Northern and Eastern Railway

The Northern & Eastern Railway was an early British railway company, that planned to build a line from London to York. Its ambition was cut successively back, and it only constructed from Stratford, London to Bishop's Stortford and Hertford. It was always short of money, and it got access to London over the Eastern Counties Railway. It was built at the track gauge of five feet, but it converted to standard gauge in 1844.

Not to be confused with North Eastern Railway (United Kingdom) or London and North Eastern Railway.

Northern and Eastern Railway
Overview
LocaleNorth East London and Hertfordshire UK
Dates of operation1840–1902
SuccessorGreat Eastern Railway
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Previous gauge5 ft (1,524 mm)

Its main line opened progressively from 1840 to 1842. It was worked by the neighbouring Eastern Counties Railway, and it leased its network to that company in from the beginning of 1844 for 999 years. From that time it was a financial company only, it amalgamated with the Great Eastern Railway in 1902.

The entire network is still in use and electrified, and part of the original main line now forms a section of the main line between London (Liverpool Street) and Cambridge.[1]

Proposals
The Northern and Eastern Railway network at the end of 1843

When the Stockton and Darlington Railway was opened in 1825, great enthusiasm for railway transport was generated. A number of schemes were put forward for connecting London and York, and some of these were planned to pass through Cambridge. A canal engineer, Nicholas Wilcox Cundy, surveyed such a line, to be known as the Grand Northern & Eastern Railway, in 1834, and the following year another survey was made, by Joseph Gibbs, for another line from London through Cambridge to York. This scheme went to Parliament in the 1836 session as a proposed "Great Northern Railway", nothing to do with the actual Great Northern Railway a decade later. The 1836 proposal was rejected by Parliament.[2]

Meanwhile, a public meeting was held at Cambridge Town Hall on 23 January 23, 1836, at which it was decided to support a route surveyed by James Walker. A Bill for a Northern & Eastern Railway was prepared; it was to run from London to Cambridge, with a branch from a little south of Cambridge to Newmarket, Norwich and Yarmouth. The extension from Cambridge to Lincoln was not included, as the surveys had not been completed. The Bill was passed, but the route was cut back to run from London to Cambridge only; it received the Royal Assent on 4 July 1836. Authorised share capital was £1,200,000.[2][3][4][5] Although the construction cost was large, the Company was confident of a 16% return.[6]

The London terminus, and track gauge

The Northern and Eastern Railway was to have its London terminus at Islington. The topography was such that this would have required tunnelling to reach it, and it was realised that this was an expensive proposition. An approach was made to the Commercial Railway (later the London and Blackwall Railway) with a view to using its final approach to London. This was unsuccessful, so the Eastern Counties Railway was contacted, with a view to using the ECR Shoreditch terminus. This was agreed to, and Parliament ratified the arrangement, so the Northern and Eastern Railway's planned line was rerouted from Tottenham to join the ECR at Stratford. The rental for this arrangement was to be £7,000 a year, with an additional charge per passenger.[2][7][6] The ECR agreed to build a separate terminus at Shoreditch for the N&ER.[8]

When the Eastern Counties Railway determined on its track gauge of 5 feet, the Northern and Eastern had to adopt the same gauge in order to use the approach tracks. The first section of the Eastern Counties Railway was opened on 18 June 1839, from a temporary terminus at Mile End to another temporary terminus at Romford.[2]

Contract award, and a retrenchment of scope

At the end of 1837 a contract for construction of the line was awarded to David Macintosh. In March 1838 construction began, with Michael Borthwick as resident engineer. From the beginning, the N&ER was unable to raise the capital it needed for building its line. By May 1837 the contractor was in difficulties, and Robert Stephenson was appointed as Engineer in Chief, with Borthwick continuing as resident engineer. George Parker Bidder was appointed as the new contractor. Engineering contractors Grissell and Peto were approached late in 1837 about building the line as far as Bishop's Stortford. In March 1840 they started work between Stratford and Tottenham, and finally took over the work between Tottenham and Broxbourne from David McIntosh.

