I know we've have a discussion on this subject before but it's now closed. I've been watching Gentleman Jack, set in the 1830s, on BBC1, having until recently lived near Halifax. There were several references to the new-fangled railways, in particular the likely effect of railway expansion on the town's prosperity but also on the value of Anne Lister's canal shares.
Later we see the couple riding on the then new Leeds & Selby Railway, opened in 1834. The train is hauled by the replica "Rocket", not sure where it was filmed - this was no doubt the best the producers could do if they wanted a live steam train. Several episodes later, but still in 1834 I think, I was surprised to hear the following dialogue -
Mrs Sutherland (who lived near Inverness): "When will you reach Edinburgh? Erm... Is it tomorrow night? And then the train! To Manchester. Hopefully, we should be in Halifax by Saturday or Sunday."
1834 is at least 12 years too early for such a train journey. It was possible to travel from Edinburgh to Newcastle in 1846, but this involved crossing both the Tweed and the Tyne by road or ferry. The first public train from Euston to Gateshead ran in 1844, while the Lancaster and Carlisle opened in 1846. This event can't have been taken from Anne Lister's diary as her attention to detail appears to have been meticulous so it must be another case of poetic licence.
Later we see the couple riding on the then new Leeds & Selby Railway, opened in 1834. The train is hauled by the replica "Rocket", not sure where it was filmed - this was no doubt the best the producers could do if they wanted a live steam train. Several episodes later, but still in 1834 I think, I was surprised to hear the following dialogue -
Mrs Sutherland (who lived near Inverness): "When will you reach Edinburgh? Erm... Is it tomorrow night? And then the train! To Manchester. Hopefully, we should be in Halifax by Saturday or Sunday."
1834 is at least 12 years too early for such a train journey. It was possible to travel from Edinburgh to Newcastle in 1846, but this involved crossing both the Tweed and the Tyne by road or ferry. The first public train from Euston to Gateshead ran in 1844, while the Lancaster and Carlisle opened in 1846. This event can't have been taken from Anne Lister's diary as her attention to detail appears to have been meticulous so it must be another case of poetic licence.