Expert: Mark Smith - 10/29/2009

Question
I am due to give a talk on the life of Dr. William Palmer (the Rugeley Poisoner) and in particular certain aspects of the trial. It would be of great singnificance to know the journey times between London and Stafford at this time. Hope you can help! Many thanks. Gerry Hinks

Answer
Hello Gerry.
I can't be precise as I've been unable to find a timetable from 1856, but the mail train from London to Stafford took 5 hours in 1852, down to 4 hrs 15 mins in 1862. So you could say around 4 hrs 45 mins or so in 1856.
Mark

I've found my copy of Palmer by Dudley Barker (I knew I had it somewhere) and it says that Palmer returned from London in November 1855 on an express train which left at 5.00pm and arrived in Stafford at 8.45pm, taking just 3hrs 45mins. So it seems that the journey time varied depending on which train you caught, the express or the slower mail train which presumably made many stops.
Mark