The Company obtained a further Act, which received the Royal Assent on 4 June 1840; the line from Bishop's Stortford to Cambridge was abandoned, and the share capital was reduced to £720,000.[5]

Opening

On 15 September 1840 the N&ER started operation between Stratford (ECR) and Broxbourne, a distance of about 15 miles. At first this was a single line; it was doubled in 1841.[3] Trains ran through from Shoreditch; the ECR insisted that Shoreditch to Stratford journeys were exclusive to them.[9]

The line was extended as far as Harlow on 9 August 1841; to Spelbrook (a temporary terminus) on 19 November 1841; and as far as Bishop's Stortford on 16 May 1842.[2][10][8]

A criticism of the route of the N&ER was that the line followed the valley of the River Lea, while nearly all of the settlements were on higher ground, and were some distance from the stations. Tottenham was used as the railhead for cattle being brought in to London; they walked from there to the London markets.[1] In the second half of 1842 a dividend of 2% was paid.[6]

Hertford branch

In June 1841 parliamentary assent was given for a branch from Broxbourne to Hertford; it became the present-day Hertford East Branch Line. Work on the Hertford branch line began early in 1843, and it opened as a single line on 31 October 1843. It was doubled in October 1846 (after the lease by the ECR).[11]

Hockerill

The northernmost extent of the line was at Bishop's Stortford, opened before the end of 1843, when the Northern and Eastern Railway ceased to control its own network. However a special arrangement was made to receive excursion trains at Hockerill, a half mile or so north of Bishop's Stortford station. The overbridge at that point today carries Hockerill Street, and Bishop's Stortford was then a much smaller community; Hockerill was a distinct place. (The later Hockerill station on the Dunmow branch was built later: 1869.) An advertisement in the Times newspaper read:

Newmarket Houghton Meeting--A special train, consisting of first-class carriages only, of the Northern and Eastern Railway, stopping only at Tottenham and Broxbourne, will leave the London Terminus, Shoreditch, for Hockerill, Bishop's Stortford, on Monday, 23d inst., at half-past-seven a.m., and return from Hockerill at half-past nine o'clock at night, thereby enabling persons attending Newmarket to see the whole of the races and return to London the same evening. Ample accommodation may be had at Hockerill should parties prefer to send their private horses and carriages the day before to wait the arrival of the trains. Horse and carriages can be taken on at the Tottenham station, thereby avoiding passing through the city. Previous notice should be given by parties taking their own horses and carriages, to prevent the possibility of disappointment. Extra post horses and carriages will be in attendance to convey persons forward, and may be ordered to be in readiness by sending a letter to Messrs. Edwards and Stokes of Hockerill. Places may be secured [to travel] by coaches meeting the train to Newmarket and back, at the Golden Cross, Charing-cross. Fares--Hockerill to Newmarket and back, inside £1 10s, outside £1 1s.[12]

These excursions were advertised to be run on 9 and 11 October 1843, and (after the lease of the N&ER to the ECR) on 15 and 28 October 1844.[13]

Leased to the Eastern Counties Railway

On 25 October 1843 an agreement facilitated by G P Bidder[14] was reached by the ECR and N&ER, and from 1 January 1844 the entire N&ER system was leased to the ECR for 999 years; the arrangement was formally ratified by Parliament in May 1844. The ECR was to pay the N&ER 5 per cent annually on the £970,000 capital cost of building the line, and profits would be apportioned. The N&ER continued as an independent company, receiving the lease charges but not operating any railway; in fact it merged into the Great Eastern Railway in 1902.[2]

Gauge change

At the same time as the discussion about the lease took place, the two companies agreed that their track gauge of 5 feet was a hindrance, and they decided to alter it to the standard gauge of 4 ft ​8 1⁄2in. The physical conversion was undertaken between 5 September 1844 and 7 October; it was achieved without interruption to the running of trains, except on the Hertford branch.[2]

Engineering details

Whishaw reported that the rails are "of the double parallel form" (that is, not fish-bellied and broadly similar to modern bullhead rail) in 12 and 15 feet lengths. "The upper and lower webs are not of similar section": Whishaw meant that the head and foot are not identical. The sleepers were of larch, 9 feet in length, and 10 inches by 5 inches in cross section. The ballasting was of gravel, of at least 2 feet in thickness throughout.[5]

From 1844
Broxbourne station in 1960

From the first day of 1844, the Northern and Eastern Railway was simply a financial shell company, receiving lease charges from the Eastern Counties Railway but not operating any railway. The N&ER network extended from Stratford to Bishop's Stortford and from Broxbourne to Hertford, and it became the stem of the important main line to Cambridge, finished by the Eastern Counties Railway. The approach to London was later altered to run through Hackney Downs, but the Stratford to Copper Mill Junction (Tottenham Hale) section was retained, and became a key link for goods traffic approaching Temple Mills Yard.[1]

In 1849 the Eastern Counties Railway opened a branch line from Angel Road to Enfield.[1]

