paper-on reaching our terminus, drive The picture of the departure of one of away perfectly careless of all or of any one the large trains from the station of Euston of the innumerable arrangements necessary Square, however often it may have been for the astonishing luxury we have en- witnessed, is worthy of a few moments' joyed. contemplation.

On the practical working of a railway On that great covered platform, which there is no book extant, nor any means with others adjoining it, is lighted from open to the public of obtaining correct in- above by 8797 square yards (upwards of an formation on the subject. acre and three-quarters) of plate glass, are Unwilling therefore to remain in this to be seen congregated and moving to and state of ignorance respecting the details of fro in all directions, in a sort of Babel conthe greatest blessing which science has ever fusion, people of all countries, of all reimparted to mankind, we determined to ligions, and of all languages. People of make a short inspection of the practical high character, of low character, of no chamachinery of one of our largest railways; racter at all. Infants just beginning lifeand having, on application to the Secretary, old people just ending it. Many desirous as also to the Secretary of the Post-Office, to be noticed-many, from innumerable been favoured with the slight authorities we reasons, good, bad, and indifferent, anxious required, without companion or attendant to escape notice. Some are looking for we effected our object; and although under their friends-some, suddenly turning upon such circumstances our unbiassed observa- their heels, are evidently avoiding their actions were necessarily superficial, we pro- quaintance. pose by a few rough sketches rapidly to Contrasted with that variety of free and pass in review before our readers some of easy well-worn costumes in which quietthe scenes illustrative of the practical work- minded people usually travel, are occasioning of a railway, which we witnessed at ally to be seen a young couple-each, like the principal stations of the London and a new-born baby, dressed from head to foot North Western Railway-say EUSTON, in everything perfectly new-hurrying toCAMDEN, WOLVERTON, and CREWE.

wards a coupé, on whose door there negliEUSTON-The Down Train.—On arriving gently hangs a black board-upon which in a cab at the Euston Station, the old- there is printed, not unappropriately, in fashioned traveller is at first disposed to be white bridal letters, the word ENGAGED.' exceedingly pleased at the new-born civility Across this mass of human beings a numwith which, the instant the vehicle stops, a ber of porters are to be seen carrying and porter, opening its door with surprising tortuously wheeling, in contrary directions, alacrity, most obligingly takes out every baggage and property of all shapes and article of his luggage; but so soon as he sizes. One is carrying over his right suddenly finds out that the officious green, shoulder a matted parcel, 12 or 15 feet straight-buttoned-up official's object has long, of young trees, which the owner, who been solely to get the cab off the premises, has just purchased them for his garden, is in order to allow the string of variegated following with almost parental solicitude. carriages that are slowly following to ad- Another porter, leaning as well as walking vance-in short, that, while he has been backwards, is attempting with his whole. paying to the driver, say only two shining strength to drag towards the luggage-van a shillings, his favourite great-coat-his um-leash of pointer-dogs, whose tails, like cerbrella, portmanteau, carpet-bag, Russia tain other tails that we know of, are obleather writing-case, secured by Chubb's stinately radiating from the couples that patent lock, have all vanished-he poignant- bind together their heads; while a number ly feels, like poor Johnson, that his 'pat- of newspaper-vendors, fleet-footed Merron has encumbered him with help;' and curies,' are worming their way through the it having been the golden maxim of his crowd. life never to lose sight of his luggage, it Within the long and apparently endless gravels and dyspepsias him beyond descrip- straight line of railway carriages which tion to be civilly told that on no account bound the platform, are soon seen the faces can he be allowed to follow it, but that he and caps of various travellers, especially will find it on the platform;' and truly old ones, who with due precaution have enough the prophecy is fulfilled; for there taken possession of their seats; and while he does find it on a barrow in charge of most of these, each of them with their the very harlequin who whipped it away, newspapers unfolded on their knees, are and who, as its guardian angel, hastily mut- slowly wiping their spectacles, several of tering the words' Now, then, Sir! stands the younger inmates are either talking to beckoning him to advance. other idlers leaning on their carriage win

station.

