LITTELL'S LIVING AGE.-No. 254.-31 MARCH, 1849.

3. Rules and Regulations for the conduct of the Traffic and for the guidance of the Officers and Men in the service of the London and NorthWestern Railway Company. London. 1847. A GOOD many years ago one of the toughest and hardest riders that ever crossed Leicestershire undertook to perform a feat which, just for the moment, attracted the general attention not only of the country but of the sporting world. His bet was, that if he might choose his own turf, and if he might select as many thorough-bred horses as he liked, he would undertake to ride 200 miles in ten hours!

ment and fear; ploughmen held their breath; the loose horse galloped from it, and then, suddenly stopping, turned round, stared at it, and at last snorted aloud. But the "nine days' wonder" soon came to an end. As the train now flies through our verdant fields, the cattle grazing on each side do not even raise their heads to look at it; the timid sheep fears it no more than the wind: indeed, the hen-partridge, running with her brood along the embankment of a deep cutting, does not now even crouch as it passes close by her. It is the same with mankind. On entering a railway station we merely mutter to a clerk in a box where we want to go-say "How much?”—see him horizontally poke a card into a little machine that pinches it receive our ticket-take our place-read our newspaper-on reaching our terminus drive away perfectly careless of all or of any one of the innumerable arrangements necessary for the astonishing luxury we have enjoyed.

of obtaining correct information on the subject.

The newspapers of the day described exactly how "the 'squire" was dressed-what he had been living on-how he looked-how, at the word On the practical working of a railway there is "Away!" he started like an arrow from a bow-no book extant, nor any means open to the public how gallantly Tranby, his favorite racer, stretched himself in his gallop-how, on arriving at his second horse, he vaulted from one saddle to another-how he then flew over the surface of the earth, if possible, faster than before-and how, to the astonishment and amidst the acclamations of thousands of spectators, he at last came in ... a winner!

Unwilling, therefore, to remain in this state of ignorance respecting the details of the greatest blessing which science has ever imparted to mankind, we determined to make a short inspection of the practical machinery of one of our largest railways; and having, on application to the secretary, as also to the secretary of the post-office, been favored with the slight authorities we required,

object; and although under such circumstances our unbiased observations were necessarily superficial, we propose by a few rough sketches rapidly to pass in review before our readers some of the

railway, which we witnessed at the principal stations of the London and North-western Railwaysay Euston, Camden, Wolverton, and Crewe.

Now, if at this moment of his victory, while with dust and perspiration on his brow-his ex-without companion or attendant we effected our hausted arms dangling just above the panting flanks of his horse, which his friends at each side of the bridle were slowly leading in triumph-a decrepit old woman had hobbled forward, and, in the name of Science, had told the assembled mul-scenes illustrative of the practical working of a titude, that before she became a skeleton she and her husband would undertake, instead of 200 miles in ten hours, to go 500-that is to say, that, for every mile" the 'squire" had just ridden, she and her old man would go two miles and a half-that she would moreover knit all the way, and that he should take his medicine every hour and read to her just as if they were at home; lastly, that they would undertake to perform their feat either in darkness or in daylight, in sunshine or in storm, "in thunder, lightning, or in rain ;"-who, we ask, would have listened to the poor maniac?-up official's object has been solely to get the cab and yet how wonderfully would her prediction have been now fulfilled! Nay, wagons of coals and heavy luggage now-a-days fly across Leicestershire faster and further than Mr. Osbaldestone could go, not withstanding his condition and that of all his horses.

