Spectators lined Front Street on October 31, 1931 to witness the official opening of the Bermuda Railway. The 150 guests took their seats in four coaches, Governor’s wife Lady Cubitt pressed an electric starter, and the train took off outside Number One Shed on its inaugural trip.

The Bermuda Railway ushered in a faster and more comfortable means of transport for locals and tourists, whose only other options were pedal cycle, horse-drawn carriage and boat. 

But the system, known as ‘Rattle and Shake’ was hampered by controversies and delays, even before trains began running on the tracks. It was plagued by problems, including corrosion and the high cost of fuel, during its 17-year run and never turned a profit.

Government finally bought the system and ran it before selling it off to Guyana. Train travel came to an end in 1948, two years after cars were allowed on the island.

For more about the Bermuda Railway, check out www.bermudrailway.net. Informative with lots of photos, it was created by Montrealer Simon Horn, a regular Bermuda visitor and railway enthusiast.