While clearing out some old papers, I unearthed a 1937 LMS (London, Midland & Scottish) timetable. Not only did it have comprehensive timetables, but some interesting items.
One was for the novel idea of 'caravan' holidays. Not caravans as we know, but converted railway carriages with living, dining and sleeping facilities, bedding, linen etc. included. The cost, £3.10.00 a week in July & August.
Fancy going further afield? Two new ships, the Princess Maud and the Princess Margaret were being commissioned tor the Stranraer to Larne route. Crossing time 2 hours - faster than it was in later years.
Would you prefer to fly? You could fly from Belfast (probably Aldergrove - now Belfast International, or Nutts Corner) to Croyden in 2 3/4 hours with the 'Rail air service'. Worried about baggage allowance? No worries, heavy luggage could be shipped in advance and be waiting or you when you landed.
Now the Stranraer port has closed and modern ferries sail from Cairnryan.
It takes just over an hour to fly to London and I doubt is many people spend holidays in a railway carriage. If they did, it would cost a LOT more than £3.50p a week!
------------- Two drifters off to see the world.
I'm tired of reality, so I'm off to look for a good fantasy.
Yes people certainly do still spend holidays in converted railway carriages, and there are still quite a few dotted about Britain. Being a former railwayman I have sometimes thought about trying it myself, I have seen some really nice ones. Probably not much unlike staying in a static really, except close to a railway line rather than on a caravan site. The ones I have seen have been either on their own or in small groups of maybe 3 or 4, so not on large sites with potentially loads of rowdy neighbours.
You are right though, they do cost a bit more than £3.50 a week!
I've got the reprint of 1863 Bradshaws Handbook for Railway Journeys, we have all we need for planning next years Holidays. The Larne to Stranraer Crossing is mentioned it seems like always popular Edward Bruce came here 1315 (year not dinner time).
------------- Yesterday is already a dream and tomorrow is only a vision, but today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope.
I find these sort of things interesting. We have some newspaper pages from the early 20th century and you can see how much prices have increase sine then. Anyone remember being able to buy a pint of beer for less than 2/- which is 2 shilling or 10p?
I was at college in Wrexham in the late 60s. Wrexham lager was about that price then. I think I still have the papers detailing Churchill's funeral and Kennedy's assassination somewhere
I think you can still stay in Railway sleeper carriages to be Vilnius station. I remember the days when your luggage would be loaded in the baggage car in London on the boat train.
I can't remember the price of beer, but I can remember that when I first started driving a gallon of petrol cost 4/10 (about 24p). It made the front-page headlines shortly after, when it went up to 5/- all in one go! A whole 2d. It probably hadn't gone up for years before that, prices didn't back in those days. Throughout most of my childhood I can remember that a large farmhouse loaf cost 10d at our local bakers. I used to go in there regularly with my mother.
I'm a decimal kid.I started Primary school when it changed so can remember a sixpence was worth 2 1/2 new pence. A pint when I started drinking was between 50p and 80p. I remember getting shocked when petrol first hit 2 quid a gallon in 1985.
On decimalisation day I was Station Foreman at Epping station. I was on early turn that day and I well remember the chaos when the first commuters started arriving. The ticket-office staff were tearing their hair out and I was dealing with all the irate passengers that couldn't make out whether they were being ripped off or not. I spent hours fielding queries and complaints, and each of the next few days wasn't much better. It did eventually settle down though thankfully.
I think it was the Suez crisis in the 1950s when the petrol price went up to 2/6 per gallon and my parents' agony. Goodness knows what they would think of them now.
Quote: Originally posted by Mrs. Bonce on 13/11/2023
I think it was the Suez crisis in the 1950s when the petrol price went up to 2/6 per gallon and my parents' agony. Goodness knows what they would think of them now.
Wow! Can't imagine petrol at that price. It must have gone up from 2/6 (12.5p) to 4/10 (about 24p) between the mid50s and 1965, when I started driving. By the mid70s it had risen to £1 a gallon, a sum unimaginable in the early 1960s.
Quote: Originally posted by Mrs. Bonce on 13/11/2023
I think it was the Suez crisis in the 1950s when the petrol price went up to 2/6 per gallon and my parents' agony.
Wow! Can't imagine petrol at that price. It must have gone up from 2/6 (12.5p) to 4/10 (about 24p) between the mid50s and 1965, when I started driving. By the mid70s it had risen to £1 a gallon, a sum unimaginable in the early 1960s.
Ah but! What were we / our parents earning at the time of these cheap pints of beer & gallons of petrol? Or how many hours did we have to work to buy that pint or loaf of bread? I’d guess the ratio is pretty similar for beer or bread, but global politics have affected fuel prices.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: An old timetable.
via mobile 13/11/2023 at 8:48am
