the down train
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
The train away from London or the local centre, in contradistinction to the up train,, which goes to it. We also have the down platform, etc.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “the down train” mean?
The train away from London or the local centre, in contradistinction to the up train,, which goes to it. We also have the down platform, etc.
Is “the down train” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.