dows, or, half-kissing and half waving their cited a variety of feelings which it would be hands, are bidding farewell' to the kind utterly impossible to describe. friends who had accompanied them to the While the travellers of a train are peacefully taking their seats, artillery-men, Some months ago, at a crisis similar to horses, and cannon, on a contiguous set of that just mentioned, we happened to be rails, are occasionally as quietly embarking ensconced in the far corner of a railway in carriages, horse-boxes, and trucks, which carriage, when he heard a well-known are subsequently hooked on to a mass of clergyman from Brighton suddenly observe passengers perfectly unconscious of the to his next neighbour who sat between us, elements of war which are accompanying 'There must surely be something very remark- them. able in that scene!' His friend, who was As a departing railway-train, like a vesbusily cutting open his Record, made no sel sailing out of harbour, proceeds on its reply, but as we chanced to witness the course, its rate rapidly increases, until, in trifling occurrence alluded to, we will very a very short time, it has attained its full briefly describe it. A young man of about speed, and men of business are then intenttwenty-two, of very ordinary height, dress, ly reading the City- news,' and men of and appearance, was standing opposite to a pleasure the leading article of their respectfirst-class carriage just as the driver's whis-ive newspapers, when this runaway street tle shrilly announced the immediate de- of passengers-men, women, and children parture of the train. At this signal, with--unexpectedly find themselves in sudden out any theatrical movement, or affectation darkness, visible only by a feeble and of any sort, he quietly reeled backwards hitherto unappreciated lamp, which, like upon a baggage-truck which happened to be the pale moon after a fiery sunset, modestly immediately behind him. Two elderly la- shines over their head. By this time the dies beside him instantly set to work, first boarded platform at Euston Station, but a of all, most vigorously to rub with their few minutes ago so densely thronged with lean fingers the palms of his hands-they passengers, is completely deserted. The might just as well have scrubbed the soles lonely guard on duty, every footstep reof his boots;-they then untied his neck-sounding as he walks, paces along it like a cloth; but their affectionate kindness was sentinel. The newspaper-vendors, sick unto of no avail. The train was probably sepa- death of the news they had been vaunting, rating him from something, or from some are indolently reclining at their stalls; even one. The movement however he had not the boy who sells Punch' is half asleep; witnessed, for the mere whistle of the en- and there is nothing to break the sober dulgine had caused him to swoon! What cor-ness of the scene but a few clerks and mesresponding effect of fainting or sobbing it sengers, who, like rabbits popping from one may have produced on any inmate in that hole of their warren into another, enter carriage before which he had long been upon the platform from the door of one standing, and which had just left him, we office to hurry into that of the next. In a have no power to divine. It is impossible, few minutes, however, the loud puffing of however, to help reflecting what emotions an engine announces the approach towards must every day be excited within the train the platform of a string of empty carriages, as well as on the platform at Euston Sta- which are scarcely formed into the next tion by the scream or parting whistle which departure train, when vehicles of all dewe have just described. From the murderer scriptions are again to be seen in our most flying from the terrors of justice down to public thoroughfares concentrating upon the the poor broken-hearted creditor absconding focus of Euston Square; and thus, with a from his misfortunes;-from our careworn certain alleviation on Sundays, this strange Prime Minister down to the most indolent feverish admixture of confusion and quietmember of either House of Parliament-ness, of society and solitude, continues ineach simultaneously escaping after a long-termittently from quarter past 6 A.M. to 10protracted session ;-from people of all P.M. during every day in the week, every classes going from or to laborious occupa- week in the month, and every month in the tion, down to the schoolboy reluctantly re- year.

