On this day / 28th March 1988 - formal end of carrying coffins by train

[whole diary]

[grahame]

https://rchs.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/FINAL-Parsons-Coffins-by-Train.pdf (mirror for members (here))

‘Place on Rail’. Transportation of the Dead by Train in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom)

From construction in the 1830s, the UK rail network brought mobility not only for the living but also the dead. As a technological advancement railways revolutionised the transportation of coffins through providing an efficient, swift and cost-effective mode of conveyance; wherever a station existed, a coffin could be despatched or received. It was a task that continued until the motor hearse finally triumphed. Undertakers were key to facilitating this through booking the journey with the rail company along with delivering to and collecting coffins from stations. One London funeral director consistently records this task in their registers as ‘Place on rail at...’.

Research into the movement of coffins by train has received little attention with the exception of studies into two cemetery railway services, accounts of high-profile journeys (such as royalty, members of the Churchill family, Dr Barnardo and William Gladstone) and a few brief references in biographical texts.1 This is the first study exploring the domestic despatch of coffins in the UK.

Drawing largely from funeral directors’ records, this article examines the movement of coffins in the UK from the 1850s to the late 1950s, through exploring the scope, scale and cost of transportation along with booking and conveyance arrangements.

[1st fan]

https://rchs.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/FINAL-Parsons-Coffins-by-Train.pdf (mirror for members (here))

‘Place on Rail’. Transportation of the Dead by Train in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom)

From construction in the 1830s, the UK rail network brought mobility not only for the living but also the dead. As a technological advancement railways revolutionised the transportation of coffins through providing an efficient, swift and cost-effective mode of conveyance; wherever a station existed, a coffin could be despatched or received. It was a task that continued until the motor hearse finally triumphed. Undertakers were key to facilitating this through booking the journey with the rail company along with delivering to and collecting coffins from stations. One London funeral director consistently records this task in their registers as ‘Place on rail at...’.

Research into the movement of coffins by train has received little attention with the exception of studies into two cemetery railway services, accounts of high-profile journeys (such as royalty, members of the Churchill family, Dr Barnardo and William Gladstone) and a few brief references in biographical texts.1 This is the first study exploring the domestic despatch of coffins in the UK.

Drawing largely from funeral directors’ records, this article examines the movement of coffins in the UK from the 1850s to the late 1950s, through exploring the scope, scale and cost of transportation along with booking and conveyance arrangements.

Where would you put a coffin on an IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)) other than the bike/luggage cupboard? Now that would be an interesting announcement as the train was sitting at Paddington. Only those coffins with a reservation…..

[CyclingSid]

Only those coffins with a reservation…..

They would probably stand as much chance as a bike reservation has.

[Electric train]

Only those coffins with a reservation…..

They would probably stand as much chance as a bike reservation has.

Standing a coffin up would allow it to travel in the passenger compartments of the train, standing alongside everyone else who cannot get a seat 

I can remember the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)(original GWR) covered coffin trolley at Paddington Station in the 1970's / 80's the mechanical fitters in the station Maintainenance section had a 3 monthly inspection and maintenance of it to check the brake, wheel bearing, door latches and towing bar. 

[1st fan]

Only those coffins with a reservation…..

They would probably stand as much chance as a bike reservation has.

Standing a coffin up would allow it to travel in the passenger compartments of the train, standing alongside everyone else who cannot get a seat 

I can remember the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)(original GWR) covered coffin trolley at Paddington Station in the 1970's / 80's the mechanical fitters in the station Maintainenance section had a 3 monthly inspection and maintenance of it to check the brake, wheel bearing, door latches and towing bar. 

Can you imagine the complaints on Trip Advisor if that happened……

………especially from surfers who can’t bring their boards on board an IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)) yet could bring a coffin…..

[Mark A]

Can you imagine the complaints on Trip Advisor if that happened……

………especially from surfers who can’t bring their boards on board an IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)) yet could bring a coffin…..

It'd probably be easier to stash two (empty) coffins vertically* in an iep's bike space than two bikes tbh.

Also, I'm now imagining the argument "That? It's not a surfboard, it's a coffin lid!"

Going off-topic, really disappointed that this Australian approach is just a standard coffin with vinyls...

https://expressioncoffins.com.au/coffin/surf-rescue/

Mark