1865.] Tyler on Circulation and Communication on Raihcays. 581 



the look-out, to prevent them from doing go. Neither male nor 

 female passengers would go to sleep with the same degree of con- 

 fidence in the " limited mails " or other night trains, if they were 

 liable to receive unwelcome visitors of any class, without supervision, 

 at all parts of the journey. 



It would appear, therefore, that as a general rule external circula- 

 tion is in this country neither practicable nor desirable, and that it 

 would be particularly unsuited to those long journeys on which pro- 

 tection is most required. But it is quite otherwise with internal 

 circidation, which, on the other hand, would afford many advantages. 

 The American system could not, of course, be adopted without modifi- 

 cation. The sub-committee of the Clearing House which reported on 

 the 9th March, 1853, stated on this point : — " 23. And as regards the 

 American arrangement, it is obvious that it is so opposed to the social 

 habits of the English, and would interfere so much with the privacy 

 and comfort which they now enjoy, that these considerations, apart 

 from others nearly as important, woidd forbid its adoption in this 

 country." And the sub-committee which reported on the 25th of 

 March last, state, — " 11. As to the suggestion that the English com- 

 panies should adopt carriages built upon the American plan, which 

 allows of internal communication from one part of the train to the 

 other by means of a central passage, the sub-committee is satisfied that 

 the habits of English travellers woidd not tolerate any such system. 

 Apart from the enormous outlay which would be involved in a recon- 

 struction of the stock of the different companies to secure a doubtful 

 advantage, the delays which would arise in the loading and unloading 

 of trains on the great railways of England, particularly in the metro- 

 polis and at other great centres of population, would be productive of 

 very serious evils. Any person who has travelled upon railways where 

 these carriages are in use must have observed the great loss of time 

 which is consequent upon the means of leaving and entering them 

 being limited to the doorway at each end, instead of taking place by 

 the more numerous doorways parallel to the platform, as in the ordi- 

 nary English carriages." 



But the second sub-committee seem to go too far in saying that the 

 "habits of English travellers would not tolerate any such system." 

 The fact is that neither English nor any other travellers have much 

 choice in railway travelling. Their habits are to a great extent 

 formed for them. They are compelled to avail themselves of the 

 conveyances provided by the railway companies, and are frequently 

 obliged to tolerate that which they would not willingly put up with. 

 The British passenger is only exceeded in patience and forbearance 

 by the railway shareholder, and we make bold, to say that both would 

 be quite disposed to acquiesce in any system that may be proved upon 

 full consideration to be the best for his own and the general good. 

 There is no good reason why a means of passing through the trains 

 should not be combined with the separation of classes, and even 

 compartments, by sliding doorways, as well as with a certain number 

 of side doors for facilitating ingress and egress, so as to avoid extra 

 delay to any serious extent at the stations. The Swiss carriages, for 



