Research for TV drama

[Nutmeg]

Hi there. I'm working on a TV drama set in Darwen 1878.
I've been doing plenty of research myself but was hoping people on here could help me further.

Am I correct that in 1878 was Darwen on the Lancashire and Yorkshire line?

Does anyone who where I might be able to find any ephemera relating to this stretch of the line from around 1878. This could include: timetables, notices, posters, tickets, handbills, flyers?
Ideally I'd like to purchase original items or obtain high res scans so I can reproduce them as set dressing and props.

Any help or advice would be greatly received.

Regards,
Mary

 

[furnessvale]

Hi there. I'm working on a TV drama set in Darwen 1878.
I've been doing plenty of research myself but was hoping people on here could help me further.

Am I correct that in 1878 was Darwen on the Lancashire and Yorkshire line?

Does anyone who where I might be able to find any ephemera relating to this stretch of the line from around 1878. This could include: timetables, notices, posters, tickets, handbills, flyers?
Ideally I'd like to purchase original items or obtain high res scans so I can reproduce them as set dressing and props.

Any help or advice would be greatly received.

Regards,
Mary

No so much the Lancashire and Yorkshire LINE, more a case of the Blackburn to Bolton line, on which Darwen stands, being owned by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company which had an extensive network of railways in those counties.

Sorry I can't help with the ephemera, but I would perhaps contact the local model railway clubs whose members could well collect such stuff. Almost certain there are clubs at Blackburn and Bolton and there may even be one at Darwen itself.

I hope you get the help. All too often we see film and TV dramas with wildly inappropriate material about railways that you wouldn't see in other areas, eg motor cars dating from 20 years after the alleged date of the film just wouldn't happen.

George

 

[krus_aragon]

The National Railway Museum in York has a collection of L&YR public timetables; the nearest to your date is 1885/1886. See http://yorsearch.york.ac.uk/NRM:LS_44YORK_NRM_LIB:44YORK_ALMA_DS21222032680001381 . They have a large collection of Bradshaw Railway Guides, including some from the 1870s, which may be relevant. They also have some collections of tickets. If you were to contact the NRM's archivists directly, they may be able to guide you further on what they have available.

A search on eBay for Lancashire & Yorkshire luggage labels gives a clear impression of the style of label they used, should you wish to recreate them or create one for Darwen or a nearby station.

In the 1870s, I suspect that many of the "posters" at the station would in fact be advertising, probably as metal/enamel signs. Period photos of the station or nearby stations could indicate what would be commonly advertised at the time. Perhaps someone with more local experience could suggest a railway history book on that line, with such photos included. Photos tend to be more common after 1890/1900 or so in my experience, though.

 

[randyrippley]

Might be worth contacting the East Lancs Railway for artefacts, as they are based on a former L&Y line
You may find suitable filming locations there as well......
http://www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk/

 

[randyrippley]

1878 Interesting year to dramatise for Darwen
The Cotton Riots
http://www.cottontown.org/The Cotton Industry/Cotton Industry 18th to 20th Century/Pages/Cotton-riots-1878.aspx

Fergie Suter becomes the world's first professional football player
http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Darwen/Darwen.htm

Over Darwen got its charter of incorporation as a municipal borough in 1878 (name was changed to Darwen in 1879)
https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co....s-growth-due-to-fortuitous-geographical-site/

 

[Ploughman]

TRy this society.
http://www.lyrs.org.uk/

 

[Spartacus]

Also the L&Y Railway Trust.

http://www.lyrtrust.org.uk/

 

[Nutmeg]

Thanks everybody. I really appreciate your help.

 

[Trackman]

I have relatives in Darwen, also lovely to see the India Mill chimney!

In 1878 the station was named 'Over Darwen' - renamed 'Darwen' 1st December 1883.
I've looked at old railway map 188x, it had sidings too which I imagine was a goods yard.

 

[Nutmeg]

I have another question for you very knowledgable and helpful lot.
Where / how might I be able to get an estimate of the cost of a train from Darwen - London in 1878?

 

[krus_aragon]

I have another question for you very knowledgable and helpful lot.
Where / how might I be able to get an estimate of the cost of a train from Darwen - London in 1878?

Third class fares were regulated at 1d per mile, so it'd depend on the mileage. A modern rail-mileage calculator gives 204 miles 24 chains for the route via Manchester, so something on the order of 204d, or 17 shillings.

In my experience, railways tended to charge 2d per mile for second class, and 3d per mile for first class, so double or triple the above figure, according to the wealth of the person that's travelling.

Return fares (for 1st and 2nd class) would generally offer a slight discount, say a return for 1.5 times the price of a single. Return tickets for 3rd class didn't exist. (There might be workmen's return fares for early morning / late evening travel on specific trains, but not on a long-distance journey like Darwen-London.)

 

[Trackman]

found timetables for 1865/1883 (from a newspaper).
From Over Darwen to London you would change at Blackburn where there would be a direct train to London via Preston (about 5 a day).
Only fares I can find are cheap excursion ones.
@krus_aragon is correct about the fares, see if I can find out more.

 

[Cowley]

In my experience, railways tended to charge 2d per mile for second class, and 3d per mile for third class, so double or triple the above figure, according to the wealth of the person that's travelling.

Did you mean to write it like that Krus?
Looks like it's the wrong way around?

 

[krus_aragon]

Did you mean to write it like that Krus?
Looks like it's the wrong way around?

Nope, thanks for catching that. :roll:

1d per mile for 3rd, 2d per mile for 2nd, 3d per mile for 1st.

 

[Cowley]

Nope, thanks for catching that. :roll:

1d per mile for 3rd, 2d per mile for 2nd, 3d per mile for 1st.

Interesting stuff though.

 

[Ken H]

Nope, thanks for catching that. :roll:

1d per mile for 3rd, 2d per mile for 2nd, 3d per mile for 1st.

That would be quite a lot of money on those days. Agricultural labourer would have got 14/- a week. 168d.

 

[krus_aragon]

That would be quite a lot of money on those days. Agricultural labourer would have got 14/- a week. 168d.

Jack Simmons, in his History of the Railways of England and Wales, said that while the 1d per mile rate was more expensive than on the continent, the generous luggage allowance of ~25kg per person meant that you could relocate for work and take most of your posessions with you at a favourable rate.