London's 'Death Railway': The Chilling Truth of a One-Way Journey for the Deceased

• In the early 19th century, London faced a severe shortage of burial space, leading to overcrowded cemeteries and bodies piling up.
• The 'London Necropolis Railway' was established in 1854 to transport bodies and mourners 23 miles to a new cemetery in Brookwood, Surrey.
• Coffins received one-way tickets, while relatives were issued return tickets; the train had separate stops for different religious denominations.
• Class distinctions were evident: wealthy families had private rooms and elaborate funerals, while the poor were buried at institutional expense.
• The railway operated until 1941, when it was destroyed during World War II bombings and not rebuilt due to the rise of motor transport.

Why It Matters: London's 'Death Railway' was a unique 19th-century solution to burial space crisis, reflecting societal norms.