London and Croydon Railway
Encyclopedia
The London and Croydon Railway (L&CR) was an early railway which operated between London
and Croydon
in England
. It was opened in 1839 and in July 1846 it merged with other railways to form a part of the London Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR).
and the Liverpool and Manchester Railway
in 1825 and 1826 respectively several schemes were put forward for railways in south east England, including the Canterbury and Whitstable Railway
of 1830 and the London and Greenwich Railway
(L&GR), which was constructed between 1833 and 1835. The London and Croydon Railway proposed a 8.75 miles (14.1 km) route between a junction with the L&GR at Corbetts Lane, Bermondsey
and the thriving market town of Croydon
in Surrey
. The Croydon trains would share the L&GR track for two miles until the terminus at London Bridge was reached. The first three miles from Croydon to Anerley
followed the alignment of the unsuccessful Croydon Canal
, with the new Croydon station and locomotive depot on the site of the old canal basin.
The new railway was authorised by Act of Parliament
in July 1835 and the company purchased the Croydon Canal
in 1836, for £40,250. However, before it had finished building its line, the company had entered into agreements with two other railways to share its route into London. The South Eastern Railway
(SER) agreed to construct its line to Dover
from Croydon. Likewise the London and Brighton Railway
joined the L&CR at Norwood Junction.
. The line proved to be expensive to build, ultimately costing £615,000 rather than the estimated £180,000, due to large cuttings at New Cross
and London
. The only severe gradient was 1:100 (1%) for 2.75 miles (4.4 km) from New Cross to Forest Hill. In addition to the viaduct, where it joined the LGR, there were eighteen bridges, and three level road crossings
, each attended by a "policeman".
The track was ultimately laid to the standard Stephenson gauge
, although during the construction the directors were undecided and ordered extra long 9 ft (2,743 mm) sleepers
with a view to possible later conversion to broad gauge
(which in any event never happened). The line used the so called "Vignoles" flat bottomed rail, somewhat broader in the base and lower than modern rail. These were mounted on longitudinal timber
s with cross sleepers
.
A new station was built at London Bridge for the Croydon trains, on the north side of the original L&GR one, although the track was shared as far as Corbetts Lane. There were six intermediate stations at New Cross
, Forest hill
(then known as Dartmouth Arms), Sydenham, Penge, Anerley Bridge
, and Norwood
(known as Jolly-sailor near Beulah Spa until 1846). The line reached a terminus at London Road in Croydon
.
Because of the planned additional traffic following the opening of the L&BR and the SER, the L&CR sought powers to widen the viaduct from Corbett's Lane to London Bridge in 1840. However, Parliament decided that the widening should rather be undertaken by the existing owners, the L&GR. This work was completed by 1842. By this time the L&CR had joined the newly opened SER and L&BR to form a committee, and agreement was reached with the L&GR to exchange their stations at London Bridge in 1843 in order to avoid their respective trains crossing over at Corbetts Junction.
, thereby avoiding use of the L&GR line. From 1844 the SER transferred all of its services to this new terminus, and the L&CR operated services from both termini. This arrangement lasted until 1852.
. This was not however completed until after the railway became a part of the LB&SCR.
was passed granting authority for an extension of the railway between New Cross
and Deptford Dockyard. This was commenced after the railway became a part of the LB&SCR.
type and one 0-4-2
. The first five 2-2-2 and one 0-4-2 were built by Sharp, Roberts and Company
, and were delivered between July 1838 and July 1839. The remaining two were built by G. and J. Rennie
, in August 1838 and May 1839.
motive power depot
at New Cross 1 June 1839, but this brick-built building was burned down 14 October 1844. It was replaced by a traditional straight shed in 1845 nearby, but the original turntable and associated lines were incorporated into a locomotive repair depot in the same year. There was also a small depot at Croydon
on the railway at New Cross, about 1842.
