Minor British Institutions: Old trains
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Officially, of course, they are so over, left behind like the coach and horse and carrier's cart, hissing, clunking, smudging antitheses to our age of supposed clean efficiency.
Really, though, like red telephone boxes, fox hunting and salad cream, they are still out there; from Strathspey to Swanage, Dolgarrog to Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch, venerable veterans cossetted, coaxed and cared for to within an inch of their gauge.
What's afoot? Well, a non-enthusiast might put down the pull of old trains to loss: of empire, innocence, industry, when we still made things and knew how they worked, all bound up in the perfect triple-hit for nostalgics – vivid sound, smell and sight. But that leaves much unexplained, including the popularity of Thomas the Tank Engine, and diesels.
Whatever, there remain 500 miles of 'heritage' railway, carrying around seven million passengers a year back to those heady traction-scented days of station cats, compartments, footplates and oily rags. All aboard!
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments