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==History==
==History==

The EC&TJR opened in 1846, from [[Stratford station|Stratford]] to [[Canning Town station|Canning Town]], to transport coal to the mouth of [[Bow Creek]]. A year later it was extended to [[North Woolwich railway station|North Woolwich]] via West Silvertown, allowing connections with the [[Woolwich Ferry]]; the same year it was taken over by the [[Eastern Counties Railway]].
The EC&TJR opened in 1846, from [[Stratford station|Stratford]] to [[Canning Town station|Canning Town]], to transport coal to the mouth of [[Bow Creek]]. A year later it was extended to [[North Woolwich railway station|North Woolwich]] via West Silvertown, allowing connections with the [[Woolwich Ferry]]; the same year it was taken over by the [[Eastern Counties Railway]].


When the [[Royal Victoria Dock]] opened in 1855 the line between Canning Town and North Woolwich had to be equipped with a [[swingbridge]] over the entrance to the dock, which slowed down journey times. In response, the line was rerouted north of the dock, and a station at [[Custom House station|Custom House]] opened. The south loop remained in service for local factories and was renamed the ''Silvertown Tramway''.
The original line went south, but when the [[Royal Victoria Dock]] opened in 1855 the line between Canning Town and North Woolwich had to be equipped with a [[swingbridge]] over the entrance to the dock, which slowed down journey times. In response, the line was rerouted north of the dock through two new stations, tation at [[Custom House station|Custom House]] and [[Tidal Basin railway station|Tidal Basin]]. The south loop remained in service for local factories and was renamed the ''Silvertown Tramway''.

After the construction of the [[Albert Dock]], with the same problem envisaged on the route to [[Silvertown railway station|Silvertown]], in 1878 the railway built the new {{convert|600|m}} [[cut and cover]] '''Connaught tunnel''' (aka Silvertown tunnel or Albert Dock tunnel), at the new docks entrance. This was later subsequently amended with an iron casing along the section which passed under the dock, as it was found that as ships got larger, they were scraping their keels on the tunnel roof.


Several branches were opened in due course; in 1872 the [[Gas Light and Coke Company]] opened a branch running north-east to [[Beckton railway station|Beckton]] (not the current site of [[Beckton DLR station]]) to serve its [[Beckton Gas Works|gasworks]] there<ref name=jackson>Jackson A.A, ''London's Local Railways'', David & Charles, 1978, ISBN 0-7153-7479-6</ref> ; in 1880, as the [[Royal Albert Dock]] opened, an extension to [[Gallions railway station|Gallions]] opened, running due east along the north edge of the dock, all the way to the shore of the [[River Thames]] on the far side of the dock. Both of these branches left the main line at Custom House. At the same time, the line was connected to the [[Palace Gates Line]] to [[Palace Gates (Wood Green) railway station|Palace Gates (Wood Green)]] in North London, and regular services between North Woolwich and Palace Gates operated. The line was quadrupled between Stratford Market and Tidal Basin in stages by 1892, though the western pair of tracks gradually became less used over the years.
Several branches were opened in due course; in 1872 the [[Gas Light and Coke Company]] opened a branch running north-east to [[Beckton railway station|Beckton]] (not the current site of [[Beckton DLR station]]) to serve its [[Beckton Gas Works|gasworks]] there<ref name=jackson>Jackson A.A, ''London's Local Railways'', David & Charles, 1978, ISBN 0-7153-7479-6</ref> ; in 1880, as the [[Royal Albert Dock]] opened, an extension to [[Gallions railway station|Gallions]] opened, running due east along the north edge of the dock, all the way to the shore of the [[River Thames]] on the far side of the dock. Both of these branches left the main line at Custom House. At the same time, the line was connected to the [[Palace Gates Line]] to [[Palace Gates (Wood Green) railway station|Palace Gates (Wood Green)]] in North London, and regular services between North Woolwich and Palace Gates operated. The line was quadrupled between Stratford Market and Tidal Basin in stages by 1892, though the western pair of tracks gradually became less used over the years.


==Demise==
Construction of the Royal Albert Dock also meant the line from Custom House to [[Silvertown railway station|Silvertown]] was moved into a tunnel.
⚫
The lines to Beckton and Gallions closed after bomb damage during [[the Blitz]], as did Tidal Basin station. The line to Beckton reopened only for goods (by-products from the gasworks), finally closing in 1972.<ref name=jackson /> The Palace Gates-North Woolwich line continued until 1963, when services were rerouted to [[Tottenham Hale station|Tottenham Hale]], later terminating at Stratford.


