Boat Trains : History, Development and Operation.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Pring, Martyn.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Boat trains.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (386 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Havertown : Pen & Sword Books Limited, 2021.

Summary:

In many ways this title featuring the evolution of cross-channel boat trains and the many dedicated services responsible for moving international passengers to and from transatlantic steamers, is an extension of luxury railway travel. But that's not the full story as it encapsulates more than 125 years of independent and organized tourism development. At the end of the nineteenth century, faster and more stable twin-screw vessels replaced cross-channel paddlers resulting in a significant expansion in the numbers of day excursionists and short-stay visitors heading to Belgium, France and the Channel Islands. Continental Europe, as it had done since the end of the Napoleonic Wars beckoned, introducing ideas of modern-day mass tourism.Numerous liners bestriding the globe were British domiciled. Major ports became hives of commercial activity involving moving freight and mail, as well as transporting all manner of travelers. Not only was there intense competition for passenger traffic between the Old and New World and Britain's imperial interests, greater numbers of well-heeled tourists headed off to warmer winter climes, and also experimented with the novel idea of using ocean steamers as hotels to visit an array of diverse destinations. Cruise tourism and the itinerary had arrived as 'Ocean Special' boat trains became essential components of railway and port procedures.While some railway operations were dedicated to emigrant traffic, continental and ocean liner boat trains were also synonymous with the most glamorous travel services ever choreographed by shipping lines and railway companies working closely in tandem. This well illustrated book explores the many functions of boat train travel.

Contents:

Intro

Dedication

Title

Copyright

Contents

Acknowledgements

Foreword

Introduction

Chapter 1 Victorian and Edwardian Travel Progress

Chapter 2 The Inter-War Years: A Golden Age of Travel

Chapter 3 Post-war: International Travel Resumes

Chapter 4 The Boat Train Has Had its Day

Chapter 5 Great Cross-Channel Boat Train Expresses

Belle Époque Europe: The Calais-Méditerranée Express, Côte d'Azur Rapide and the Rome Express

French Magic: The Blue Train and the Côte d'Azur Pullman Express

Golden Arrow

Night Ferry

The Blue Train's Swansong and the Mistral

Chapter 6 Ocean Liner Special Boat Trains

Liverpool Riverside and Gladstone Docks: LNWR American Specials, LMS and British Railways London Midland Region boat trains

Southampton Docks: LSWR, Southern Railway and British Railways Southern Region boat trains

Plymouth Millbay: GWR and British Railways Western Region Ocean Mails boat trains

Plymouth Stonehouse: LSWR American boat trains

Bristol Avonmouth: GWR and British Railways Western Region Ocean Mails boat trains

Fishguard Harbour: GWR Ocean Mails boat trains

Notes

Select Bibliography.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

1-5267-6195-5

1-5267-6193-9

OCLC:

1314619982