The coming of the railway to Torquay on 18th December 1848 was an important event in the development of the town. Roads at that time were poor and a journey from London by stagecoach took about 17 hours. It was also very expensive. A rail journey from London to Exeter took about four and a half hours. So a new line to Torquay meant visits by the wealthy became much easier. What signs are there in this extract that people at the time realised this was an important event?