EUSTON-The Down Train.-On arriving in a cab at the Euston station, the old-fashioned traveller is at first disposed to be exceedingly pleased at the new-born civility with which, the instant the vehicle stops, a porter, opening its door with surprising alacrity, most obligingly takes out every article of his luggage; but so soon as he suddenly finds out that the officious green straight-buttoned

off the premises, in order to allow the string of variegated carriages that are slowly following to advance-in short, that, while he has been paying to the driver, say only two shining shillings, his favorite great-coat-his umbrella, portmanteau, carpet-bag, Russia leather writing-case, secured by

When railways were first established, every Chubb's patent lock, have all vanished—he p living being gazed at a passing train with astonish-nantly feels, like poor Johnson, that his "pat

has encumbered him with help ;" and it having waving their hands, are bidding "farewell" to been the golden maxim of his life never to lose the kind friends who have accompanied them to sight of his luggage, it gravels and lyspepsias him the station. beyond description to be civilly told that on no account can he be allowed to follow it, but that "he will find it on the platform ;" and truly enough the prophecy is fulfilled; for there he does find it on a barrow in charge of the very harlequin who whipped it away, and who, as its guardian angel, hastily muttering the words, "Now then, sir!" stands beckoning him to advance.

Within the long and apparently endless straight line of railway carriages which bound the platform, are soon seen the faces and caps of various travellers, especially old ones, who with due pre-as quietly embarking in carriages, horse-boxes, caution have taken possession of their seats; and while most of these, each of them with their newspapers unfolded on their knees, are slowly wiping their spectacles, several of the younger inmates are either talking to other idlers leaning on their carriage-windows, or, half kissing and half

strange to say, are absent; the remainder are either lolling on benches, or, in various attitudes, dosing on their boxes. Their horses, which are generally well-bred, and whose bent knees and fired hocks proclaim the good services they have performed, stand ruminating with a piece of sacking across their loins, or with nose-bags, often empty-until for some reason a carriage before them leaves their line; in which case, notwithstanding the absence of their drivers and regardless of all noises, they quietly advance along the edge of the little precipice which bounds the rails. They know quite well what they are waiting for, and have no desire to move. Indeed, it is a Pickwickian fact, well-known to cab-drivers, that their horses travel unwillingly from the station, but always pull hard coming back, simply because it is during the waiting-time at Euston station that their nose-bags are put on-or, in other words, that they are fed.

We may here observe that there are sixty-five selected cabmen who have the entrée to the platform, and who, quamdiù se bene gesserint, are allowed exclusively to work for the company, whose name is painted on their cabs. If more than these

has attained its full speed, and men of business are then intently reading the "City news," and men of pleasure the leading article of their respective newspapers, when this runaway street of passengersmen, women, and children-unexpectedly find themselves in sudden darkness, visible only by a feeble and hitherto unappreciated lamp, which, like the pale moon after a fiery sunset, modestly shines over their head. By this time the boarded platform at Euston station, but a few minutes ago so densely thronged with passengers, is completely deserted. The lonely guard on duty, every footstep resounding as he walks, paces along it like a sentinel. The newspaper-venders, sick unto death of the news they had been vaunting, are indolently reclining at their stalls; even the boy who sells "Punch" is half asleep; and there is nothing to break the sober dulness of the scene but a few clerks and messengers, who, like rabbits popping from one hole of their warren into another, enter upon the platform from the door of one office to hurry into that of the next. In a few minutes, however, the loud puffing of an engine announces the approach towards the platform of a string of empty carriages, which are scarcely formed into the next departure train, when vehicles of all de-are required, a porter calls them from a line of supscriptions are again to be seen in our most public thoroughfares concentrating upon the focus of Euston Square; and thus, with a certain alleviation on Sundays, this strange feverish admixture of confusion and quietness, of society and solitude, continues intermittently from past 6 A. M. to 10 P. M. during every day in the week, every week in the month, and every month in the year. The Up Train.-The out-train having been despatched, we must now beg our readers to be so good as to walk, or rather to scramble, with us from the scene of its departure across five sets of rails, on which are lying, like vessels at anchor in a harbor, crowds of railway-carriages preparing to depart, to the opposite platform, in order to witness the arrival of an incoming train. This platform, for reasons which will shortly appear, is infinitely longer than that for the departure trains. It is a curve 900 feet in length, lighted by day from above with plate-glass, and at night by 67 large gas lamps suspended from above, or affixed to the iron pillars that support the metallic networked roof. Upon this extensive platform scarcely a human being is now to be seen; nevertheless along its whole length it is bounded on the off-side by an interminable line of cabs, intermixed with private carriages of all shapes, gigs, dog-carts, and omnibuses, the latter standing opposite to little ugly black-faced projecting boards, which by night as well as by day are always monotonously exclaiming, "Holborn!-Fleet Street and Cheapside!-Oxford Street!-Regent Street!-Charing Cross!" &c.