In 1844, the London and Croydon Railway was given parliamentary authority to lay an additional line of rails next to their existing track and test an experimental atmospheric railway
system. Pumping stations were built at Portland Road, Croydon
and Dartmouth Road; these created a vacuum
in a pipe laid between the running rails. A free running piston in this pipe was attached to the train through a slit sealed by a leather valve. The piston, and hence the train, was propelled towards the pumping station by atmospheric pressure. The pumping stations were built in a Gothic
style, with a very tall ornate tower which served both as a chimney
and as an exhaust vent for air pumped from the propulsion pipe.
As part of the construction works for the atmospheric-propulsion system, the world's first railway flyover
(overpass) was constructed at the north end of Portland Road, to carry the new atmospheric-propulsion line over the conventional steam line below. The railway experienced many problems with the stationary pumping engines
during 1846, creating dissatisfaction among the shareholders with their board of directors, and leading to the amalgamation of the company in August of that year.. In 1847, the atmospheric propulsion experiment was abandoned. The stationary engine-house at Forest Hill railway station
was largely demolished in 1851 and an electricity sub-station was built on the site in 1928. The West Croydon pumping station was relocated to form part of the Surrey Street waterworks building, which still exists. According to one historian the use of the atmospheric system cost the railway £500,000 and was 'a sad fiasco'.
and the Brighton Lewes and Hastings Railway
(both of which were under construction) to form the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
on 27 July 1846.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It was opened in 1839 and in July 1846 it merged with other railways to form a part of the London Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR).
Origins
Following the successful opening of the Stockton and Darlington RailwayStockton and Darlington Railway
The Stockton and Darlington Railway , which opened in 1825, was the world's first publicly subscribed passenger railway. It was 26 miles long, and was built in north-eastern England between Witton Park and Stockton-on-Tees via Darlington, and connected to several collieries near Shildon...
and the Liverpool and Manchester Railway
Liverpool and Manchester Railway
The Liverpool and Manchester Railway was the world's first inter-city passenger railway in which all the trains were timetabled and were hauled for most of the distance solely by steam locomotives. The line opened on 15 September 1830 and ran between the cities of Liverpool and Manchester in North...
in 1825 and 1826 respectively several schemes were put forward for railways in south east England, including the Canterbury and Whitstable Railway
Canterbury and Whitstable Railway
The Canterbury and Whitstable Railway, sometimes referred to colloquially as the Crab and Winkle Line, was an early British railway that opened in 1830 between Canterbury and Whitstable in the county of Kent, England.- Early history :...
of 1830 and the London and Greenwich Railway
London and Greenwich Railway
The London and Greenwich Railway was opened in London between 1836 and 1838. It was the first steam railway to have a terminus in the capital, the first of any to be built specifically for passenger service, and the first example of an elevated railway....
(L&GR), which was constructed between 1833 and 1835. The London and Croydon Railway proposed a 8.75 miles (14.1 km) route between a junction with the L&GR at Corbetts Lane, Bermondsey
Bermondsey
Bermondsey is an area in London on the south bank of the river Thames, and is part of the London Borough of Southwark. To the west lies Southwark, to the east Rotherhithe, and to the south, Walworth and Peckham.-Toponomy:...
and the thriving market town of Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
. The Croydon trains would share the L&GR track for two miles until the terminus at London Bridge was reached. The first three miles from Croydon to Anerley
Anerley
Anerley is a district of South London, England, located in the London Borough of Bromley. It is situated south south-east of Charing Cross. Anerley is geographically an outer lying area of London, although it is considered to have characteristics of an Inner city suburb...
followed the alignment of the unsuccessful Croydon Canal
Croydon Canal
The Croydon Canal ran from Croydon, via Forest Hill, to the Grand Surrey Canal at New Cross in south London, England. It opened in 1809, and closed in 1836, making it the first canal to be formally abandoned by an Act of Parliament.-History:...
, with the new Croydon station and locomotive depot on the site of the old canal basin.
