Opening up the suburbs: workmen's trains in London 1860–1914

Abstract

ABSTRACT:This article examines the role played by workmen's trains in allowing working-class families to move out into London's suburbs between 1860 and 1914. While previous scholarship has argued that these trains effectively only benefited skilled artisans or a working-class elite, it is argued here that from the 1880s onwards they were increasingly used by unskilled workers in irregular employment. Furthermore, they were also used by women and children earning low wages in subsidiary employment. Ultimately, it is demonstrated that a much broader spectrum of the working class were living in the suburbs and commuting than has been previously supposed.