Genre:

Essay, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

L S *

Subjects:

Railways, Transport, Charlatanry, Commerce, Accidents

    The initial letter of the article forms part of an illustration showing Mr Punch driving a small steam locomotive along a track. He wears a knight's helmet and carries a broken lance—the result of having successfully jousted with the driver of a locomotive on a parallel line. The article begins by reminding readers that the Eastern Counties Railway Company was, until now, considered the 'worst managed line out of London'. Punch thinks this distinction must now pass to the South Western Railway Company, noting the dirty stations, inconvenient and insufficient 'ticket-taking', poor time-keeping, and 'uncourteous' staff. Believes the 'normal condition' of the railway is 'utter collapse and blank break-down', and concludes by noting that although the railway has 'avoided accidents' and fraud, its trains are gravely slow.