Thomas Briggs: First Person to be Murdered on a Train 1864

Train travel in the Victorian era provided many new opportunities, people and goods could travel around the country more freely and much more quickly.  But with it came more crime.  Many Victorians feared travelling by train, the carriages weren’t lit, couldn’t be exited between stations and there was no way to communicate with the driver or conductor during the journey.  Robbery and assault of all kinds were common but it would be the 9th of July 1864 when Thomas Briggs made history as the first person to be murdered on a train in the UK.  The case would involve a transatlantic chase, extradition and trial resulting in changes in railway safety and carriage design.  As well as having unexpected cultural effects.  So let's dive in