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Mails to Ireland: Difference between revisions
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Rather rudimentary Sleeping Coaches were introduced on the Irish Mail train in 1875. Before then passengers could obtain from the guard, for a fee, special twin sticks and a cushion that could be laid across a compartment. Specially designed Sleeping Coaches were introduced in 1891. One was included in the formation of the 7pm service from Euston to Holyhead, returning on the 1am from Holyhead and this operated until 28-09-1991. In 1876 pre-ordered luncheon baskets were given to passengers at Chester. There were two choices available, up market at 5 shillings and standard at 2 and 6 pence. The standard basket, called a ''Democratic'' had a pint of ale or stout, cold meat or pie, cheese and bread. The up market version was called an ''Aristocrat'' and contained a pint of claret or ½ pint of sherry; chicken, ham or tongue; butter, cheese and bread.
On 12-09-1880 there was an attempt to blow up the Irish Mail train from London to Holyhead near to Bushey in Hertfordshire. An explosive device had been placed on the track but it failed to detonate properly. Warnings that the train and the Britannia Bridge were targets had been given as this was a time of "Fenian" activity in the country. [https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/20250134.recalling-plot-blow-train-bushey-watford/ Watford] historian Henry Williams noted in his 'History of Watford':
* '''"At that time a Russian Grand Duke had been in London and was expected to have been a passenger in the Irish mail from Euston that passed Watford a short time before the parcel was found, and it was for the purpose of wrecking that train that the dynamite was laid."'''
Such was the quantity of explosives that, if detonated, the train would have been destroyed. Those responsible were never identified.
Circa 1888 the first rudimentary Dining Cars were provided for First Class passengers only and meals had to be booked before joining the train and passengers had to remain in the same coach for the entire journey. Restaurant Cars where food could be cooked en-route appeared in 1895 and breakfast and lunch were provided on the Up service from Holyhead and tea on the down service from London.
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