Railroads: School Usage


Figure 1.-- This is a school visit to Swindon Railway works. I'm not sure when the photograph was taken, probably about 1935. I'm also not sure what kind of school the boys are from, probably a private school. Notice the number on the locomotive--No. 5919. These are the numbers trainspotters look for. Click on the image for another view.

Children are fascinated by trains. They are big, powerful, and loud--all characteristics with enchant children. School children became very familar with trains. This was especially the case in Europe. Many school children travel to school on trains. This is the case both for children attending boarding school as well as commuters attending day schools. This was especially the case before World War II when privately owned cars were not as common as they are today. Car and buses no taken children to school. Plnes tend to be used for long distance travel. Even so, trains continue to be widely used even today. This is much more so in Europe than in America. The train is a widely used passanger service in Europe while in America it is primarily used for freight. We are quite familar with the British rail system, but other European countries also have excllent systems as do the Japanese. Even though children are very familiar with trains, they are still fascinated by them. Popular school as well as youth group field trips involve visits to train stations and other facilities as well as to railway museums. There are some excellent railway museums in Britain as well as rilway displays in other museums.

Children and Trains

Children are fascinated by trains. They are big, powerful, and loud--all characteristics with enchant children. Of course it is boys who are most enchanted by trains, but girls also find them interesting. several hobbies are associated with trains, such as model railroading and trainspotting. There is a wonderful Scottish movie--"Trainspotting". Others collect railroad memorabilia. Of course these are not just hobbies for childre. Many adults became interested in trains as children and became serious about a railroad hobby as adults.

School Transportation

School children became very familar with trains. This was especially the case in Europe. Many school children travel to school on trains. This is the case both for children attending boarding school as well as commuters attending day schools. This was especially the case before World WarII when privately owned cars were not as common as they are today. Car and buses no taken children to school. Plnes tend to be used for long distance travel. Even so, trains continue to be widely used even today. This is much more so in Europe than in America. The train is a widely used passanger service in Europe while in America it is primarily used for freight. We are quite familar with the British rail system, but other European countries also have excllent systems as do the Japanese.

Field Trips

Even though children are very familiar with trains, they are still fascinated by them. Popular school as well as youth group field trips involve visits to train stations and other facilities as well as to railway museums. There are some excellent railway museums in Britain as well as rilway displays in other museums. Presumably the same is true of other European countries as well.






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Created: January 4, 2004
Last updated: January 4, 2004