Victorian Railway BBC2 Programme

[STEVIEBOY1]

I was watching the docudrama last night on BBC2 about the possible first serious crime on the railway in the 1860s, as well as being very interesting and thought provoking, there were a number of shots of some early steam trains, although some pictures were newer.

The incident appeared to have taken place on a route that partly no longer exists from Fenchurch Street, towards Hackney, I did not realise that there were passenger routes that went north/north west from that station, it seems to have connected on to what is now part of the North London Line.

(I do remember when that line did come into Broad Street, going towards Richmond & Watford, but I don't think there was an east bound route from Broad Street.) Todays NLL is an combination of more than one old route I think.? (and on that subject, what happened to the little rail museum that used to be at North Woolwich Station, I know there were plans for a heritage service on that route towards Silvertown, but I don't think it has got very far, if indeed at all.)

 

[John Webb]

......and on that subject, what happened to the little rail museum that used to be at North Woolwich Station, I know there were plans for a heritage service on that route towards Silvertown, but I don't think it has got very far, if indeed at all.

I don't know the detail, but the museum closed a few years ago, when the Passmore Edwards Museum Trust that was running it lost a chunk of funding from the local authority. The Cross-rail route is using the old tunnel under the docks and then somewhere between Silvertown and North Woolwich it dives underground to cross over to the south side of the river. This, when announced, scuppered any hope of a heritage rail operation there. I understand the station building is standing but not in brilliant condition once more.