turning to, or joyfully leaving, his school; The Up Train.-The out-train having -from our Governor-General proceeding to been despatched, we must now beg our embark for India down to the poor emigrant readers to be so good as to walk, or rather about to sail from the same port to Australia to scramble, with us from the scene of its -the railway-whistle, however unheeded departure across five sets of rails, on which by the multitude, must oftentimes have ex-are lying, like vessels at anchor in a har

bour, crowds of railway-carriages preparing write down in a book the number of each to depart, to the opposite platform, in order cabman carrying away a passenger, as well to witness the arrival of an incoming train. as the place to which he is conveying him, This platform, for reasons which will short- which each driver is required to exclaim ly appear, is infinitely longer than that for as he trots by; and thus any traveller dethe departure trains. It is a curve 900 feet sirous to complain of a cabman, or who may in length, lighted by day from above with have left any property in a carriage from plate-glass, and at night by 67 large gas- Euston Station, has only to state on what lamps suspended from above, or affixed to day and by what train he arrived, also the iron pillars that support the metallic whither he was conveyed, and from these net-worked roof. Upon this extensive plat- data the driver's name can at any lapse of form scarcely a human being is now to be time be readily ascertained. seen; nevertheless along its whole length But our attention is suddenly claimed by it is bounded on the off-side by an intermi- something of infinitely more importance nable line of cabs, intermixed with private than a passenger's luggage: for that low carriages of all shapes, gigs, dog-carts, and unearthly whine within the small signalomnibuses, the latter standing opposite to office behind the line of cabs and carriages little ugly black-faced projecting boards, requires immediate explanation.

which by night as well as by day are al- The variety of unforeseen accidents that ways monotonously exclaiming, Holborn! might occur by the unwelcome arrival of -Fleet Street and Cheapside!-Oxford an unexpected or even of an expected pasStreet!-Regent Street!-Charing Cross! senger-train at the great terminus of the London and North-Western Railway are so

&c.

In this motely range of vehicles, smart obvious that it has been deemed necessary coachmen, tall pale powdered footmen, and to take the following precautions. splendid horses are strangely contrasted As soon as the reeking engine-funnel of with the humble but infinitely faster con- an up-train is seen darting out of the tunveyance the common cab. Most of the nel at Primrose-Hill, one of the Company's drivers of these useful machines, strange to servants stationed there, who deals solely say, are absent; the remainder are either in compressed air,—or rather, who has an lolling on benches, or, in various attitudes, hydraulic machine for condensing it-allows dosing on their boxes. Their horses, a portion to rush through an inch iron pipe; which are generally well-bred, and whose and he thus instantaneously produces in the bent knees and fired hocks proclaim the little signal-office on the up-platform of good services they have performed, stand Euston Station, where there is always a ruminating with a piece of sacking across signal-man watching by night as well as by their loins, or with nose-bags, often empty day, that loud melancholy whine which has -until for some reason a carriage before just arrested our attention, and which will them leaves their line: in which case, not- continue to moan uninterruptedly for five withstanding the absence of their drivers minutes :and regardless of all noises, they quietly advance along the edge of the little preci- Luctantes ventos tempestatesque sonoras pice which bounds the rails. They know Imperio premit, ac vinclis et carcere frenat. quite well what they are waiting for, and Illi indignantes magno cum murmure fremunt.' have no desire to move. Indeed, it is a

'Hic vasto rex Æolus antro

Pickwickian fact, well known to cab- The moment this doleful intimation arrives, drivers, that their horses travel unwillingly the signal-man, emerging from his little from the station, but always pull hard com- office, touches the trigger of a bell outside ing back, simply because it is during the his door, which immediately in two loud waiting-time at Euston Station that their hurried notes announces to all whom it may nose-bags are put on-or, in other words, concern the arrival at Camden Station of that they are fed. the expected up-train; and at this moment

