Genre:

Essay, Drollery

Subjects:

Railways, Environmentalism, Progress, Controversy, Architecture, Imposture, Government, Politics

    Describes the advances of the railway into London which is to be 'given over as a prey' to the 'Railway League'. Explains how Punch procured from Edward Stanford a map illustrating the extent of the invasion, and then details the various overland and underground lines that do not appear to satisfy anybody's interests. Upholding that 'something may be done against new aggressors', calls on 'the Senators of the moribund Parliament to deserve re-election by making a vigorous fight against nearly all schemes that have been lodged'. Protests against various lines, including the 'Nelson Column and Obelisk Line, which is to go through Poet's Corner in Westminster Abbey', criticises the 'tank' (railway bridge) that is to 'shut out' St Paul's Cathedral, and believes that in the 'mass of conspiracies "lodged" on the 30th ultimo [...] are hidden schemes for effecting every one of the objects we have protested against'. Goes on to praise Stanford for his 'magnificent and luxurious maps', calls on Londoners to protest against the encroachment of the lines on their 'mansions and gardens', to treat railway men as 'a highwayman of old, and hang him in his surveying chains', and that 'England expects every man to upset a train'.