In pre-empting the closure of the Broad Street line, in 1979 the service was extended to run on the old [[North London Railway]] via [[Dalston Kingsland railway station|Dalston Kingsland]] to [[Camden Road railway station|Camden Road]]. [[Broad Street railway station]] to that point provided the eastern terminus for what was then called the CrossTown LinkLine, today known as the [[North London Line]].
==Demise & redevelopment==


In 2006, all North London line services were withdrawn south of Stratford, and the line was closed.
⚫
The lines to Beckton and Gallions closed after bomb damage during [[the Blitz]]. The line to Beckton reopened only for goods (by-products from the gasworks), finally closing in 1972.<ref name=jackson /> The Palace Gates-North Woolwich line continued until 1963, when services were rerouted to [[Tottenham Hale station|Tottenham Hale]], later terminating at Stratford. In 1979 the service was extended to run on the old [[North London Railway]] via [[Dalston Kingsland railway station|Dalston Kingsland]] to [[Camden Road railway station|Camden Road]], and incorporated into what was then called the CrossTown LinkLine, today known as the [[North London Line]].


==Redevelopment==
===Docklands Light Railway===
Part of the line between Custom House and Gallions was later redeveloped as the Beckton branch of the [[Docklands Light Railway]], as was a short section of the Beckton line between Woolwich Manor Way and the new Royal Docks Road, The [[Jubilee Line]] between Canning Town and Stratford also runs over the course of the EC&TJR, namely the disused western pair of quadrupled tracks.
Part of the line between Custom House and Gallions was later redeveloped as the Beckton branch of the [[Docklands Light Railway]], as was a short section of the Beckton line between Woolwich Manor Way and the new Royal Docks Road, The [[Jubilee Line]] between Canning Town and Stratford also runs over the course of the EC&TJR, namely the disused western pair of quadrupled tracks.


With opening of the [[King George V DLR station|King George V]] branch of the DLR, the North London Line between Stratford and North Woolwich closed in December 2006. The stretch between Canning Town and Stratford will be converted to become the [[Stratford International station|Stratford International]] branch of the DLR, while the line between Custom House and North Woolwich will remain closed permanently.
With opening of the [[King George V DLR station|King George V]] branch of the DLR, the North London Line between Stratford and North Woolwich closed in December 2006. The stretch between Canning Town and Stratford will be converted to become the [[Stratford International station|Stratford International]] branch of the DLR

===Crossrail===
The Custom House to North Woolwich section, including a £50M investment to renovate and reuse the Connaught tunnel,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13210232|title=Crossrail brings old tunnel back to life|author=Tom Edwards|publisher=BBC London|date=27 April 2011|accessdate=30 August 2011}}</ref> is presently being redeveloped to be used by [[Crossrail]].


==Stations==
==Stations==

Revision as of 14:58, 30 August 2011

Eastern Counties and Thames Junction Railway
Overview
Dates of operation1846–1862
SuccessorGreat Eastern Railway
Eastern Counties
and Thames Junction Railway
Legend
North London line
River Lea
to Lea Valley lines
DLR to Stratford International
 Stratford:
 (HL) 
London Overground to Richmond
  (HL) 
Great Eastern Main Line
  (HL) 
Central line
  (HL) 
DLR to Lewisham
  (LL) 
DLR to Beckton or Woolwich Arsenal
  (LL) 
Jubilee line to Stanmore
links to GEML lifted
Former EC&TJR route to North Woolwich
taken over by DLR and Elizabeth line
 Stratford High Street
Abbey Road
District and Hammersmith & City lines
London, Tilbury and Southend line
 West Ham
link lifted
 Star Lane
DLR to Bank or Tower Gateway
 Canning Town
Jubilee line to Stanmore
from Tidal Basin to past Pontoon Dock, route to
Woolwich Arsenal elevated on Silvertown Tramway line
 Royal Victoria
Tidal Basin
Elizabeth line
 Custom House
to Beckton
 West Silvertown
to Gallions / DLR to Beckton
 Pontoon Dock
Connaught tunnel (27 chains (540 m) long)
DLR to Woolwich Arsenal
 Silvertown
Silvertown Tramway was original EC&TJR route
 North Woolwich
(for Woolwich Free Ferry)
Elizabeth line to Abbey Wood

