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To the Sea by Train

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To the Sea by Train

By: Andrew Martin
Narrated by: Andrew Martin
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About this listen

Throughout the 20th century, the seaside service posters of Britain's railways promised fresh air and frivolity to millions of urban dwellers with the phrase: 'To the sea by train'. A staple of modern British life, the seaside getaway was intertwined with the train, in whose compartments holidaymakers were shunted from smog-choked cities to sandy coves. With his signature wit and anecdotal style, Andrew Martin captures an era defined by its railways: from the development of Brighton and Scarborough into pleasure resorts, and the introduction of bank holidays and two-day weekends, to the advent of cheap flights and the British coast's subsequent decline. Humorous and evocative, To the Sea by Train takes a charming tour through Britain's most beloved pastime.

©2025 Andrew Martin (P)2025 Isis Audio Engineering Witty
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Brought back memories of childhood holidays to the sea. Recognised many places mentioned in the text

Entertaining…nostalgic

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I really enjoyed this book, after reading Night Trains by Andrew Martin I knew I was in for a treat. I would highly recommend this book

Perfect!

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My best story about train travel was in the 80s when I was a commuter. I struck up a friendship with a lovely, well-spoken and wonderfully dressed lady on Platform 4 at Salford Centra;l.This was a meeting I always looked forward to, and we chatted for a few minutes almost every night. "Had a good day", weather is awful/ lovely isnt it. We never shared, details, but she knew my name, and I am not sure how, because I cannot remember exchanging anything other than pleasantries. I would occasionally ensure she was getting on the Southport train, and not the Wigan, I was waiting for, I never asked what she did, and assumed she was a PA in one of the nearby offices. It was only when a friend of mine started work for Air Europe, and one day came up the platform approach and saw me helping the lady onto the train, that I found out the truth. The lady said oh thank you, John, see you tomorrow, I turned and realised my air hostess friend had arrived," How long have you known Hilda Ogden then?". I truly had no idea she was the actress Jean Alexandra. It was not surprising, while I knew who Hilda Ogden was , I did not watch Coronation Street.

I love trains, and travelling, and truly wish I had taken notes and wrote down all my journeys, as Andrew Martin has done in such a wonderful way. Andrew would have told that story a lot better than I just have, That is the point. He is the master of making small stories exciting. As an added bonus, he researches the history, and delves into literature connections. Each of his books, resemble a thesis, it is full of observations and connections, all beautifully researched,

It would hard to describe this book, to make it attractive, it just is. I suspect I am the same generation, it is nostalgic about a time that will never return, and sadly most of the former resorts mentioned are in terminal unattractive decline, the perfect storm of cheap foreign package holidays, and the 'devil' Beeching, conspired to turn our seaside turns into terminal decline.

I have become a big fan of this author and his style of writing. I am reading his history of Sleeper Trains, and that is equally depressing, but an n equally fantastic book.

Delightful and Nostalgic

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I like Andrew Martin’s books, and was glad to see he’d written another one. Even better, that he, the author, was reading his own book. I love this book, and for anybody who is interested in the railways, and how in the past people used to go to the seaside by train, and all the culture around it, and the experience of it, it is a very good read. Highly recommended.

A great factual account of holiday railway journeys to the sea.

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