The new railway was authorised by Act of Parliament
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
in July 1835 and the company purchased the Croydon Canal
Croydon Canal
The Croydon Canal ran from Croydon, via Forest Hill, to the Grand Surrey Canal at New Cross in south London, England. It opened in 1809, and closed in 1836, making it the first canal to be formally abandoned by an Act of Parliament.-History:...
in 1836, for £40,250. However, before it had finished building its line, the company had entered into agreements with two other railways to share its route into London. The South Eastern Railway
South Eastern Railway (UK)
The South Eastern Railway was a railway company in south-eastern England from 1836 until 1922. The company was formed to construct a route from London to Dover. Branch lines were later opened to Tunbridge Wells, Hastings, Canterbury and other places in Kent...
(SER) agreed to construct its line to Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
from Croydon. Likewise the London and Brighton Railway
London and Brighton Railway
The London and Brighton Railway was a railway company in England which was incorporated in 1837 and survived until 1846. Its railway runs from a junction with the London & Croydon Railway at Norwood - which gives it access from London Bridge, just south of the River Thames in central London...
joined the L&CR at Norwood Junction.
Construction
The consultant engineer for the new line was William CubittWilliam Cubitt
Sir William Cubitt was an eminent English civil engineer and millwright. Born in Norfolk, England, he was employed in many of the great engineering undertakings of his time. He invented a type of windmill sail and the prison treadwheel, and was employed as chief engineer, at Ransomes of Ipswich,...
. The line proved to be expensive to build, ultimately costing £615,000 rather than the estimated £180,000, due to large cuttings at New Cross
New Cross
New Cross is a district and ward of the London Borough of Lewisham, England. It is situated 4 miles south-east of Charing Cross. The ward covered by London post town and the SE 14 postcode district. New Cross is near St Johns, Telegraph Hill, Nunhead, Peckham, Brockley, Deptford and Greenwich...
and London
Forest Hill, London
Forest Hill is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It situated between Dulwich and Sydenham. The area has enjoyed extensive investment since plans to extend the East London Line to Forest Hill were unveiled in 2004....
. The only severe gradient was 1:100 (1%) for 2.75 miles (4.4 km) from New Cross to Forest Hill. In addition to the viaduct, where it joined the LGR, there were eighteen bridges, and three level road crossings
Level crossing
A level crossing occurs where a railway line is intersected by a road or path onone level, without recourse to a bridge or tunnel. It is a type of at-grade intersection. The term also applies when a light rail line with separate right-of-way or reserved track crosses a road in the same fashion...
, each attended by a "policeman".
The track was ultimately laid to the standard Stephenson gauge
Rail gauge
Track gauge or rail gauge is the distance between the inner sides of the heads of the two load bearing rails that make up a single railway line. Sixty percent of the world's railways use a standard gauge of . Wider gauges are called broad gauge; smaller gauges, narrow gauge. Break-of-gauge refers...
, although during the construction the directors were undecided and ordered extra long 9 ft (2,743 mm) sleepers
Railroad tie
A railroad tie/railway tie , or railway sleeper is a rectangular item used to support the rails in railroad tracks...
with a view to possible later conversion to broad gauge
Broad gauge
Broad-gauge railways use a track gauge greater than the standard gauge of .- List :For list see: List of broad gauges, by gauge and country- History :...
(which in any event never happened). The line used the so called "Vignoles" flat bottomed rail, somewhat broader in the base and lower than modern rail. These were mounted on longitudinal timber
Timber
Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
s with cross sleepers
Railroad tie
A railroad tie/railway tie , or railway sleeper is a rectangular item used to support the rails in railroad tracks...
.
A new station was built at London Bridge for the Croydon trains, on the north side of the original L&GR one, although the track was shared as far as Corbetts Lane. There were six intermediate stations at New Cross
New Cross Gate station
New Cross Gate station is a railway station in New Cross, London, on the Brighton Main Line. It is about 600 metres west of station. It is in Travelcard Zone 2, on the East London Line. The station is operated by London Overground.-History:...
, Forest hill
Forest Hill railway station
Forest Hill railway station is situated in Forest Hill, part of the London Borough of Lewisham. The station is located on the South Circular Road ....
