Railways in literature: 200 years of literary responses

Since their inception, railways have generated a wide range of responses from writers: from the hustle and hurry of the station, to the thrill of travelling at speed and the curiosities of the compartment, railways offer rich material for the literary imagination. In the year of Railway 200, this panel event will feature a series of lightning talks exploring the 200-year history of literary writings on the railway.

We will hear from the following speakers:

• Dr Sarah Wingrove (University of Surrey) on Anne Lister's travel on the Liverpool-Manchester railway
• Dr Alicia Barnes (UCL) on railways as circulatory system of the nation in Bram Stoker's Dracula
• Dr Charlotte Mathieson (University of Surrey)  on selected moments in 20th century literature of the railways
• Dr Liz Bahs (University of Surrey)  on railways in contemporary poetry

This session ties in with the ‘Railway 200’ programme, being marked nationally during 2025.