On 13th June 1842 Queen Victoria became the the first monarch to ride on a train. She traveled from Slough to Paddington in the Royal Carriage pulled by the Phlegethon and its tender. A replica of this train may be seen at the Didcot Railway Centre. It is regularly steamed up to give an authentic taste of travel at the dawn of the railway era. Later in her reign Queen Victoria often passed by my house (which in the late 1800s was part of the Blenheim Pub) on the way to her favourite holiday residence on the Isle of Wight at Osborne House. The Fareham to Gosport railway line followed the current route of the cycle track only a few yards from my garden in Station Road and terminated at Gosport Railway Station. For all I know she may have stopped over at Fort Brockhurst Station (click on the house near this Google Location to see at picture of what is left of the Station) to pop into the pub for a quick one with her consort Prince Albert! One what will go unsaid to protect the reputation of the Queen! 😉
Comments are closed.