(then known as Dartmouth Arms), Sydenham, Penge, Anerley Bridge
Anerley railway station
Anerley railway station is in the London Borough of Bromley in south London. The station is operated by London Overground, with London Overground and Southern trains serving the station. It is located in Travelcard Zone 4....
, and Norwood
Norwood Junction railway station
Norwood Junction railway station is in South Norwood in the London Borough of Croydon in south London, in Travelcard Zone 4.The station is managed by London Overground and trains operated by Southern and London Overground .-History:...
(known as Jolly-sailor near Beulah Spa until 1846). The line reached a terminus at London Road in Croydon
West Croydon station
West Croydon station is a transport interchange for National Rail and Tramlink services, as well as London Buses. It is in the London Borough of Croydon and Travelcard Zone 5...
.
Because of the planned additional traffic following the opening of the L&BR and the SER, the L&CR sought powers to widen the viaduct from Corbett's Lane to London Bridge in 1840. However, Parliament decided that the widening should rather be undertaken by the existing owners, the L&GR. This work was completed by 1842. By this time the L&CR had joined the newly opened SER and L&BR to form a committee, and agreement was reached with the L&GR to exchange their stations at London Bridge in 1843 in order to avoid their respective trains crossing over at Corbetts Junction.
Bricklayers' Arms Terminus
By 1843 the L&CR and the SER were becoming concerned about the tolls charged by the L&GR for the use of their newly widened line between Corbetts Junction and London Bridge. As a result these railways jointly constructed a new terminus at Bricklayers Arms and a branch line from the L&CR line at New CrossNew Cross
New Cross is a district and ward of the London Borough of Lewisham, England. It is situated 4 miles south-east of Charing Cross. The ward covered by London post town and the SE 14 postcode district. New Cross is near St Johns, Telegraph Hill, Nunhead, Peckham, Brockley, Deptford and Greenwich...
, thereby avoiding use of the L&GR line. From 1844 the SER transferred all of its services to this new terminus, and the L&CR operated services from both termini. This arrangement lasted until 1852.
Epsom extension
In April 1844 the L&CR board of directors approved a continuation of their line to EpsomEpsom
Epsom is a town in the borough of Epsom and Ewell in Surrey, England. Small parts of Epsom are in the Borough of Reigate and Banstead. The town is located south-south-west of Charing Cross, within the Greater London Urban Area. The town lies on the chalk downland of Epsom Downs.-History:Epsom lies...
. This was not however completed until after the railway became a part of the LB&SCR.
Deptford Dockyard extension
in July 1846 an Act of ParliamentAct of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
was passed granting authority for an extension of the railway between New Cross
New Cross
New Cross is a district and ward of the London Borough of Lewisham, England. It is situated 4 miles south-east of Charing Cross. The ward covered by London post town and the SE 14 postcode district. New Cross is near St Johns, Telegraph Hill, Nunhead, Peckham, Brockley, Deptford and Greenwich...
and Deptford Dockyard. This was commenced after the railway became a part of the LB&SCR.
Locomotives and rolling stock
The railway owned seven locomotives of the 2-2-22-2-2
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-2-2 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle two powered driving wheels on one axle, and two trailing wheels on one axle. The wheel arrangement both provided more stability and enabled a larger firebox...
type and one 0-4-2
0-4-2
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-4-2 represents the wheel arrangement with no leading wheels, four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle...
. The first five 2-2-2 and one 0-4-2 were built by Sharp, Roberts and Company
Sharp, Roberts and Company
Sharp, Stewart and Company was a steam locomotive manufacturer, initially based in Manchester, England. The company was formed in 1843 upon the demise of Sharp, Roberts & Co. and moved to Glasgow, Scotland in 1888, eventually amalgamating with two other Glasgow-based locomotive manufacturers to...
, and were delivered between July 1838 and July 1839. The remaining two were built by G. and J. Rennie
George Rennie (engineer)
George Rennie was an engineer born in London, England. He was the son of the Scottish engineer John Rennie and the brother of Sir John Rennie.-Early life:...
, in August 1838 and May 1839.
