Originally Posted by
Peter47
Referring to an old book I have, and yes I am being very 'anoracky' you are probably referring to 'Padded Cells' which were used from 1890 on the City & South London line.
An interesting comparison, because looking in the one in the museum, although there are no windows, the seats are a sight more "padded" and comfortable than nowadays (easily rectified on the second series built, by the way), and they expected that everyone would have an upholstered seat, even in peak hours, for their two pence fare (and that was the "old" pence as well) rather than swinging on a pole in close proximity to all those unwashed armpits........
Sort of similar to what aviation has done with cabin furnishings and seat spacing and comfort in recent times.