LNER Holiday handbook 1938

As the railway network rapidly spread across Britain in the 1800s, train travel became increasingly popular and seaside resorts – now easily accessible by rail – began to spring up all around the coast. With the introduction of paid holidays from 1938, more and more families could afford to holiday at the coast or take a day trip to the seaside. Holiday handbooks or guides were published by all the major railway companies of the time, including the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER). They featured information about the area, attractions to visit and details on B&Bs and hotels. They also included railway maps of different regions.

Teesside boasted some of the most fashionable and popular resorts of the time. These included Saltburn-by-Sea, with its Victorian architecture, cliff lift and famous pier, and Redcar with its sandy beaches stretching nearly eight miles. The LNER produced posters as well as holiday handbooks, with its famous strapline ‘It’s quicker by rail’, advertising seaside family fun such as paddling, building sandcastles and exploring rockpools.

See more railway posters in the Beside our seaside theme.

Find out more about the first trains and early rail travel in the Stockton & Darlington Railway theme.

Image courtesy of Head of Steam – Darlington Railway Museum