Summary table
| L&C No. | Type | Manufacturer | Delivered | Name | Jt. Cttee No. | 1845 disposal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2-2-2 | Sharp, Roberts and Company Sharp, Roberts and Company Sharp, Stewart and Company was a steam locomotive manufacturer, initially based in Manchester, England. The company was formed in 1843 upon the demise of Sharp, Roberts & Co. and moved to Glasgow, Scotland in 1888, eventually amalgamating with two other Glasgow-based locomotive manufacturers to... |
1838/07 | Surrey | 1 | L&BR |
| 2 | 2-2-2 | G. and J. Rennie George Rennie (engineer) George Rennie was an engineer born in London, England. He was the son of the Scottish engineer John Rennie and the brother of Sir John Rennie.-Early life:... |
1838/08 | Croydon | 2 | SER |
| 3 | 2-2-2 | Sharp, Roberts and Company Sharp, Roberts and Company Sharp, Stewart and Company was a steam locomotive manufacturer, initially based in Manchester, England. The company was formed in 1843 upon the demise of Sharp, Roberts & Co. and moved to Glasgow, Scotland in 1888, eventually amalgamating with two other Glasgow-based locomotive manufacturers to... |
1838/09 | Sussex | 3 | L&BR |
| 4 | 2-2-2 | Sharp, Roberts and Company Sharp, Roberts and Company Sharp, Stewart and Company was a steam locomotive manufacturer, initially based in Manchester, England. The company was formed in 1843 upon the demise of Sharp, Roberts & Co. and moved to Glasgow, Scotland in 1888, eventually amalgamating with two other Glasgow-based locomotive manufacturers to... |
1839/02 | Kent | 4 | L&BR |
| 5 | 2-2-2 | Sharp, Roberts and Company Sharp, Roberts and Company Sharp, Stewart and Company was a steam locomotive manufacturer, initially based in Manchester, England. The company was formed in 1843 upon the demise of Sharp, Roberts & Co. and moved to Glasgow, Scotland in 1888, eventually amalgamating with two other Glasgow-based locomotive manufacturers to... |
1839/03 | London | 5 | SER |
| 6 | 2-2-2 | G. and J. Rennie George Rennie (engineer) George Rennie was an engineer born in London, England. He was the son of the Scottish engineer John Rennie and the brother of Sir John Rennie.-Early life:... |
1839/07 | Archimedes | 6 | SER |
| 7 | 0-4-2 | Sharp, Roberts and Company Sharp, Roberts and Company Sharp, Stewart and Company was a steam locomotive manufacturer, initially based in Manchester, England. The company was formed in 1843 upon the demise of Sharp, Roberts & Co. and moved to Glasgow, Scotland in 1888, eventually amalgamating with two other Glasgow-based locomotive manufacturers to... |
1839/07 | Hercules | 7 | SER |
| 8 | 2-2-2 | Sharp, Roberts and Company Sharp, Roberts and Company Sharp, Stewart and Company was a steam locomotive manufacturer, initially based in Manchester, England. The company was formed in 1843 upon the demise of Sharp, Roberts & Co. and moved to Glasgow, Scotland in 1888, eventually amalgamating with two other Glasgow-based locomotive manufacturers to... |
1839/08 | Sydenham | 8 | L&CR |
Brighton, Croydon and Dover Joint Committee
From 1842 and the L&CR pooled its locomotive stock with the SER, to form the Croydon and Dover Joint Committee. From March 1844 the L&BR joined the scheme and the locomotives were thereafter operated by the Brighton, Croydon and Dover Joint Committee, which also ordered further locomotives. These arrangements caused great operating problems for the L&CR and the L&BR and so in April 1845 both companies gave notice of withdrawal from the arrangement in January 1846, when the pooled locomotives were divided between the three companies. The L&CR received eight locomotives back in April 1845, seven of which had previously been owned by other railways.Summary table
