172 



COACHING COMPANIES FORMED. 



CHAP. IX. 



" The Experiment " was fairly started as a passenger 

 coach on the 10th of October, 1825, a fortnight after 

 the opening of the line. It was drawn by one horse, 

 and performed a journey daily each way between the 

 two towns, accomplishing the distance of twelve miles 

 in about two hours. The fare charged was a shilling, 

 without distinction of class ; and each passenger was 

 allowed fourteen pounds of luggage free. The " Experi- 

 ment " was not, however, worked by the company, but 

 was let to Messrs. Picker sgill and Harland, carriers on 

 the railway, under an arrangement with them as to the 

 payment of tolls for the use of the line, rent of booking- 

 cabins, &c. 



The speculation answered so well, that several coaching 

 companies were shortly after got up by innkeepers at 

 Darlington and Stockton, for the purpose of running other 

 coaches upon the railroad ; and an active competition 

 for passenger traffic sprang up. 1 " The Experiment " 

 being found too heavy for one horse to draw between 

 Stockton and Darlington, besides being found an uncom- 

 fortable machine, was banished to the coal district, and 

 ran for a time between Darlington and Shildon. Its place 

 on the line between Stockton and Darlington was sup- 

 plied by other and better vehicles, though they were no 

 other than old stage-coach bodies, purchased by the com- 

 pany, and each mounted upon an underframe with flange- 

 wheels. These were let on hire to the coaching com- 



1 The coaches were not allowed to 

 be run upon the line without consider- 

 able opposition. We find Edward 

 Pease writing to Joseph Sanders, of 

 Liverpool, on the 18th January, 

 1827: "Our railway coach pro- 

 prietors have individually received 

 notices of a process in the Exchequer 

 for various fines, to the amount of 

 150Z., in penalties of 201. each, for 

 neglecting to have the plates, with 

 the numbers of their licenses, on the 

 coach doors, agreeably to the provi- 

 sions of the Act 95 George IV. In 



looking into the nature of this proceed- 

 ing and its consequences, it is clear, if 

 the Court shall confirm it by convic- 

 tion, that we are undone as to the 

 conveyance of passengers." Mr. Pease 

 incidentally mentions the names of the 

 several coach proprietors at the time 

 " Pickersgill and Co., Richard Scott, 

 and Martha Hewson." The proceed- 

 ing was eventually defeated, it being 

 decided that the penalties only applied 

 to coaches travelling on common or 

 turnpike-roads. 



