There are more ways than ever to listen to History Daily ad-free.

Listen with Wondry Plus in the Wondry app.

As a member of NoisorPlus at noisor.com or in Apple Podcasts, or you can get all of History

daily plus other fantastic history podcasts at IntoHistory.com.

It's the spring morning of 1842 at London Bridge, a train station on the south bank of the River Thames.

With a clank of metal and a hiss of steam, a train chugged slowly into the station.

As the engine comes to a halt, carriage doors fling open and passengers flood out onto the platform. Among the sea of men in suits and top hats flowing

through the station is London native Charles Pearson. Charles is a burly, busy-looking man nearing 50,

who is on a mission to improve the city's transportation system.

As he allows himself to be swept along by the crowd, Charles scans the hectic scene around him.

At the end of the platform, through a wide pair of gates, the bustle of travelers rush out into the chaotic streets.

In the tiny square outside the ticket office,

dozens of railway porters, horse and carriages,

street sellers, and newspaper boys, jockey for position.

Passing through the gates, Charles steps to one side,

allowing the other businessman to flow past him.

He pulls out a notebook and jots down his observations

as his fellow passengers from the train pushed

through the commotion outside the station. Some try to flag down a horse-drawn taxi or line up

to secure a seat on the crowded buses that will carry them on across London. Others merely try

to elbow their way through the crowd and head off on foot into the clogged

and narrow streets of the British Capitol.

...