Stage-coach and Mail in Days of Yore, Volume 2 (of 2) / A picturesque history of the coaching age

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

58668

Title

Stage-coach and Mail in Days of Yore, Volume 2 (of 2) / A picturesque history of the coaching age

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A picturesque history of the coaching age, this volume chronicles the golden era of stage-coaches and mail services in Britain. Through vivid anecdotes, it explores the transition from horse-drawn travel to railways, highlighting the lives of coachmen, the dangers of the road, and the eventual decline of a romantic era.

Summary up to 500 words

Charles G. Harper's *Stage-coach and Mail in Days of Yore, Volume 2* offers a vivid chronicle of the British coaching industry during its zenith and subsequent collapse, focusing on the period from 1824 to 1848. Harper describes this era as the 'Golden Age' of coaching, celebrated for its speed, magnificent horses, and the skilled discipline of its drivers. However, beneath the spectacle lay a precarious financial reality; proprietors faced high costs, particularly for horses which had to be replaced every three years to maintain the required pace for fast coaches. The narrative details the rigorous demands placed on teams and the strict codes of conduct enforced by masters like William Chaplin, who famously banned cruel instruments like the 'short Tommy.' The book explores the dramatic rivalry between coaches and the emerging railways. Following the opening of the London and Birmingham Railway in 1838, many coach lines struggled to survive against cheaper, faster rail travel. While early railway services were plagued by delays, mechanical failures, and insolent officials, sentimental newspaper campaigns and public nostalgia could not sustain the coaching trade. Harper poignantly depicts the fate of the coachmen, who, facing unemployment, were forced to adapt to menial roles or face destitution. The text includes a 'Dirge of the Dragsmen,' a ballad lamenting the loss of their glory and the rise of the steam engine. Harper also covers specific incidents and routes, such as the London to Newcastle line, detailing accidents, robberies, and the challenges of severe weather like snow and floods. He highlights the resilience of some proprietors, like Edward Sherman, who fought a losing battle against the railways for years before succumbing to financial ruin. Ultimately, the book marks the end of an age where travel was a spectacle of endurance, capturing the transition from the romantic world of the stage-coach to the industrial reality of the railway bus, and the tragic metamorphosis of the once-gallant coachman into a forgotten figure of the past.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• History
• Travel