454 THE COACHING AGE. 



about that distance, and carrying six inside, with the 

 basket behind, which was a sort of box containing 

 two seats for three persons on each, sitting in the 

 same position as in an ordinary waggonette ; it was 

 just above the axle of the hind-wheels, with steps at 

 the back to get up into it, and was in use on the 

 Greenwich and Blackheath coaches until they were 

 taken off the road on the opening of the railway. 



When the South- Western line first opened seats 

 were constructed for two persons on the roof of the 

 carriage, their feet resting on a footboard between the 

 carriages, but protected from the chance of being 

 crushed by the buffers not allowing the carriages to 

 come sufficiently near to each other. Probably the 

 plan was found likely to lead to accidents from 

 passengers standing up and coming in contact with 

 bridges along the line, and hence was discontinued. 



Other improvements have taken place from time to 

 time, the most important probably being the intro- 

 duction of the telegraphic signals — rather different 

 from the policemen all along the Manchester and 

 Liverpool line. 



What with sleeping-carriages, dining-cars, foot- 

 warmers, and other comforts and conveniences in 

 railway-travelling at the present time, persons can 

 scarcely recogni^ it as the mode of travelling in their 

 early days, less than fifty years since. 



