The CBB :: View topic - The Boat Train

#1: The Boat Train Author: catherine, Location: York

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 1:15 pm

In New Mistress, Biddy tells Kathie that they're on the boat train and it goes straight through to Paris. Once they've organised their things, she tells her they're settled until Paris.

I'm confused! Anyone know how the train got on the boat????

I'd always assumed they got off at Dover, got on the boat and picked up another train at Calais.

#2: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 2:22 pm

I've always wondered about this as well.

In 'School at' I think that they get off the train, on to the ferry, and back onto a new train. There is that scence at customs where Grizel marvels at being abroad for the first time. And then she is excited about seeing the 'French' train.

#3: Author: claire, Location: SOUTH WALES

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 4:05 pm

I think it was just a boat that linked to the train, so you wouldn't miss your connection the other end, and also your luggage would be moved for you

#4: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 5:07 pm

googled it and came up with this

In 1936, the Southern Railway company and the new SNCF invested in new train ferry docks at Dover and Dunkerque. These ships had rails on the cargo deck to carry railway carriages and wagons. At each end, the ship ran into a dock where the water level could be adjusted so that the trains could run off the ship onto the tracks. The luxury "Night Ferry" train had through coaches between London and Paris on this route, whilst the famous daytime "Golden Arrow" used the Dover-calais route, with separate trains either side of the channel - its rich passengers had a brief walk on and off the SS Canterbury (later SS Invicta), which was specially furnished for their benefit *.

* Thanks to John A Stedman

I've seen a film of the way they did it on some railway programme Alan was watching.

#5: Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US

Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 12:26 am

Thanks PatMac! I've always wondered about these. Seems to me Anne (of Green Gables etc.) also did a lot of riding on boat trains, so I guess they weren't unique to Europe.

#6: Author: Nell, Location: London, England

Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 11:40 am

They really do work like that too cos I've been on one...I got the train from Cologne to Copenhagen and the train actually did go on the boat to cross the Oresund!!! All really very odd and quite cool!

#7: Author: Rosie, Location: Huntingdonshire

Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 2:51 pm

I always assumed it was simply the train that went to Dover! *looks stunned at the idea of a train on a boat*

#8: Author: Chickpea,

Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 3:17 pm

Ok, going to display my full ignorance here!

Would you stay sat on your seats in the train or move onto the ferry's seats?

And would the train be where the cars are parked nowadays or on the deck in the open?

All I keep thinking about is if they were where the cars are, what would happen should the boat start to sink or capsize - imagine trying to first get out the compartment, then out the carriage and then off the boat.....

#9: Author: Nell, Location: London, England

Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 3:24 pm

the denmark on is on the deck but kind of half covered and it only takes about an hour but you had to get off the train!

#10: Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!!

Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 5:26 pm

I always imagined it to be a bit like the set up for the liners in Southampton. Here the railway went down into the docks and then the wealthy patrons disembarked at a covered building and walked straight up the gang plank into the ship. I always imagined it to be like this, so the idea of special trians is quite exciting!!!

#11: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 12:45 am

When I went to Switzerland in the 60's with the school we went from London to Dover on the boat train, got off the train in the docks and onto the ferry, then off the ferry onto another train in France.

#12: Author: Sarah_L, Location: Redcar

Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 10:36 am

For some reason I find the idea of a train on a boat pretty amusing. Smile

#13: Author: Nell, Location: London, England

Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 11:08 am

Maybe there are different variations then...the one from Jutland to Fyn definately went onto the boat...i think...unless i'm going mad and elaborating things cos they sound more fun...but i don't think i am...

#14: Author: Abi, Location: Alton, Hants

Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 9:09 pm

At the thought of a boat on a train! I'm another that always assumed it was a connexion!

#15: Author: Sugarplum, Location: second star to the right!

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 9:45 pm

There are days when I think we need a social history companion to the CS that explains all these things! It could include decimal money ...that is one thing I've never quite got my head around too!

Must admit though I just thought the boat train was the train that went to the boat

#16: Author: Abi, Location: Alton, Hants

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 10:03 pm

Decimal money is what we have now Confused

100p in £1?

*begins to worry about Sugarplum*

#17: Author: Rach, Location: Cheltenham, England

Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2004 8:27 am

I'd always wondered about boat trains too - it just sounds far too weird!! But I was at the National Rail Museum in York over Easter, and we saw one - it had seats that could change into bunks for overnight journeys - if you were rich you paid for 2 compartments and had seats in one and bunks next door, and if you were poorer you just paid for one. They had photos showing the trains on the boat, as far as I remember.

#18: Author: Rachel, Location: Plotting in my lair

Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2004 10:25 am

Sugarplum wrote:

There are days when I think we need a social history companion to the CS that explains all these things! It could include decimal money ...that is one thing I've never quite got my head around too!

What a fantastic idea! Maybe you should start writing it now Sugar so we can all buy a copy as soon as possible?

#19: Author: Kathye, Location: Laleham

Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2004 11:02 am

Abi wrote:

At the thought of a boat on a train! I'm another that always assumed it was a connexion!

I think Abi you mean a train on a boat !!

I would wibble at the thought of going by boat somewhere and the boat being put on the train ?? Wink

#20: Author: Sarah_L, Location: Redcar

Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2004 12:40 pm

If it was a little dinghy it would fit fine on the train. Wink

#21: Author: LL, Location: Salford, Manchester

Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2004 1:57 pm

*giggle giggle*
Thinking of a big ocean liner sitting on top of a train...

#22: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2004 11:11 pm

*thinking of what happens at the first low bridge*

#23: Author: Sarah_L, Location: Redcar

Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2004 10:36 am

Bridge v. Ocean Liner. I reckon the bridge would lose.

#24: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2004 9:53 pm

But if the bridge lost, so would the train, as it would end up under the bridge... Confused

#25: Author: LL, Location: Salford, Manchester

Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2004 4:39 pm

*giggle giggle*

#26: Author: Nina, Location: Peterborough, UK

Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2004 7:55 am

*Excited* Went to the National Rail Museum at York yesterday and saw lots of trains! I like trains, specially steam ones Very Happy

There were lots of little films to watch and one showed a train going onto a boat. My husband was slightly mystified at my cry of "Oh look, that's how it works!" but when I told him it was a Chalet thing, he just walked off muttering Confused

(Carola's coming to stay for the weekend soon and he keeps threatening to go and live in his office for the weekend and leave us to the Chalet School - says he won't understand what we're on about Shocked

)

#27: Author: claire, Location: SOUTH WALES

Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2004 12:50 pm

to be fair he probably wouldn't understand

#28: Author: Nina, Location: Peterborough, UK

Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2004 10:48 am

Well, in 16 years he's managed to convert me to Dr Who - to the point where I can quote bits Very Happy

but because of his sight problems he doesn't read much, so he hasn't got into my stuff. I was thinking of getting him one of the audio tapes, I think he'd really enjoy Exile particularly cos he likes WWII history, but I don't think that's on tape Question

#29: Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough.......

Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2004 12:30 pm

You could make him a tape Nina.................. Wink

#30: Author: LL, Location: Salford, Manchester

Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2004 4:06 pm

Or I could... I love making tapes!

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