In the 19th century, if you were planning a railway journey across Britain, Bradshaw’s Railway Guide was the essential companion. First published in 1839, it became the go-to reference for Victorian travelers, offering detailed timetables, fares, and station information at a time when the railway system was expanding rapidly.
But what if we tried to follow a journey from Bradshaw’s Guide today? Would it still be possible? How much has changed? Let’s step into the shoes of a Victorian railway passenger and attempt to recreate an itinerary using a historical railway guide in modern Britain.
📖 What Was Bradshaw’s Railway Guide?
- A monthly railway timetable book, listing every train service in Britain.
- Used by Victorian travelers, businesspeople, and tourists.
- Famously referenced by Sherlock Holmes, Phileas Fogg (Around the World in 80 Days), and Michael Portillo in his TV series.
- Contained rail maps, travel tips, and station facilities (including refreshment rooms!).
With this guide in hand, a Victorian traveler could navigate the entire railway system—a network far larger than today’s.
🚆 Choosing a Victorian Railway Journey to Recreate
To make this experiment work, we need to find a historical journey in Bradshaw’s Guide that we can attempt today. Let’s select a classic Victorian-era route:
📍 London to Bath & Bristol (1850s version)
- This route was one of the most popular railway journeys of the 19th century.
- It connected London to the famous Roman city of Bath and the port of Bristol.
- Built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, it was a feat of engineering.
- The route still exists today, though with many changes.
🕰️ Following the Victorian Route Today
🚉 1. Departing from London Paddington
Bradshaw’s Guide (1850s):
- Depart Paddington Station on a Great Western Railway (GWR) express.
- Travel in a luxurious first-class carriage or a more basic second-class open coach.
- The train is likely steam-powered and stops at key stations along the way.
- Travel Time: 3+ hours to Bath, 4+ hours to Bristol.
2025 Version:
- The same route exists today, operated by modern GWR high-speed trains.
- Travel time is now just 1 hour 20 minutes to Bath, 1 hour 40 minutes to Bristol.
- Instead of a steam locomotive, we have sleek, modern diesel-electric trains.
- First-class still exists but is far less elegant than Victorian carriages.
🚆 Key Difference: A journey that took most of a day in the 1850s is now a quick trip thanks to electrification and modern rail technology.
🚉 2. Stopping at Key Victorian Stations
Along the way, let’s check some of the stations from Bradshaw’s era and see how they compare today.
🚉 Reading Station
Then: A small but growing railway stop. Likely had a Victorian refreshment room where passengers could buy tea and sandwiches.
Now: A huge modern interchange, serving thousands of commuters daily. No more refreshment rooms—just coffee chains like Costa and Pret!
🚉 Swindon Station
Then: Home to Brunel’s Great Western Railway Works, where steam locomotives were built and repaired.
Now: Still a major railway stop, but the old railway works have been converted into museums and shopping outlets.
🚆 Key Difference: The old stations still exist, but they’ve lost their Victorian-era charm, porters, and dining rooms.
🚉 3. Arriving in Bath – Then vs. Now
📍 Bath Spa Station
1850s Bradshaw’s Guide:
- The train arrives at Bath Spa, a station built in elegant Victorian style.
- Bath is a popular tourist destination for wealthy Victorians visiting the Roman baths and Georgian architecture.
- Porters assist with unloading luggage and arranging carriages to hotels.
- Travelers might stay at the Royal Crescent or visit Bath’s famous Pump Room for afternoon tea.
2025 Version:
- Bath Spa Station is still a beautiful historic building, though modernized.
- Instead of horse-drawn carriages, taxis and buses wait outside.
- Visitors still flock to the Roman Baths and Pump Room, but now alongside selfie-taking tourists!
🚆 Key Difference: Bath has remained a popular travel destination, but the elegance of railway travel has changed dramatically.
🚉 4. Continuing to Bristol – The Final Stop
📍 Bristol Temple Meads Station
1850s Bradshaw’s Guide:
- The journey ends at Bristol Temple Meads, a station designed by Brunel himself.
- Bristol is an important port city, where goods from across the British Empire arrive.
- Travelers might transfer to a steamship bound for America.
2025 Version:
- Bristol Temple Meads is still one of the UK’s grandest railway stations, retaining much of its original Victorian architecture.
- The steamships are gone, but Bristol Harbour remains a vibrant cultural area.
🚆 Key Difference: The station still exists, but the golden age of steam and ocean liners is long gone.
📜 How Much of the Journey Has Changed?
What Has Stayed the Same?
✅ The railway route still exists—London to Bath & Bristol is still a key corridor.
✅ Some stations retain their original Victorian architecture.
✅ Bath and Bristol remain top tourist destinations, just as they were in the 19th century.
What’s Different?
❌ Travel time is much faster—no more full-day journeys.
❌ Dining cars, porters, and grand waiting rooms have disappeared.
❌ First-class is less luxurious, and the romance of steam trains is gone.
❌ Train stations are now filled with fast-food chains and ticket machines instead of Victorian lounges.
🔚 Final Thoughts: Would You Travel by Victorian Train?
Recreating a journey from Bradshaw’s Railway Guide today shows us how much railway travel has changed. While we’ve gained speed, efficiency, and convenience, we’ve lost the sense of adventure, formality, and elegance that made 19th-century train travel unique.
🚆 Would you rather take a sleek, modern train or travel in a plush Victorian railway carriage with a full meal service? Let us know in the comments!
📌 Want to Know More?
🔎 Explore old Bradshaw’s Railway Guides and see how timetables looked in the 1800s.
🚆 Visit heritage railways like the Bluebell Railway to experience Victorian train travel.
🕰️ Compare today’s train routes with 19th-century railway maps.
