Railways: The Making of a Nation: A Touch of Class airs Thursday 25 May 2023 on BBC Four.
Separate cars for first, second, and third-class travellers allowed trains to reflect social stratification. At the same time, however, they were physically bringing people together. There was a distinct upper, middle, and working class in early 1800s Britain. They rode the rails together, stopping at the same stations, and getting off at the same time.
Slowly but surely, the trains acted as a great catalyst, bringing people from all over the country together as they visited different parts of the country for the first time. Locations, accents, culture, and fashions were all novel. The country’s relationship with the royal family evolved as well. As a result, Victoria was able to visit more people all over her vast kingdom. Our sense of common history and culture deepened over time.
Railways: The Making of a Nation: A Touch of Class airs Thursday 25 May 2023 at 7.00pm on BBC Four
Featured Image Credit: BBC Four
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