BRIEF HISTORY DURING THE SNOW ERA (1813-58)

The London terminal for the the British Rail, Western Region was opened in Paddington on June 4, 1838.  A few years later in 1842, Queen Victoria arrived at this station after her first railway journey, coming from Slough.  The 17 mile trip took 23 minutes, at an average speed of 44 miles per hour. 

Source: Weinreb B, Hibbert C (eds). The London Encyclopaedia, 1993.

William Frith's Painting of the Railway Station in 1862 Click here to see interior two years later

Old Ordnance Survey Map of 1872 Click here to see more details 13 years later