Ashwin Lewis
Before the advent of modern trains, people travelled long distances using horse-drawn carriages. The quality and comfort of these modes of transportation varied significantly, with larger, slower carriages carrying up to 16-20 people. Travellers often complained about discomfort, accidents, exposure to the elements, and bumpy roads. Despite these challenges, people managed to sleep in carriages, and the concept of sleeping carriages has evolved over time, with modern examples offering various amenities. The history of sleeping carriages is intriguing, spanning from the early days of horse-drawn carriages to the modern era of high-speed trains.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time Period | 1700s-1800s |
| Sleep Patterns | Biphasic sleep (two sleeps) |
| Sleep Duration | Varied depending on season and daylight hours |
| Sleep Quality | Disrupted by discomforts such as overcrowding, poor road conditions, and exposure to the elements |
| Sleep Environment | Beds or large beds shared with others; lack of privacy |
| Sleep Culture | Bedtime conversations and physical intimacy were common |
| Sleep Aids | Guide books, popular on popular routes |
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What You'll Learn
Biphasic sleep was common in the preindustrial world
Biphasic sleep, or sleeping in two shifts, was indeed common in the preindustrial world. This phenomenon, also known as "two sleeps", was first termed by sleep scientist Thomas Wehr from the National Institute of Mental Health.
This form of sleep typically involved a longer sleep in the evening and a shorter sleep during the day, usually in the morning. The practice was not unique to any one region, with evidence of it being found in England, France, Italy, Africa, South and Southeast Asia, Australia, South America, and the Middle East.
In his research, Wehr observed 15 men and their normal sleeping patterns. He then altered their exposure to daylight and confined them to a bedroom with no lights or windows, encouraging rest and sleep. This experiment aimed to replicate the conditions of the preindustrial world, where artificial illumination was scarce, and natural light dictated sleep patterns.
The practice of biphasic sleep has been referenced in literature, such as Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales", and even in ballads, indicating its normalcy in medieval society.
The decline of biphasic sleep is attributed to the Industrial Revolution, with the advent of artificial lighting, and shifting cultural attitudes towards sleep.
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Carriage comfort depended on suspension, inns, and roads
The comfort of sleeping in a carriage in the old days depended on several factors, including suspension, inns, and roads.
Suspension technology has evolved over the years, and in the era of draft animals, carriage suspensions were created by hanging the passenger compartment with iron chains. These chains were later replaced with leather straps to reduce noise, followed by the introduction of iron elliptical
In the 1700s and 1800s, long-distance travel by carriage was structured in stages of around 8 to 15 miles. Coaching inns located at these intervals provided essential services for travellers, including refreshments, toilet facilities, and overnight accommodation. The ability to change to fresh horses at these inns also improved travel speeds. The quality and availability of accommodation at these inns would have had a direct impact on the comfort of travellers, especially those undertaking long journeys.
The development of a comprehensive network of well-appointed coaching inns improved the overall experience of carriage travel. These inns not only provided basic amenities but also served as travel agents, assisting travellers with booking passages across channels and into other countries. The largest and most established inns offered a range of services, enhancing the comfort and convenience of travellers.
In addition to suspension and inns, the condition and quality of roads played a crucial role in determining carriage comfort. The late 18th century witnessed improvements in road surfaces, making travel smoother and faster. Well-maintained roads with fewer potholes and obstacles contributed to a more comfortable journey, reducing the jostling and jarring motions that could disturb sleep.
Overall, the interplay of suspension technology, the establishment of coaching inns, and the improvement of road surfaces collectively contributed to enhancing the comfort of those sleeping in carriages in the old days.
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Overcrowding and exposure caused discomfort
Travelling in carriages in the 1700s and 1800s was uncomfortable due to overcrowding and exposure to the elements. Larger, slower public carriages could carry up to 16-20 people. Travellers were exposed to the cold and potholed roads, and in winter, they sometimes had to get out and walk up steep, muddy, or snowy hills that the horses could not pull fully loaded carriages up. The quality and comfort of horse-drawn transportation varied considerably during this period. It was only in the late 18th century that improvements in suspension, the establishment of coaching inns, and better road surfaces made travel faster and more comfortable.
The discomforts of travel in carriages prompted complaints from passengers. However, people still spent their time in carriages similarly to how they would later in trains and cars: talking, reading, sleeping, and eating. Guidebooks were available to inform passengers about the sights they could expect to see along popular routes. Long-distance travel was structured in stages of around 8-15 miles.