Disabled access All active stations are accessible

The Eastern Counties and Thames Junction Railway in east London connected the Royal Docks with the Eastern Counties Railway (ECR). Authorised in 1844, it opened in 1846, and was absorbed by the ECR in 1847. The ECR in turn amalgamated with other railways to form the Great Eastern Railway in 1862.[1][2]

History

The EC&TJR opened in 1846, from Stratford to Canning Town, to transport coal to the mouth of Bow Creek. A year later it was extended to North Woolwich via West Silvertown, allowing connections with the Woolwich Ferry; the same year it was taken over by the Eastern Counties Railway.

The original line went south, but when the Royal Victoria Dock opened in 1855 the line between Canning Town and North Woolwich had to be equipped with a swingbridge over the entrance to the dock, which slowed down journey times. In response, the line was rerouted north of the dock through two new stations, tation at Custom House and Tidal Basin. The south loop remained in service for local factories and was renamed the Silvertown Tramway.

After the construction of the Albert Dock, with the same problem envisaged on the route to Silvertown, in 1878 the railway built the new 600 metres (2,000 ft) cut and cover Connaught tunnel (aka Silvertown tunnel or Albert Dock tunnel), at the new docks entrance. This was later subsequently amended with an iron casing along the section which passed under the dock, as it was found that as ships got larger, they were scraping their keels on the tunnel roof.

Several branches were opened in due course; in 1872 the Gas Light and Coke Company opened a branch running north-east to Beckton (not the current site of Beckton DLR station) to serve its gasworks there[3] ; in 1880, as the Royal Albert Dock opened, an extension to Gallions opened, running due east along the north edge of the dock, all the way to the shore of the River Thames on the far side of the dock. Both of these branches left the main line at Custom House. At the same time, the line was connected to the Palace Gates Line to Palace Gates (Wood Green) in North London, and regular services between North Woolwich and Palace Gates operated. The line was quadrupled between Stratford Market and Tidal Basin in stages by 1892, though the western pair of tracks gradually became less used over the years.

Demise

The lines to Beckton and Gallions closed after bomb damage during the Blitz, as did Tidal Basin station. The line to Beckton reopened only for goods (by-products from the gasworks), finally closing in 1972.[3] The Palace Gates-North Woolwich line continued until 1963, when services were rerouted to Tottenham Hale, later terminating at Stratford.

In pre-empting the closure of the Broad Street line, in 1979 the service was extended to run on the old North London Railway via Dalston Kingsland to Camden Road. Broad Street railway station to that point provided the eastern terminus for what was then called the CrossTown LinkLine, today known as the North London Line.

In 2006, all North London line services were withdrawn south of Stratford, and the line was closed.

Redevelopment

Docklands Light Railway

Part of the line between Custom House and Gallions was later redeveloped as the Beckton branch of the Docklands Light Railway, as was a short section of the Beckton line between Woolwich Manor Way and the new Royal Docks Road, The Jubilee Line between Canning Town and Stratford also runs over the course of the EC&TJR, namely the disused western pair of quadrupled tracks.

With opening of the King George V branch of the DLR, the North London Line between Stratford and North Woolwich closed in December 2006. The stretch between Canning Town and Stratford will be converted to become the Stratford International branch of the DLR

Crossrail

The Custom House to North Woolwich section, including a £50M investment to renovate and reuse the Connaught tunnel,[4] is presently being redeveloped to be used by Crossrail.

Stations

Main line (opened 1846):

Branch from Custom House to Beckton (opened 1872, closed 1972):

Branch from Custom House to Gallions (opened 1874, closed 1940):

References

  1. ^ Awdry, Christopher (1990). Encyclopaedia of British Railway Companies. London: Guild Publishing. p. 126. CN 8983. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  2. ^ "News from North Woolwich" (PDF).
  3. ^ a b Jackson A.A, London's Local Railways, David & Charles, 1978, ISBN 0-7153-7479-6
  4. ^ Tom Edwards (27 April 2011). "Crossrail brings old tunnel back to life". BBC London. Retrieved 30 August 2011.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eastern_Counties_and_Thames_Junction_Railway&oldid=447495878"