THE COMING OF THE RAILWAY 243 



rose up unanimous in determination to have no railroad 

 near them if they could help it. Eton was positive its 

 famous school would be ruined if the proposed Great 

 Western line came anywhere near it. The authorities of 

 Oxford even declared that if the proposed station was 

 erefted parents would cease to send their sons to the 

 University. Railways might be all very well for places 

 like Manchester or Liverpool, but "there was no trade 

 to Oxford to justify or require so rapid a communica- 

 tion," and that it was never supposed that people would 

 want to travel "like the wind from north to south, 

 from east to west." The Mayor in 1838 said "he con- 

 sidered it most unjust and cruel that year after year 

 the city should be taxed to oppose a bill so unjustifiable 

 and so uncalled for." 



Despite opposition the G.W.R. crept on and in 

 April 1839 the newspapers reported: 



The Opening of the Line to Reading 



"The town of Reading, on Monday last, was much 

 enlivened from an early hour in the morning, in conse- 

 quence of the extension of the railroad to that place; 

 numbers flocked from the surrounding country, and 

 the town had the appearance of a grand holiday. Many 

 of the inhabitants availed themselves of a cheap and 

 expeditious ride to Twyf ord; some went as far as Maiden- 

 head and Slough; and a few aftually went by the first 

 train to London, and back again to breakfast before 

 10 o'clock. The station was thronged the whole of the 

 day by respedably dressed persons eager to view the 

 arrival and departure of the trains. The extreme beauty 



