When we think about the history of migration to Britain, the role of the railways is frequently overlooked.
Yet it was the railways that often took new arrivals to the cities, towns and villages where they would start their new lives, find work and connect with relatives and communities already established.
It was trains that helped them forge new relationships and create families. And for some, it was the railways that became a place of work. And yet, when we look at the way Britain’s rail history is told, so many of those stories are missing.
In this exhibition and accompanying three-part audio series, we draw on archival accounts and oral history interviews to uncover the multiracial dimension of Britain’s railways – from the dawn of commercial travel in the 19th century until the present day.