plicant cabs standing in the adjacent street. Close to each departure-gate there is stationed a person whose duty it is to write down in a book the number of each cabman carrying away a passenger, as well as the place to which he is conveying him, which each driver is required to exclaim as he trots by; and thus any traveller desirous to complain of a cabman, or who may have left any property in a carriage from Euston station, has only to state on what day and by what train he arrived, also whither he was conveyed, and from these data the driver's name can at any lapse of time be readily ascertained.

But our attention is suddenly claimed by something of infinitely more importance than a passenger's luggage; for that low unearthly whine within the small signal-office behind the line of cabs and carriages requires immediate explanation.

The variety of unforeseen accidents that might occur by the unwelcome arrival of an unexpected or even of an expected passenger-train at the great terminus of the London and North-Western Railway are so obvious that it has been deemed necessary to take the following precautions.

As soon as the reeking engine-funnel of an uptrain is seen darting out of the tunnel at PrimroseHill, one of the company's servants stationed there, who deals solely in compressed air-or rather who has an hydraulic machine for condensing it-allows a portion to rush through an inch iron pipe; and he thus instantaneously produces in the little signal-office on the up-platform of Euston station, where there is always a signalman watching by night as well as by day, that loud melancholy whine which has just arrested our attention, and which will continue to moan

In this motley range of vehicles, smart coachmen, tall pale powdered footmen, and splendid horses are strangely contrasted with the humble but infinitely faster conveyance-the common cab. Most of the drivers of these useful machines, uninterruptedly for five minutes :—

Hic vasto rex Eolus antro

Luctantes ventos tempestatesque sonoras
Imperio premit, ac vinclis et carcere frenat.
Illi indignantes magno cum murmure fremunt.

trumpet, announces by his flag its immediate approach; on which the signal-man at the little office on Euston platform again touches his trigger, which violently convulsing his bell as before, the The moment this doleful intimation arrives, the cab-horses begin to move their feet, raise their signal-man, emerging from his little office, touches jaded heads, prick up their ears, and champ their the trigger of a bell outside his door, which imme-bits; the servants in livery turn their powdered diately, in two loud hurried notes, announces to all heads round; the company's porters, emerging whom it may concern the arrival at Camden sta- from various points, quickly advance to their retion of the expected up-train; and at this moment spective stations; and this suspense continues until it is interesting to watch the poor cab-horses, who, in a second or two there is seen darting out of the by various small muscular movements, which any tunnel, like a serpent from its hole, the long, darkone acquainted with horses can readily interpret, colored dusty train, which, by a tortuous moveclearly indicate that they are perfectly sensible of ment, is apparently advancing at its full speed. what has just occurred, and quite as clearly fore-But the bank-riders, by applying their breaks— see what will very shortly happen to them.

As soon as the green signal man has created this sensation among bipeds and quadrupeds, taking with him the three flags, of danger (red,) caution (green,) and security (white,) he proceeds down the line a few yards, to a point from which he can plainly see his brother signal-man stationed at the mouth of the Euston tunnel. If any obstruction exists in that direction, the waving of the red flag informs him of it; and it is not until the white one from the tunnel, as well as that from the station-master on the platform, have reported to him that "all is clear," that he returns to his important but humble office (12 feet in length by 9 in breadth) to announce, by means of his compressed air-apparatus, this intelligence to the ticketcollector at Camden station, whose strict orders are, on no account whatever to allow a train to leave his platform until he has received through the air-pipes, from the signal-office at Euston station, the company's lugubrious authority to do so.

without which the engineless train merely by its own gravity would have descended the incline from Camden station at the rate of forty miles an hour-soon slacken its speed, until the company's porters are enabled at a brisk walk to unfasten one after another the doors of all the carriages.

