Group    From 26/7/1803  To 1846

Surrey Iron Railway Company

Categories: Transport

The first public railway in England, probably the first in the world.

A transport system from London to Portsmouth was needed, either a canal or a tramway. The engineer William Jessop, recommended a tramway. He was given the job to build the first phase, from the Thames at the Ram Brewery in Wandsworth to Croydon, closely following the River Wandle which was already heavily industrialised. This began in 1801 and the route of nearly 9 miles was completed together with the Wandsworth Basin so it was opened 1803.  

An extension to Godstone was authorised but only actually reached Mestham. This operated from 1805, making the entire route 18 miles long. Portsmouth was never reached.

This early rail-way consisted of rails, with a gauge of 4' 2", on cast iron plates laid on stone sleepers. The goods waggons were pulled by horses. The rails meant that a single horse could pull much more than its usual load so the system was very efficient, but not as good as steam locomotive railways and the SIR closed in 1846.  The Croydon Tramlink today uses much of the old SIR route.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Surrey Iron Railway Company

Commemorated ati

Surrey Iron Railway Company - Croydon, Reeves Corner

Surrey Iron Railway Company 1801 {At the centre is an image of a draped femal...

Read More

Surrey Iron Railway Company - Wandsworth

Surrey Iron Railway Company 1801 {At the centre is an image of a draped femal...

Read More

Other Subjects

Commander James White

Commander James White

Full name James Keaney White. Took command of HMS Peruvian in October 1814. Sailed to Bermuda and in June 1815 took Major Percy with the Waterloo Dispatch from Ostend to Broadstairs and on into Lon...

Person, Armed Forces, Transport

1 memorial
District Railway / Metropolitan District Railway

District Railway / Metropolitan District Railway

Formed to complete the 'inner circle' of the tube in London.  This was effectively the southern section: Mansion House to Earl's Court and beyond.  The tunnels were formed using the 'cut and cover'...

Group, Transport

6 memorials
Spitfire aircraft

Spitfire aircraft

From our Picture source: "Produced in greater numbers than any other British combat aircraft before or since the War, 20,341 Spitfires were built in 22 different variants (excluding the navalised S...

Vehicle, Armed Forces, Aviation, Transport

5 memorials
College Road Tollgate

College Road Tollgate

The only surviving tollgate in London. The current charge (2018) is £1.20. This drawing shows the tollgate in possibly the late 18th or early 19th century.

Place, Transport

1 memorial
Croydon tram derailment

Croydon tram derailment

The tram carrying 69 passengers, had left New Addington bound for Wimbledon. At 6.07 a.m. as it approached Sandilands station on a sharp bend, it overturned on its right side. Seven passengers were...

Event, Tragedy, Transport

2 memorials

Previously viewed

Sidney Foard

Sidney Foard

1st Wilts

Person

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Three Crown Court church, Wheeler Street

Three Crown Court church, Wheeler Street

About 1750 this French Hugeonot church joined La Patente church in Hanbury Street.

Group, Religion, France

1 memorial