Why Were WHSmith's Station Bookstalls So Popular? | Off the Rails

[@NatRailwayMuseum]

You'll be able to see the bookstall in all its restored glory when Station Hall reopens next year. Keep an eye on our website for updates. Also on our website you can enjoy this story in written form with lots of lovely pictures and quotes like this: "It is a focus of warmth and light in the vast smoky cavern; it gives the idea that literature is a thing of splendour, of a dazzling essence, of infinite gas-lit red and gold. A glamour hangs over the glittering booth, and a tantalising air of clever new things. How brilliant must the books all be, how veracious and courteous the fresh pure journals!" Henry James, Author, English Hours (1905) www.railwaymuseum.org.uk/objects-and-stories/why-were-whsmiths-station-bookstalls-so-popular

[@davepegz]

For several years as a kid I bought my Beano and Dandy summer specials from that very bookstall on my way to holiday. Fond memories 🙂

[@piercelidseveraltime]

This is (I would imagine) a relatively overlooked part of of historical railway infrastructure and not something that immediately springs to mind when restoration is mentioned. Before viewing this video I had completely overlooked it's existence and it's contribution to the information super highway of it's time. It's brilliant that this is being restored to jog many peoples memories of how W.H.Smith was in it's hay day, and I would like to thank the person who initially came up with the idea of restoring it and to the team of people who have put care and effort into bringing it back to life.

[@hannodearing1366]

Never been to Britain, but I absolutely love your Railway history, and your magnificent museum, of course. Cheers from Linz, Austria!!

[@bigblue6917]

Our original W.H. Smith's railway bookstall here in Hull ended up at the Great Western Museum. I remember seeing it when I was younger. Apparently it was because of these bookstalls that Penguin Books came about. Allen Lane, publisher the first Penguin books, saw an opportunity to make quality books available to all at low prices to travellers. They were printed at a size so they could be slipped into a jacket pocket or handbag making them easy to carry. They were also colour-coded: orange for fiction, blue for biography and green for crime.

[@briangates6707]

My first job as a schoolboy in the 70s was at a WHS bookstall in Kent. A rush of commuters before each train, grabbing their papers and throwing the money to me, then 20 minutes to put the money in the drawer, tidy up the papers and the table of paperbacks then sit reading magazines under the counter before the next train was due

[@mdhazeldine]

I'm too young to remember that specific bookstall, but I often visited the later WHSmith branches in Waterloo in the 80s, 90s and beyond that. Lovely to see this nice old one still exists and will be getting a 2nd lease of life in the museum.

[@joshslater2426]

I remember hearing that this was going to go on display in the Station Hall when the refurb was done. Since the book stand was located at Waterloo, it would only make sense to put it somewhere on the same platform as the LSWR M7.

[@1D84down]

Fascinating and I speak as one who used be given unsold paperbacks from my local WHS station bookstall. If they didn't sell, the manager could rip the covers off and send them back to count as credit leaving the rest of the book to be disposed of how he saw fit. Thanks, Mr Jones!

[@davidparry1982]

What a lovely item to preserve. I also have restored a book stall - albeit a card scratch built model made by my dad as a boy for his 0 gauge toy trains in the ‘50’s….

[@johncamp2567]

Obscure and fascinating!! Absolutely fantastic!

[@paulleigh7792]

Watching this video transported me back in time to the 50’s. I remember the sounds of the teeming crowds, the almost indecipherable station announcements echoing around the platforms, people in a hurry crossing the tracks via the bridges and rushing up to the W.H.Smith kiosk before dashing off to catch a train. The slamming of carriage doors and blowing of the guards whistles. Guards shouting at passengers running after moving trains, opening carriage doors and mounting whilst in motion! Not forgetting the marvellous puffing, panting engines as they arrived or left the station. What journey would be complete without the much reviled B.R. cheese sandwich and cup of “scald.” Ah, Memories………!

[@martinhall60]

What an amazing video about W.H.SMITH. Very interesting and informative, it was great to see a program about different items on railway stations. Things like book stalls often get overlooked, but they are an important piece of railway travel, so we'll done to everyone envolved in the making of this delightful and very interesting program which was very professionally made. 👍🚂

[@maestromanification]

Happy memories of that building when my dear late friend ran a business from it

[@michaelmiller641]

Fascinating! Thankyou!