The Eastern Counties Railway and certain other companies in East Anglia amalgamated to form the Great Eastern Railway in 1862.[2] The GER adopted a policy of running frequent passenger services on the London suburban lines: in 1864 there were 29 departures for the Broxbourne line. Shoreditch station had been renamed Bishopsgate, but it was obviously inadequate for the Romford line traffic and the Broxbourne line, and the decision was taken to extend westwards: Liverpool Street station was opened in 1871.[1]

In 1872 a new shorter route towards Broxbourne was opened, from Bethnal Green, near Liverpool Street, via Hackney Downs to Copper Mill Junction, near Tottenham (Hale) station. In time this became the dominant route from London. In 1891 the Churchbury Loop was opened, from Bury Street Junction, to Cheshunt. The area was undeveloped and the sparse train service failed to encourage residential travel. It closed to ordinary passenger trains in 1909.[1]

The N&ER line never became the primary route from London to York, but the Great Eastern Railway eventually (from 1882) participated in a joint railway, the Great Northern and Great Eastern Joint Railway, which gave it access to Doncaster, and by means of running powers to York. A significant flow of coal ran south from Yorkshire to London, and for a while an express passenger train, the Cathedrals Express, ran over the route. The cathedrals were Ely, Peterborough and Lincoln, and the service ran from 1892 to 1918.[15]

The twentieth century

The passenger use of the line intensified in the twentieth century, particular for residential travel as people became accustomed to travelling longer distances in order to live in more rural surroundings. Cambridge too became increasingly significant as a regional centre, attracting express passenger trains over the route. Goods and mineral traffic too remained dominant, although declining steeply after 1955.

Organisationally the Northern and Eastern Railway Company was absorbed into the Great Eastern Railway in 1902; the GER was a constituent of the new London and North Eastern Railway in 1923 (as part of the "grouping" of the railways) and in 1948 the LNER in turn was nationalised.[1][6]

The Churchbury Loop from Bury Street Junction, near Enfield, and Cheshunt, had been dormant so far as passenger use was concerned, since 1909. In 1960 it was electrified and reopened as part of a new electrified suburban network; the line was retitled the Southbury Loop. At first six trains an hour were run, although this was later reduced. The new suburban electric trains ran as far as Bishop's Stortford and Hertford. For the time being the southern part of the N&ER route remained unelectrified, but electrification was provided from May 1969.[1][16]

The entire network remains in use at the present day. The dominant traffic is on the section between Copper Mill Junction and Bishop's Stortford, part of the route from London Liverpool Street station to Cambridge and Stansted Airport.[1]

Stations

Only stations marked > were in existence before the end of 1843.

Main line
  • > Stratford; opened April 1842; combined with ECR station 1 April 1847; still open;
  • > Lea Bridge; opened 15 September 1840; also known as Lea Bridge Road; closed 8 July 1985; reopened 15 May 2016;[17] still open;
  • > Tottenham; opened 15 September 1840; renamed Tottenham Hale after 1875; still open;
  • > Marsh Lane (or Marsh Lane Tottenham); opened 1842; closed after December 1842; reopened June 1843; renamed Park in 1852; renamed Northumberland Park 1923; still open;
  • > Edmonton; opened 15 September 1840; closed after December 1842; reopened June 1843; renamed Water Lane (Junction); later renamed Angel Road (Junction); still open;
  • > Ponders End; opened 15 September 1840; still open;
  • > Waltham; opened 15 September 1840; relocated 1885; still open; at times simply "Waltham" or "Waltham Cross and Abbey";
  • Cheshunt; opened 31 May 1846; still open;
  • > Cadmores Lane Cheshunt; opened by December 1841; closed after May 1842;
  • > Broxbourne; opened 15 September 1840; renamed Broxbourne Junction; relocated 1960; still open;
  • > Roydon; opened 9 August 1841; still open;
  • > Netteswell; opened by September 1841; soon renamed Burnt Mill and Netteswell; renamed Burnt Mill 1843; renamed Harlow Town 1960; still open;
  • > Harlow; opened 9 August 1841; renamed Harlow Mill 1960; still open;
  • > Sawbridgeworth; opened 22 November 1841; still open;
  • > Spelbrook; opened 22 November 1841 as temporary terminus; closed 16 May 1842;
  • > Bishops Stortford; opened as Stortford 16 May 1842; renamed Bishop's Stortford 1845; still open;
  • > Hockerill; temporary excursion station in use in October 1843 and October 1844.[13]

