I get the feeling that this was not exceptional

The Midland railway was connecting to Bristol and South Wales , just as the Great Western had pushed to Snow Hill / Birmingham. The railways were making the investors rich so I guess there were plenty of goods and passengers to move around.

I doubt it was a common everyday experience, but those with money were mobile.

The local newspapers of the time carried timetables and excursion offers, so I guess it was not just an elite who used them.