We may here observe that there are it is interesting to watch the poor cabsixty-five selected cab-men who have the horses, who, by various small muscular entrée to the platform, and who, quamdiù movements, which any one acquainted with se bene gesserint, are allowed exclusively horses can readily interpret, clearly indito work for the Company, whose name is cate that they are perfectly sensible of what painted on their cabs. If more than these has just occurred, and quite as clearly foreare required, a porter calls them from a line see what will very shortly happen to them. of supplicant cabs standing in the adjacent As soon as the green signal-man has crestreet. Close to each departure-gate there ated this sensation among bipeds and quadis stationed a person whose duty it is to rupeds, taking with him the three flags, of

danger (red), caution (green), and security [the Company's porters, emerging from (white), he proceeds down the line a few various points, quickly advance to their reyards to a point from which he can plainly spective stations; and this suspense consee his brother signal-man stationed at the tinues until in a second or two there is seen mouth of the Euston tunnel. If any ob- darting out of the tunnel, like a serpent structions exists in that direction, the wav- from its hole, the long dark-coloured dusty ing of the red flag informs him of it; and it train, which, by a tortuous movement, is s not until the white one from the tunnel as apparently advancing at its full speed. But well as that from the station-master on the the bank-riders, by applying their breaksplatform have reported to him that all is without which the engineless train merely clear' that he returns to his important but by its own gravity would have descended humble office (12 feet in length by 9 in the incline from Camden Station at the rate breadth) to announce, by means of his com- of forty miles an hour-soon slacken its pressed-air apparatus, this intelligence to speed, until the Company's porters are enthe ticket-collector at Camden Station, abled at a brisk walk to unfasten one after whose strict orders are, on no account another the doors of all the carriages. whatever to allow a train to leave his plat- While they are performing this popular form until he has received through the air-duty, numerous salutations, and kissings of pipes, from the signal-office at Euston Sta- hands of all colours and sizes, are seen to tion, the Company's lugubrious authority to pass between several of the inmates of the do so. passing train and those seated in or on In the latter office there are also the dial the motely line of conveyances standing stock and wires of an electric telegraph, at pre- still which have been awaiting their arrival. sent inoperative. The signal-man, how-A wife suddenly recognises her husband, a ever, mentioned to us the following trifling mother her four children, a sister her two anecdote, as illustrative of the practical dear brothers; Lord A. B. politely bows to utility of that wonderful invention, which Lady C. D.; John, from his remote coachhas so justly immortalized the names of box, grins with honest joy as faithful Susan Cooke and Wheatstone. An old general glides by; while Sally bashfully smiles at officer, who had come up to Euston a gentleman' in plush breeches reclining in Station from his residence some miles be- the rumble of the barouche behind it. yond Manchester, on an invitation from the East-India Directors to be present at the dinner to be given by them to Lord Hardinge, found on his arrival that it would be necessary he should appear in regimentals and the veteran, nothing daunted, was proposing to return to Manchester, when the signal-man at Euston advised him to apply for them by electric telegraph. He did

so.

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!

The application, at the ordinary rate of 280,000 miles (about twelve times the circumference of the earth) per second, flew When every person has succeeded in to Manchester; in obedience to its com- liberating himself or herself from the train, mands a porter was instantly despatched it is amusing to observe how cleverly, from into the country for the clothes, which, long practice, the Company's porters underbeing forwarded by the express train, ar- stand the apparent confusion which exists. rived in abundant time for the dinner. The To people wishing to embrace their friends charge for telegraph and porter was 13s. Sd.to gentlemen and servants darting in vaAbout four minutes after the up-train has rious directions straight across the platform been authorized by the air-pipe to leave to secure a cab or in search of private carCamden Station, the guard, who stands riages-they offer no assistance whatever, listening for it at the Euston tunnel, just as well knowing that none is required. a deaf man puts his ear to a trumpet, an- to every passenger whom they perceive to nounces by his flag its immediate approach; be either restlessly moving backwards and on which the signal-man at the little office forwards, or standing still, looking upwards on Euston platform again touches his trig-in despair, they civilly say This way, Sir!" ger, which violently convulsing his bell as 'Here it is, Ma'am -and thus, knowing before, the cab-horses begin to move their what they want before they ask, they confeet, raise their jaded heads, prick up their duct them either to the particular carriage ears, and champ their bits; the servants in on whose roof their baggage has been placed, livery turn their powdered heads round; or to the luggage-van in front of the train,

