On this day in 1832, 194 years ago, the first section of the Leicester & Swannington Railway was officially opened through Glenfield Tunnel, marked by a special train for the company's directors and 300 guests hauled by a locomotive named Comet.
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Railway Reminiscences
Railway Reminiscences
Rose-tinted spectacles generally offer nostalgia but not a lot of insight. Was yesterday’s railway really better than the one we endure today? What’s undeniable is that it served more places and employed more people; it was much cheaper too. And it earned a place in our consciousness because of the role it played in community life.
Society has changed beyond recognition since the railway’s heyday; so too have the prevailing cultures. These stories will take you back to an era of misty windows, smoking compartments, porters and paper destination labels.