Lancaster in Lancashire, England, United Kingdom — Northwestern Europe (the British Isles)
Ticket's Please! (1792-1851)
Photographed by Ray Gurganus, April 12, 2025
1. Ticket's Please! Marker
As you alight from your carriage or dash for your train, would you believe that wherever your point of departure the ticket in your back pocket has its origins in Lancaster?
Lancaster born Thomas Edmondson (1792) is credited with inventing the first mechanised system for issuing train tickets. A former apprentice of Gillow & Co., the Lancaster cabinet making business, Edmondson devised a machine which would pre-print tickets in batches complete with serial numbers. This had two key advantages: its speedy issue reduced long queues at busy stations and further, it provided the means of reconciling takings against the number of tickets issued, much to the disappointment of some unscrupulous station clerks whose days of pocketing fares were now over!
In contrast, this is where Edmondson found his fortune. He patented the machine and charged railway companies, including the Manchester and Leeds Railway, a royalty to use it. His machines became the standard for British and other railways and he died a wealthy man in Manchester in 1851.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1792.
Location. 54° 2.892′ N, 2° 48.409′ W. Marker is in Lancaster, England, in Lancashire. It is at the intersection of Westbourne Road and Meeting House Lane, on the right when traveling west on Westbourne Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1A Westbourne Road, Lancaster, England LA1 5DB, United Kingdom. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in North West England. Globally, it is on the Atlantic Ocean, in the North Atlantic Region, in Europe, in Atlantic Europe, on one of the British Isles, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Only for Conscience Sake (1652- ) (here, next to this marker); Quaker Meeting House (within shouting distance of this marker); Luck to Loyne (1086- ) (within shouting distance of this marker); The Pioneer Line (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Fruits of the mind (1887 - ) (about 210 meters away); Lancaster Castle (about 210 meters away); Window to your soul (1750-1982) (about 210 meters away); Charles Dickens (about 210 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lancaster.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 29, 2025, by Ray Gurganus of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 90 times since then and 22 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on July 29, 2025, by Ray Gurganus of Washington, District of Columbia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. photo of the marker within its surroundings • Can you help?
