Green’s Dictionary of Slang

marrowbone stage, the n.

walking.

1809		E.S. Barrett Tarantula 134: Adam and Eve’s ten-toed machine, or the marrow-bone stage.
1824		Pierce Egan’s Life in London 28 Nov. 349/3: A blade of the blue apron tribe, who had come by the marrow-bone stage.
1839		Mechanics’ Mag XXXI 18/1: If travelling be the object, I should prefer the ‘marrowbone stage’.
1857		N&Q 2 Ser. 8 Aug. 115/1: Shanks nag [...] Many of your readers will no doubt have heard the equivalent saying, to ride in the marrow-bone stage (a ludicrous corruption of Mary-le-bone) as expressing the same mode of travelling.
1859		G.A. Sala Twice Round the Clock 87: The humbler conveyances known as ‘Shanks’s mare,’ and the ‘Marrowbone stage’ — in more refined language, walking.
1869		E. Lott Grand Pacha’s Cruise 120: They trudge along on ‘the Marylebone stage’.
1875		M.E. Braddon Belgravia 210: There is something awful in the idea of being left high and dry on the Logan Rock, with no means of conveyance but the Marylebone stage back to Penzance.
1908		Windsor Mag. XXII 71: ‘Nay [...] I ride not ahorse while a lady uses the marrowbone stage,’ and I got from the saddle and threw the reins loose.