Whitechapel and Bow Railway
Whitechapel and Bow Railway | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Whitechapel and Bow Railway was an underground railway in London from Whitechapel to Bow. It is now entirely integrated into the London Underground system. It was a joint venture between the District Railway and the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway.
History
[edit]Origins
[edit]The railway had its origins in a scheme promoted by the Metropolitan Railway, under chairman Edward Watkin, to connect Whitechapel with the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway (LTSR) at Campbell Road in Bow via underground railway. The purpose of the proposed line was to relieve pressure on Fenchurch Street by routing local trains on to the Metropolitan Railway. The Metropolitan and LTSR agreed to jointly promote the scheme in 1883.[1]
The route trains would take to reach the Metropolitan Railway, between St Mary's and Whitechapel, was over 850 yards of District Railway[a] track. The District Railway was able to block through services on this basis and chairman James Staats Forbes made clear his intention to oppose the necessary legislation for the new line. The LTSR withdrew from the partnership with the Metropolitan.[1]
In 1897 the District Railway revived the scheme, seeking permission from shareholders in February and receiving legislative consent in August.[1] Further legislation in 1898 established a joint committee of the District Railway and LTSR. They agreed to jointly fund the new line and a third act in 1900 confirmed how it would be operated.[1]
Construction
[edit]The two mile long line opened in 1902 and linked the District Railway at Whitechapel (St Mary's) with the LTSR at the above-ground Campbell Road Junction at Bow, to the west of Bromley station.
The line from Whitechapel to Bow, and on to East Ham, was electrified in 1905.[2]
Joint owners
[edit]
From 1902 to 1950 it was owned and operated as a joint venture. Initially the arrangement was between the District Railway and the LTSR. Both companies went through a series of amalgamations. The LTSR was purchased by the Midland Railway in 1912. It was subsequently grouped into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) in 1923 and was nationalised in 1948 as part of British Railways.
The District Railway was part of the Underground Electric Railways Company of London and was absorbed into the London Passenger Transport Board in 1933. This was nationalised as the London Transport Executive in 1948. Complete ownership of the Whitechapel and Bow Railway passed to the London Transport Executive in 1950.[3]
Operation
[edit]The LTSR had running rights as far west as Whitechapel. 450 feet (140 m) long platforms were built to accommodate LTSR trains, although these running rights were never used.[1] The District Railway had running rights as far as Bromley. Fares to Fenchurch Street via the LTSR and Mark Lane via the Whitechapel and Bow were to be the same and interchangeable.[b][1]
Regular services were provided by the District Railway with joint stock. A through Ealing Broadway to Southend service was also provided from 1910 to 1939, traction west of Barking being provided by District Railway's electric locomotives. The LMS extended electrified track east from Barking and electric District Railway trains reached Upminster in 1932.[2] The Metropolitan line provided a peak time service from 1936. Mile End station was rebuilt in 1946 as part of the eastern extension of the Central line.
It is now operated as part of the District line and Hammersmith and City line, between Whitechapel and Bow Road stations.[2][4]
List of stations
[edit]- Whitechapel (current District line platforms)
- Stepney Green
- Mile End
- Bow Road
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f Horne, Mike A. C. (2019). London's District Railway: A History of the Metropolitan District Railway Company. Twentieth Century. Volume two. Capital Transport Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85414-430-0.
- ^ a b c Bruce, J Graeme (1983). Steam to Silver. London Transport. pp. 46–47.
- ^ "Transport Act, 1947". The London Gazette. 27 January 1950. p. 480. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
- ^ Wolmar, Christian (2004). Subterranean Railway.