Hertford branch
  • > Rye House; opened privately 1845; opened to public 31 May 1846; still open;
  • > St Margarets; opened 31 October 1843; relocated 3 July 1863; still open;
  • > Ware; opened 31 October 1843; still open;
  • > Hertford; opened 31 October 1843; relocated 27 February 1888; renamed Hertford East 1923; still open.[13]
Stratford Junction in 1851

Whishaw reported that "At Shoreditch this Company is accommodated with part of the Eastern Counties station. The intermediate stations already opened to the public are at the Lea Bridge Road, Tottenham, Edmonton, Enfield-Highway and Ponder’s End, Waltham Cross, and Broxbourne.[5] In fact the two parts of Stratford station were to the east of the point of junction; the present day platforms 1 and 2 are on the site of the original N&ER station. The station was approached by Station Road, connecting to Angel Lane. The present-day main entrance in Gibbins Road came much later.[1]

Locomotives

The company purchased 14 2-2-2 locomotives from four builders:

The locomotives were re-gauged to standard gauge in September and October 1844.[19]

Whishaw said that "The principal engine-station is near the Stratford junction."[5]

Carriages

Carriages were 20 feet (6.1 m) long and 7 feet (2.1 m) wide. They had six wheels and were first, second or third class with capacity for 24, 32 and 60 to 70 passengers respectively. They had footboards to allow passengers to board at locations with no or low platforms. The third class carriages were open to the elements.[10]

Whishaw had a comment about the carriages: "The carriages on this line present a novelty in being mounted on six instead of four wheels, except those of the Great Western and Blackwall lines. One of the advantages of this mode of construction is, that the carriages are less likely to run off the line, or to give way by reason of an axle breaking on the journey."

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gollark: That is why they are "public".
gollark: No, you can use public ones.
gollark: *Technically*, it's not enforced whatsoever in Python and you can access any attribute of any class and horribly monkey-patch literally anything (except builtins).

See also

References
  1. White, H.P. (1987). Thomas, David St John (ed.). A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain — Volume 3: Greater London (3rd ed.). Dawlish: David & Charles.
  2. Cecil J Allen, The Great Eastern Railway, Ian Allan, Shepperton, fifth edition 1968
  3. Lake, G H (1945 reprinted 1999). The Railways of Tottenham. Teignmouth: Peter Kay. page 12. ISBN 1 899890 26 2
  4. Wright, Neil R. (1982). Lincolnshire towns and industry, 1700-1914. History of Lincolnshire Committee for the Society for Lincolnshire History and Archaeology. ISBN 0-902668-10-2.
  6. Gordon, D I, A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain — Volume 5: The Eastern Counties, David & Charles, Newton Abbot, 1977, ISBN 0 7153 7431 1
  7. Bradley, Richard (July 2013). "The railway at Harlow and in the Stort Valley:an exploration of its earliest years - Part 2". Great Eastern Railway Society Journal. 155: 4.
  8. Bradley, Richard (July 2013). "Significant events in the life of the Northern and Eastern Railway Part 2". Great Eastern Railway Society Journal. 155: 17.
  9. Bradley, Richard (July 2013). "The railway at Harlow and in the Stort Valley:an exploration of its earliest years Part 2". Great Eastern Railway Society Journal. 155: 4.
  10. Bradley, Richard (April 2013). "The railway at Harlow and in the Stort Valley:an exploration of its earliest years Part 1". Great Eastern Railway Society Journal. 154: 4.
  11. Bradley, Richard (April 2013). "The railway at Harlow and in the Stort Valley:an exploration of its earliest years Part 1". Great Eastern Railway Society Journal. 154: 10.
  12. Advertisement in the Times Newspaper, 20 October 1843
  13. M E Quick, Railway Passenger Stations in England Scotland and Wales—A Chronology, The Railway and Canal Historical Society, 2002
  14. Bradley, Richard (July 2013). "The railway at Harlow and in the Stort Valley:an exploration of its earliest years Part 2". Great Eastern Railway Society Journal. 155: 5.
  15. Goode, C.T. The Great Northern & Great Eastern Joint Railway, published by C T Goode, Anlaby, 1892, ISBN 978-1-870313-06-3
  16. J C Gillham, The Age of the Electric Trains, Ian Allan Ltd, Shepperton, 1988, ISBN 0 7110 1392 6
  17. Railway Gazette, 16 May 2016
  18. Allen, page 85
  19. Allen, page 12
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