But

from which it has already been unloaded on Euston platform, while it is still in motion, to the platform; and thus, in a very few and before its guard-distinguished by a minutes after the convulsive shaking of silver-buckled black shiny patent-leather hands and the feverish distribution of bag- belt, hanging diagonally across the white gage have subsided, all the cabs and car- buttons of his green uniform-coat--has riages have radiated away-the parti-col- ventured with practised skill to spring from oured omnibuses have followed them-even the sideboard of the train to the platform, the horses, which in different clothing have two greasy-faced men in canvas jackets, been disembarked, have been led or with an oil-can in each of their right hands ridden away-and, the foot-passengers and with something like a mophead of having also disappeared, the long plat- dirty cotton hugged under each of their left form of the incoming train of the Euston arms, are to be seen running on each side Station remains once more solely occupied of the rails below in pursuit of the train ; by one or two servants of the Compay, and while the porters, holding the handles hemmed in by a new line of expectant of the carriage doors, to prevent any travelcabs and omnibuses. Indeed, at various ler from escaping, are still advancing at a periods of the day a very few minutes only brisk walk, these two oilmen, who have clapse before at the instigation of compressed air the faithful signal-bell is again heard hysterically announcing the arrival of another train at Camden Station.

In a clear winter's night the arrival of an up-train at the platform before us forms a very interesting picture.

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 No sound is heard in the cold air but the the feet and ankles of a crowd of exuding hissing of a pilot engine, which, like a rest- travellers of all ages, who care no more for less spirit advancing and retrograding, is oilmen than the oilmen of this world care stealing along the intermediate rails, waiting for them-they hurry to the buffer-rods of to carry off the next down-train; its course the next carriage-and so rapidly do they being marked by white steam meandering proceed, that before the last omnibus has above it and by red-hot coals of different driven off the buffer-rods of the whole train sizes which are continually falling from are as bright as when new. But, secondly, beneath it. In this obscure scene the Com- these two men have been closely followed pany's interminable lines of gas-lights (there by two others in green jackets-one on are 232 at the Euston Station), economi- each side of the carriage-who deal solely cally screwed down to the minimum of in a yellow composition of tallow and palmexistence, are feebly illuminating the damp oil. Carrying a wooden box full of this varnished panels of the line of carriages in ointment in one hand and a sort of short waiting, the brass doorhandles of the cabs, flat-salve knife in the other, they open with the shining haims, brass browbands, and the latter the small iron trap-doors which other ornaments on the drooping heads and cover the receptacles for greasing the axles, motionless backs of the cab-horses; and restore whatever quantity has been exwhile the blood-red signal lamp is glaring hausted, and then, closing with a dexterous near the tunnel to deter unauthorised intru- snap the little unctuous chamber over which sion, the stars of heaven cast a faint silvery they preside, they proceed to the next light through the long strips of plate-glass tallow-box; and thus, while the buffer-rods in the roof above the platform. On a of the whole train are being comfortably sudden is heard the stranger hardly knows cleaned and greased, the glistening axles of whence the mysterious moan of compress- the carriages are simultaneously fed with ed air, followed by the violent ringing of a luxurious fat. Thirdly, while these two bell. That instant every gaslight on and above operations are proceeding in the lower rea curve of 900 feet suddenly bursts into full gion, at about the same rate two others are power. The carriages, cabs, &c., appear, progressing, one inside the carriages and comparatively speaking, in broad daylight, the other on their roofs; for on the arrival and the beautiful iron reticulation which sus- of every passenger-train, the carriage tains the glazed roof appears like fairy work.searcher,' also beginning at the end,' The Railway Carriages.-We will now enters every carriage, lifts up first all the proceed to detail a few circumstances re- stuffed blue seats, next the carpet, which he specting the railway carriages, about which drops in a heap in the middle of the carriage, our readers have probably never cared to inquire. And, firstly, as soon as an uptrain arrives at the commencement of the

and then, inquisitively peeping under the two seats, he leaves the carriage laden with whatever article or articles may have been