| L&C No. | Type | Manufacturer | Name | Jt. Cttee No. | Original Rly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | 2-2-0 | William Fairbairn William Fairbairn Sir William Fairbairn, 1st Baronet was a Scottish civil engineer, structural engineer and shipbuilder.-Early career:... |
|||
| 74 | L&BR | ||||
| 25 | 2-2-2 | Sharp, Roberts and Company Sharp, Roberts and Company Sharp, Stewart and Company was a steam locomotive manufacturer, initially based in Manchester, England. The company was formed in 1843 upon the demise of Sharp, Roberts & Co. and moved to Glasgow, Scotland in 1888, eventually amalgamating with two other Glasgow-based locomotive manufacturers to... |
Sydenham | 8 | L&CR |
| 43 | 0-4-2 | Sharp, Roberts and Company Sharp, Roberts and Company Sharp, Stewart and Company was a steam locomotive manufacturer, initially based in Manchester, England. The company was formed in 1843 upon the demise of Sharp, Roberts & Co. and moved to Glasgow, Scotland in 1888, eventually amalgamating with two other Glasgow-based locomotive manufacturers to... |
Achilles | 35 | Jt Cttee |
| 44 | 2-2-2 | Sharp, Roberts and Company Sharp, Roberts and Company Sharp, Stewart and Company was a steam locomotive manufacturer, initially based in Manchester, England. The company was formed in 1843 upon the demise of Sharp, Roberts & Co. and moved to Glasgow, Scotland in 1888, eventually amalgamating with two other Glasgow-based locomotive manufacturers to... |
Kingston | 50 | L&BR |
| 48 | 2-2-2 | Sharp, Roberts and Company Sharp, Roberts and Company Sharp, Stewart and Company was a steam locomotive manufacturer, initially based in Manchester, England. The company was formed in 1843 upon the demise of Sharp, Roberts & Co. and moved to Glasgow, Scotland in 1888, eventually amalgamating with two other Glasgow-based locomotive manufacturers to... |
|||
| 68 | L&BR | ||||
| 49 | 2-2-2 | Sharp, Roberts and Company Sharp, Roberts and Company Sharp, Stewart and Company was a steam locomotive manufacturer, initially based in Manchester, England. The company was formed in 1843 upon the demise of Sharp, Roberts & Co. and moved to Glasgow, Scotland in 1888, eventually amalgamating with two other Glasgow-based locomotive manufacturers to... |
|||
| 69 | L&BR | ||||
| 50 | 2-2-2 | Sharp, Roberts and Company Sharp, Roberts and Company Sharp, Stewart and Company was a steam locomotive manufacturer, initially based in Manchester, England. The company was formed in 1843 upon the demise of Sharp, Roberts & Co. and moved to Glasgow, Scotland in 1888, eventually amalgamating with two other Glasgow-based locomotive manufacturers to... |
|||
| 88 | Jt Cttee | ||||
| 51 | 2-2-2 | Sharp Brothers Sharp, Roberts and Company Sharp, Stewart and Company was a steam locomotive manufacturer, initially based in Manchester, England. The company was formed in 1843 upon the demise of Sharp, Roberts & Co. and moved to Glasgow, Scotland in 1888, eventually amalgamating with two other Glasgow-based locomotive manufacturers to... |
|||
| 90 | Jt Cttee | ||||
Motive Power Depots and Workshop
The railway opened an early example of a roundhouseRoundhouse
A roundhouse is a building used by railroads for servicing locomotives. Roundhouses are large, circular or semicircular structures that were traditionally located surrounding or adjacent to turntables...
motive power depot
Motive power depot
Motive power depot, usually abbreviated to MPD, is a name given to places where locomotives are stored when not being used, and also repaired and maintained. They were originally known as "running sheds", "engine sheds", or, for short, just sheds. Facilities are provided for refuelling and...
