Another day with nothing to report, so here is a picture of the 'Night Scotsman' departing Kings Cross in the 1930s. I acquired it on the web forums and canny make out the name at the top to acknowledge the pic, looks like 'Lake,' a photogrpaher. It is an excellent image, full of action, striking at first sight and it is about railways, steam railways and this is always good.
Just imagine the train journey in the 20s or 30s. This train, which I have discovered by 1932 only took passengers beyond Edinburgh, Edinburgh had the 10:35 service with 1st and 3rd class sleeper cars, this train, with varying coach numbers dependent on the season, could take 14 coaches half of which were similar sleepers, through the night to Glasgow, Perth, Dundee and Aberdeen. The Mail coach went to Edinburgh.
Imagine being cooped up with a stranger in a twin bedded 3rd class sleeper? It would be hoped you got along. If you used the sitting accomodation, six or 8 persons in a compartment, probably full of smoke, someone chattering, another snoring, the train rattling along at night with smoke coming in the window opened for ai, worse if the trip took you through tunnels, some wishing it closed, another wishing it open, the hazards of communal life.
Consider also the war years when travel was restricted and the train over crowded. Men in uniform sitting on kit bags in the passageways, smoke again filling the air, draughts however would get in somewhere in the corridor, they always did. Of course during wartime no lights could show, just in case you were attacked, this would increase the crowded 'fug' all around.
For myself, a quiet compartment and a seat at the window so I could look out at twinkling lights in the distance, not during the war obviously, would be cheery enough. A sleeper would be nice, if I could afford the 1st class price and avoid snoring companions. Not much of a view however. The noise of the steaming train, the occasional whistle sounding warning, the shaking and 'clickety-clack' on the rails would lull me to slumber. I'm in the mood for a late night train journey now.
3 comments:
Wonderful photograph!
Took me back to the years when I would be packed off to Scotland for the holidays on the Royal Scot - all unaccompanied kids in the charge of the guard who would put us in one compartment the better to keep an eye on us and ferry us to the dining car at the appropriate time.
I had a mad nostalgic moment, thinking of returning to see Scotland again and looked at he price of the sleeper...there can't be any Scots using it as the price would induce heart failure!
My granny had a house alongside a railway line and I remember staying there and the bed shaking when a train passed.
Fly, Rail prices are not something to look at.. At least I get some off with the old mans card, but still expensive to go to Edinburgh.
Dave, Some nearby railways are soothing, not all I suppose.
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