While they are performing this popular duty, numerous salutations, and kissings of hands of all colors and sizes, are seen to pass between several of the inmates of the passing train and those seated in or on the motley line of conveyances standing stock still which have been awaiting their arrival. A wife suddenly recognizes her husband, a mother her four children, a sister her two dear brothers; Lord A. B. politely bows to Lady C. D.; John, from his remote coach-box, grins with honest joy as faithful Susan glides by; while Sally bashfully smiles at " a gentleman" in plush breeches reclining in the rumble of the barouche behind it.

As soon as the train stops, a general "sauve qui peut" movement takes place, and our readers have now an opportunity of observing that, just as it is hard to make money, easy to spend it, so, although it requires at least twenty minutes to fill and despatch a long train, it scarcely requires as many seconds to empty one. Indeed, in less than that short space of time the greater number of the railway carriages are often empty!

In the latter office there are also the dial and wires of an electric telegraph, at present inoperative. The signal-man, however, mentioned to us the following trifling anecdote, as illustrative of the practical utility of that wonderful invention, which has so justly immortalized the names of Cooke and Wheatstone. An old general officer, who had come up to Euston station from his resi- When every person has succeeded in liberating dence some miles beyond Manchester, on an invi-himself or herself from the train, it is amusing to tation from the East-India directors to be present observe how cleverly, from long practice, the comat the dinner to be given by them to Lord Hard-pany's porters understand the apparent confusion inge, found on his arrival that it would be neces- which exists. To people wishing to embrace their sary he should appear in regimentals; and the friends-to gentlemen and servants darting in vaveteran, nothing daunted, was proposing to return rious directions straight across the platform to seto Manchester, when the signal-man at Euston ad- cure a cab or in search of private carriages—they vised him to apply for them by electric telegraph. offer no assistance whatever, well knowing that He did so. The application, at the ordinary rate none is required. But to every passenger whom of 280,000 miles (about twelve times the circum- they perceive to be either restlessly moving backference of the earth) per second, flew to Manches- wards and forwards, or standing still, looking upter; in obedience to its commands a porter was wards in despair, they civilly say, "This way, instantly despatched into the country for the sir!" "Here it is, ma'am!”—and thus, knowclothes, which, being forwarded by the expressing what they want before they ask, they conduct train, arrived in abundant time for the dinner. them either to the particular carriage on whose The charge for telegraph and porter was 13s. 8d. roof their baggage has been placed, or to the lugAbout four minutes after the up-train has been gage-van in front of the train, from which it has authorized by the air-pipe to leave Camden station, already been unloaded on to the platform; and the guard, who stands listening for it at the Eus-thus, in a very few minutes after the convulsive ton tunnel, just as a deaf man puts his ear to a shaking of hands and the feverish distribution of

baggage have subsided, all the cabs and carriages have radiated away-the parti-colored omnibuses have followed them-even the horses, which in different clothing have been disembarked, have been led or ridden away-and, the foot-passengers having also disappeared, the long platform of the incoming train of the Euston station remains once more solely occupied by one or two servants of the company, hemmed in by a new line of expectant cabs and omnibuses. Indeed, at various periods of the day a very few minutes only elapse before at the instigation of compressed air the faithful signal-bell is again heard hysterically announcing the arrival of another train at Camden station.

men, who have now overtaken the train, diligently wipe as they proceed the dust and perspiration from the buffer-rods of the last carriage. As soon as these irons are perfectly clean and dry rubbed, they oil them from their can; and then-crawling beneath the open doors of the carriages and beneath the feet and ankles of a crowd of exuding travellers of all ages, who care no more for oilmen than the oilmen of this world care for them-they hurry to the buffer-rods of the next carriage-and so rapidly do they proceed, that before the last omnibus has driven off the buffer-rods of the whole train are as bright as when new. But, secondly. these two men have been closely followed by two others in green jackets-one on each side of the