at New Cross 1 June 1839, but this brick-built building was burned down 14 October 1844. It was replaced by a traditional straight shed in 1845 nearby, but the original turntable and associated lines were incorporated into a locomotive repair depot in the same year. There was also a small depot at Croydon
Carriage Stock
There were first and second-class four-wheeled while carriages, both of the three compartment type usual for the period, the main difference seeming to be that the first-class coaches carried eighteen passengers, while the second-class carried twenty four.Operation
The line into London Bridge became increasingly congested so at Corbetts Lane a white disc was installed, to be operated by the pointsman. It, or at night a red light, showed that the route was set for Croydon. If the disc was edge on, or a white light showed, the junction was set for Greenwich. It is believed that this was first fixed signal used to control a junction. Greenwich trains ran every 15 minutes, Croydon trains were hourly. Also the first railway semaphore signal was erected by Charles Hutton GregoryCharles Hutton Gregory
Sir Charles Hutton Gregory KCMG was a British civil engineer. He was president of the Institution of Civil Engineers between December 1867 and December 1869....
on the railway at New Cross, about 1842.
Atmospheric railway
Atmospheric railway
An atmospheric railway uses air pressure to provide power for propulsion. In one plan a pneumatic tube is laid between the rails, with a piston running in it suspended from the train through a sealable slot in the top of the tube. Alternatively, the whole tunnel may be the pneumatic tube with the...
system. Pumping stations were built at Portland Road, Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
and Dartmouth Road; these created a vacuum
Vacuum
In everyday usage, vacuum is a volume of space that is essentially empty of matter, such that its gaseous pressure is much less than atmospheric pressure. The word comes from the Latin term for "empty". A perfect vacuum would be one with no particles in it at all, which is impossible to achieve in...
in a pipe laid between the running rails. A free running piston in this pipe was attached to the train through a slit sealed by a leather valve. The piston, and hence the train, was propelled towards the pumping station by atmospheric pressure. The pumping stations were built in a Gothic
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
style, with a very tall ornate tower which served both as a chimney
Chimney
A chimney is a structure for venting hot flue gases or smoke from a boiler, stove, furnace or fireplace to the outside atmosphere. Chimneys are typically vertical, or as near as possible to vertical, to ensure that the gases flow smoothly, drawing air into the combustion in what is known as the...
and as an exhaust vent for air pumped from the propulsion pipe.
As part of the construction works for the atmospheric-propulsion system, the world's first railway flyover
Overpass
An overpass is a bridge, road, railway or similar structure that crosses over another road or railway...
(overpass) was constructed at the north end of Portland Road, to carry the new atmospheric-propulsion line over the conventional steam line below. The railway experienced many problems with the stationary pumping engines
Stationary engine
A stationary engine is an engine whose framework does not move. It is normally used not to propel a vehicle but to drive a piece of immobile equipment such as a pump or power tool. They may be powered by steam; or oil-burning or internal combustion engines....
during 1846, creating dissatisfaction among the shareholders with their board of directors, and leading to the amalgamation of the company in August of that year.. In 1847, the atmospheric propulsion experiment was abandoned. The stationary engine-house at Forest Hill railway station
Forest Hill railway station
Forest Hill railway station is situated in Forest Hill, part of the London Borough of Lewisham. The station is located on the South Circular Road ....
was largely demolished in 1851 and an electricity sub-station was built on the site in 1928. The West Croydon pumping station was relocated to form part of the Surrey Street waterworks building, which still exists. According to one historian the use of the atmospheric system cost the railway £500,000 and was 'a sad fiasco'.
Accidents
The railway is not known to have suffered any serious accidents during its seven year history, which is remarkable given its early operation over shared lines.Amalgamation
As a result of the poor financial performance of both the L&CR and the L&BR, a group of shareholders organised an amalgamation of these companies together with the Brighton and Chichester RailwayBrighton and Chichester Railway
The Brighton and Chichester Railway was an early railway in southern England running between the towns of Shoreham and Chichester in Sussex, which operated between 1845 and 1846.-History:...
and the Brighton Lewes and Hastings Railway
Brighton Lewes and Hastings Railway
The Brighton Lewes and Hastings Railway was an early railway in southern England running between the three East Sussex towns mentioned in its name...
(both of which were under construction) to form the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1846 to 1922. Its territory formed a rough triangle, with London at its apex, practically the whole coastline of Sussex as its base, and a large part of Surrey...
on 27 July 1846.