"My luggage was waiting for me, and I had no difficulty in finding the carriage which Holmes had indicated, the less so as it was the only one in the train which was marked "Engaged."-- Dr. John H. Watson (FINA).

Mr. Sherlock Holmes usually traveled by Hansom cab, often being the quickest way to anywhere he wanted to go; but he also made use of the local London Metropolitan Railway system known as the "Underground." Baker Street Station was just "around the corner" from his digs, providing a convenient portal to local public transportation such as in REDH where Holmes takes the Underground to Aldersgate.

For longer journeys, the detective and his chronicler could use the extended train service, reaching far into the countryside. In the evening, railways could be seen from a distance, lit by their red signal-lamps such as at Wandsworth Common in GREE. Trains had several classes, just as they do today. When possible, Holmes and Watson traveled in first class, often having a compartment to themselves (SILV) or at least Pullman car "corner seats" (SILV, BOSC ). In FINA, Holmes and Watson take a first class carriage on the Continental Express while Moriarty is hot on their tale, having engaged a (much more expensive) Special - thus being a testament to how well Moriarty's crime syndicate paid the bills.

Railroad related crime sometimes crossed Holmes' radar, such as the railroad-related death in BRUC or the case involving the Engineer's Thumb (ENGI). The latter case was brought to Holmes' attention by Dr. Watson after he had married and moved to the Paddington District, close to Paddington Station.

Watson's practice profited from its relative closeness to the station as he "got a few patients from among the [railroad] officials. One of these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was never weary of advertising my virtues, and of endeavouring to send me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by the maid tapping at the door, to announce that two men had come from Paddington, and were waiting in the consulting room. I dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs" (ENGI).

In SILV, Holmes makes a mental exercise of calculating the rate of travel by using the telegraph poles (which are 60 yards apart). Scholars can't quite agree on how he did this "simple" calculation, but surely it helped him pass a moment or two of time. Holmes also took his slew of papers on the train, reading them to pass the time and stuffing them under the seat when he was done. Watson, on the other hand, passes the time with a relaxing smoke.

CANON EXAMPLES OF TRAIN TRAVEL:

Waterloo to Leatherhead train (ENGI, SPEC )
Bradshaw to Winchester train (COPP)
Paddington to Dartmoor (SILV)
Winchester to London (SILV)
Paddington to Boscombe Valley (Near Ross) (BOSC)
Waterloo to Woking (NAVA)
Portsmouth to London (NAVA)
London to Canterbury (FINA)
Canterbury to Newhaven (FINA)

UNSPECIFIED TRAIN TRAVEL

Train journey (CARD)
"A short railway journey" (BERY)

Information on the types of trains and engines used in and around London at this time is most welcome.

See also Sherlock Holmes and the Railways.