In a clear winter's night the arrival of an uptrain at the platform before us forms a very inter-carriage—who deal solely in a yellow composition esting picture.

of tallow and palm-oil. Carrying a wooden box No sound is heard in the cold air but the hissing full of this ointment in one hand and a sort of short of a pilot engine, which, like a restless spirit ad- flat salve-knife in the other, they open with the vancing and retrograding, is stealing along the in- latter the small iron trap-doors which cover the retermediate rails, waiting to carry off the next down- ceptacles for greasing the axles, restore whatever train; its course being marked by white steam quantity has been exhausted, and then, closing with meandering above it and by red-hot coals of differ- a dexterous snap the little unctuous chamber over ent sizes which are continually falling from beneath which they preside, they proceed to the next talit. In this obscure scene the company's inter- low-box; and thus, while the buffer-rods of the minable lines of gaslights, (there are 232 at the whole train are being comfortably cleaned and Euston station,) economically screwed down to greased, the glistening axles of the carriages are the minimum of existence, are feebly illuminating simultaneously fed with luxurious fat. Thirdly, the damp varnished panels of the line of carriages while these two operations are proceeding in the in waiting, the brass doorhandles of the cabs, the lower region, at about the same rate two others are shining haims, brass browbands and other orna- progressing, one inside the carriages and the other ments on the drooping heads and motionless backs on their roofs; for on the arrival of every passenof the cab-horses; and while the blood-red signal ger-train, the carriage "searcher," also "beginlamp is glaring near the tunnel to deter unauthor-ning at the end," enters every carriage, lifts up ized intrusion, the stars of heaven cast a faint sil- first all the stuffed blue seats, next the carpet, very light through the long strips of plate glass in which he drops in a heap in the middle of the carthe roof above the platform. On a sudden is riage, and then, inquisitively peeping under the heard the stranger hardly knows whence the two seats, he leaves the carriage, laden with whatmysterious moan of compressed air, followed by ever article or articles may have been left in it, to the violent ringing of a bell. That instant every continue his search throughout the train. The gaslight on and above a curve of 900 feet suddenly inconceivable number and variety of the articles bursts into full power. The carriages, cabs, &c., which he collects we shall shortly have occasion appear, comparatively speaking, in broad day-light, to notice. Fourthly, above the searcher's head, and the beautiful iron reticulation which sustains on the roof, and following him very closely in his the glazed roof appears like fairy work. course, there" sits up aloft" a man called a "strapper," whose sole duty it is, on the arrival of every train, to inspect, clean, shampoo, and refresh with cold-drawn neat's foot oil the luggage-straps, which, in consequence of several serious accidents that have occurred from their breaking, are now lined inside with strong iron wire. It is the especial duty of this inquisitor to condemn any straps that may be faulty, in order that they may be immediately replaced.

The Railway Carriages.—We will now proceed to detail a few circumstances respecting the railway carriages, about which our readers have probably never cared to inquire.-And, firstly, as soon as an up-train arrives at the commencement of the Euston platform, while it is still in motion, and before its guard-distinguished by a silver-buckled black shiny patent-leather belt, hanging diagonally across the white buttons of his green uniform-coat -has ventured with practised skill to spring from As soon as these four simultaneous operations are the sideboard of the train to the platform, two concluded, directions are given by the station-masgreasy-faced men in canvass jackets, with an oil-canter to remove the up-carriages from their position, in each of their right hands and with something that the rails may be clear for the arrival of the next like a mophead of dirty cotton hugged under each train. At this word of command a pilot-engine, of their left arms, are to be seen running on each darting from its lurking-place like a spider from its side of the rails below in pursuit of the train; and hole, occasionally hisses up to the rear of the train, while the porters, holding the handles of the car- and drags it off bodily into a siding. The usual riage doors, to prevent any traveller from escaping, mode, however, of getting an in-train out of the are still advancing at a brisk walk, these two oil-way is by the assistance of various unnoticed turn