In addition to the physical discomforts, the practice of biphasic sleep, or 'two sleeps', was common in the pre-industrial world. People would sleep in two segments, with a period of wakefulness in between. During this time, they might chat, smoke, or engage in physical intimacy. This practice is referenced in ballads such as "Old Robin of Portingale", which mentions "'the wakening of your first sleepe' and 'the wakening of your next sleepe'.
The historian Livy may have been a practitioner of biphasic sleep, as he alludes to the method in his work, "The History of Rome". Colonial accounts from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1555, and 19th-century Muscat, Oman, also describe similar sleep patterns. Biphasic sleep was not unique to England; it was widely practised in locations like Africa, South and Southeast Asia, Australia, South America, and the Middle East.
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Sleeping cars with private compartments
The first sleeping cars were introduced on railways in America and England. They were first made available to first-class passengers in 1838 on the London & Birmingham and Grand Junction Railways between London and Lancashire, England. In the United States, the Cumberland Valley Railroad introduced a sleeping car service in 1839, with a car named "Chambersburg", which operated between Chambersburg and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Amtrak, a US-based rail company, offers private room accommodations known as "Superliner Roomettes" and "Viewliner". The Superliner features two levels of private rooms, while the Viewliner has a single level of accommodations. These rooms typically include seating that can be converted into upper and lower berths for sleeping, as well as amenities such as big picture windows, upgraded bedding, and access to shared restroom facilities.
Some sleeping cars also offer more luxurious options, such as the Bedroom Suites provided by Amtrak. These suites combine two adjoining bedrooms, featuring four beds, two sofas, and two separate chairs, as well as private restrooms and showers. First-class passengers can also expect dedicated attendant services, including turndown service, meal assistance, and luggage handling.
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Sleeper trains are making a comeback
Sleeper trains, a means of transportation that also functions as a vacation, are making a comeback. Sleeper trains are a slow mode of transportation through scenic parts of a country, most of which are in Europe. Sleeper trains have been carrying passengers through European nights for almost 150 years, having been introduced by the Belgian Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits (CIWL) in 1873. While sleeper trains were overshadowed by the popularity of air travel, they are now making a resurgence in Europe, partly in response to climate change.
One of the newest sleeper trains to create a buzz in Europe is the Caledonia Sleeper, which includes stops along Scotland's most scenic routes, hitting major cities in between. Passengers have the option of travelling in luxury with modern amenities such as a double-sized bed, breakfast, an en-suite with a shower and toilet, a complimentary sleep kit, and access to the station lounge. In 2021, Europe saw an increase in the provision of sleeper trains, which is thought to be the result of increasing awareness of the environmental effects of long-distance travel. In December 2020, the state railways of Germany, Austria, France, and Switzerland announced a 500 million euro investment in a network of cross-border night trains linking 13 major European cities, marking the largest extension of Europe's night network in many years.
While sleeper trains are making a comeback in Europe, the same cannot be said for Australia. The New South Wales government's Regional Rail project will replace the ageing XPT fleet with new trains built in Spain, improving the long-distance rail experience with onboard Wi-Fi and charging ports. However, these new trains will not include sleeper accommodation, despite the surge in bookings on the XPT when domestic airfares soared in 2022.
In the United States, the Cumberland Valley Railroad pioneered sleeping car service in the country with a car named "Chambersburg", which operated between Chambersburg and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. A few years later, a second car, the "Carlisle", was introduced into service. Sleeper trains are also still present in other parts of the world, such as Turkey, where overnight trains operate within Anatolia, and in Croatia, where sleeping carriages are included on the route between Zagreb and Split.
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Frequently asked questions
In the old days, people slept in carriages in compartments that had bench-configuration seating during the day and double- or triple-level bunk beds at night. These carriages were often uncomfortable and overcrowded, with up to 16-20 people in a single carriage. The top speeds of these carriages were only 10-12 mph, and accidents and broken bones were common.
Yes, people in the Middle Ages practiced biphasic sleep, which involved two sleeps throughout the night. The first sleep took the edge off exhaustion from a long day of manual labor, and the period afterward was thought to be an excellent time to conceive children. The second sleep would last until dawn or later, depending on when people went to bed.
Yes, there are still sleeping carriages in modern Europe, particularly in Eastern Europe. In Western Europe, they have been in decline for decades due to competition from high-speed day trains and budget airlines. However, there have been recent efforts to increase the number of sleeper trains due to increasing awareness of the environmental effects of long-distance travel.
