Accessed July 13, 2021. https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co65572.
“Railway and Steam-Boat Excursions' from the Morning Chronicle.” The British Library. The British Library, May 13, 2015. https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/railway-and-steam-boat-excursions-from-the-morning-chronicle.
“Railway Regulation Act.” Railway Regulation Act :: The Railways Archive. Accessed July 13, 2021. https://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docsummary.php?docID=58.
“'The Railway Station' from the Graphic.” The British Library. The British Library, February 6, 2014. https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/the-railway-station-from-the-graphic.
Secondary Sources
“First in the World: The Making of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway.” Science and Industry Museum. Accessed July 13, 2021. https://www.scienceandindustrymuseum.org.uk/objects-and-stories/making-the-liverpool-and-manchester-railway.
“How Did the Railways Change the Lives of People in Victorian Britain?” The National Archives. Accessed July 13, 2021. https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/victorianbritain/happy/default.htm.
“Railways in Early Nineteenth Century Britain.” UK Parliament. Accessed July 13, 2021. https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/transportcomms/roadsrail/kent-case-study/introduction/railways-in-early-nineteenth-century-britain/.
Simkin, John. “Railway Mania.” Spartacus Educational. Spartacus Educational. Accessed July 13, 2021. https://spartacus-educational.com/SteamRailwayMania.htm.
“Travel, Transport and Communications.” The British Library. The British Library, April 22, 2015. https://www.bl.uk/victorian-britain/articles/travel-transport-and-communications#.
“The Great Escape: Britain’s Love Affair with the Seaside Holiday.” History Extra. BBC History Magazine, April 16, 2018. https://www.historyextra.com/period/modern/the-great-escape-britains-love-affair-with-the-seaside-holiday/.