[@anneosborne3322]

Wonderful and informative. Thank you.

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Great job on the unique intro. It was fun pausing to see the special burger ❤ Also I enjoyed the book seller history. Wow! The retail space looks great! What a treat.

[@1951timbo]

Thank you for the interesting video. Well done 🙏

[@babettesfeast6347]

Is the museum producing a book about this?

[@Shiningalightonhistory]

Did you know that in the Ohio scrapyard (USA) there cutting up a lot of classic disels from 1940s - 1980s it would be nice if the National Railway Museum and Locomotion could get in contact with the scrap yard and try and prevent the Trains from being scrapped by Bringing some to the museums and since Locomotion has been expanding anyways it would be quiet a good time to bring other some of those classic american trains. I do know that in the early 2000s the National Railway museum brought over the Bullet train from Japan so i know the museum is capable of bringing trains over seas

[@madeleineclark8772]

I remember the one at Nottingham Midland Station

[@DoubleD20s]

There was an open goal for an 'antique teak' pun. But seriously, I didn't know how far ahead of the curve WH Smith was in the early days, bringing newspapers to customers earlier.

[@stevekelly5166]

In the 70's, Bristol Temple Meads. You could read railway books (I couldn't afford them), buy Modern Railways and railway postcards on Platform 3. All very relaxed. I was a trainspotter then. Visited my home town in October 2024, it's now under cover and off of the platform. Full of rubbish like a cheap corner store. My partner wanted some painkillers. Wandered around looking at the 'tat and ended up asking the 'security man', did they sell painkillers? He said it was his first day... His first day? Why does WHS even need a security man? Asked a lady at the till who was serving 'fresh' coffee did they sell, and they did, but they were hidden behind the counter! Outrageous price for them too. On the way out, I informed the security man they did, if he survived his first shift. If I go into Newbury WHS, it's all self checkout where the till asks you if you want a massive bottle of water or massive bar of chocolate as you try to pay. They've lost the plot. An idea, pick up a massive bar of chocolate and bottle of water, scan it, and watch the self service till either explode, or suggest, would you also like a copy of Modern Railways or a postcard of the Mallard? 🙂 I started work for the railway at Temple Meads in 1981. WHS won't exist in another 40 years. Thanks for the informative video.

[@worldtraveler930]

I keep expecting to hear her say.... "Wot E Got er is a Faill-Er 2 Commuin-E-Catte!" 🇬🇧🤠👍

[@bryansmith1920]

I can't imagine my Grandchildren, being able to restore a google screen, but I'm sure when they reach my age(got my fingers crossed they do)they will want too enjoy the Happy Memories, of a life lived, happy day's hopefully for you all,

[@lynnmorton7544]

Once numerous, that one must be the only one left

[@loveisall5520]

I miss printed media; here in the US newspapers are basically gone and I can't remember the last magazine that I physically bought rather than subscribing.

[@tomellis4750]

Wonder how much money the stall would have cost originally.

[@SaturnCanuck]

That was a great history and I look forward to seeing it fully restored. One thing, however, is she says she has a couple of items but in fact there are three.

[@applecounty]

Except for Scotland where Menzies reigned supreme.

[@andrewnormansell1518]

Fascinating video, thank you. And a great restoration.

[@philipbranco9568]

Or in Ireland, where the Irish subsidiary was taken over by a local manager and created Eason & Son.

[@albulastrasse3118]

I'm not sure how relevant the history is for Glasgow, which is featured here. Scotland had its own daily press, with the Glasgow Herald and The Scotsman predating most of the English newspapers. These were more likely distributed to the John Menzies bookstalls which had the rights in Scottish stations. Even in the 1970s, I remember the bookstalls at Glasgow Central being Menzies rather than Smiths. Can someone fact check on this please? Using phrases like 'monopolise all round the country' accoumpanied by a graphic showing only England and Wales is not really helpful.

[@roygardiner2229]

Sign of the times and really not surprising in today's climate. Perhaps they took the SNP at its word.

[@xhowitisx]

Because the trains were always delayed 😂