Railway Carriage Ratings

[woofas]

When did they change from marking railway carriages "Standard" to "3rd"? I know that it was before the late 40s (nationalisation)

[Baldric]

The layout of the coach was a number of compartments, all of which were standard class (known as third class until 1956), linked by a side corridor.

[Baldric]

Ignore that ^^^

[woofas]

I was more interested in what was actually marked on the doors/windows. I am old enough to remember seeing "3" but would like to know if "Standard" was ever actually marked.
Back in the seventies, we used to buy a Third Class ticket to London & then have breakfast in the First Class dining car as there was not a Third Class one! Then do the same on the way back taking "high tea"

[mushroom25]

During the Victorian era, most trains had three classes of accommodation: first class, second class, and Third Class. From the 1870s onwards, second class (equivalent to either premium economy or business class) was gradually abolished, while first class and third class were retained. The reason that second class was abolished and third class retained was that the Railway Regulation Act 1844 required a third-class service to be offered. In June 1956, third class was renamed "second class", which in turn was renamed "standard class" in the 1980s

[Hopkirk]

I believe on the very early trains, first class had the luxury of a roof.

[woofas]

Sorry, my memory must be slipping. We must have bought Second Class tickets - not Third on our trips to London in the 70s. However, I certainly remember Third Class as a child. Local trains used individual compartments (hence no access to a loo) whilst long distance ones had the side corridor.

[BlackadderV]

Many was the time in the 60s when I would sit on my suitcase in the corridor going from the south west to the north east because there were no seats left.

[stuey]

Remember the leather strops with the brass grommets in them which you used to adjust the opening and closing of the windows? As a kid I was fascinated by them:)

[Hopkirk]

I also remember that the internal door opening levers were deactivated until the train stopped.
Therefore as the train nearly came to a halt you could see all the commuters reaching out to use the outside handles to open the door early and step out.

[murraymints]

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Technology/Question1396955.html#answer-9528141


excuse the aside...STUEY LOOK HERE !

[DaisyNonna]

Blackadder, I regularly lean on my case, no room for knees to sit on it when travelling from Southampton to Bournemouth. Seats? Remember them. Does one pay for a seat or the privilege of standing?

[janbee]

I used to commute from Brighton to London every day and , fortunately, as the journey started in Brighton, I was able to get a seat but by the time the train had reached Haywards Heath(only a few stops up the commuter line) people were quite often having to stand all the way to London. I don't commute any more but I'm sure the problem still exists. The annual season ticket cost is ENORMOUS and yet you still have to stand or fight for the few remaining seats. Not a good start to the working day. Then... you get the hassle to do all over again coming home. Who would be a commuter eh?

[campbellking]

Hopkirk, East Midlands still use some of those trains.