Victorian vehicles
Introduction
In the Victorian times, the evolution of transport came on leaps and bounds.
There were many exciting inventions and ideas that meant that more people in London were able to move around the city.
You might be wondering what we mean by ‘Victorian times’ – this means when the Queen of the United Kingdom was Queen Victoria. That was a very long time ago, from 1837 to 1901.
When you look at transport, and other ‘old things’, there are some things you can look out for that can help you know just how old they are.
To tell if a vehicle is from the Victorian times, look out for some of these:
Instead of engines, it was horses that pulled buses along the cobbled streets of London
Trains were fuelled by coal and so had chimneys with steam coming out of them
Take a look at what the driver or passengers might be wearing. Are the men wearing top hats and the women big dresses? Probably Victorian!
On a bus, the driver usually sat outside and high up
Most vehicles were made out of wood, especially buses. Even the wheels were wooden!
Now, this isn’t always the case, there can be some trick ones. But have a go at looking at the vehicles below and decide whether you think each are Victorian vehicles, or not!
Quiz: can you spot the Victorian vehicles?
Learn more...
If you want to learn more about the vehicles you just looked at, click on the links below to discover more on our Collections Online.
And discover more about Victorian transport with our stories!
London’s population was about 1.7 million when Queen Victoria was crowned in 1837. Mainline railways in the 1840s and 1850s brought even more people into the Capital. Traffic congestion was reaching crisis point and radical solutions were needed. Read more about public transport in Victorian London – underground
During Queen Victoria's reign (1837-1901), London's population grew at an astonishing rate. London’s centre became increasingly congested. Read more about public transport in Victorian London – on the surface.
At the start of the nineteenth century there were no buses or railways in London. The city was compact, and its narrow streets crowded. Learn how George Shillibeer, a coachbuilder and stable keeper and the London General Omnibus Company shaped London’s horse bus era.
