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

Ship Successe

Ship Successe

Ship originally built as the Bradford.  Referred to 4 times in Pepys' diary.  Was in harbour from November 1658 and was paid off at a cost of £3228. Colonel John Birch and Sir Richard Browne were t...

Vehicle, Transport

1 memorial
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
Sustrans

Sustrans

Charity. It encourages people to travel by foot, bike or public transport for more of the journeys they make every day. Formed in Bristol as 'Cyclebag' by a group of cyclists and environmentalists,...

Group, Transport

18 memorials
Chiltern Railways

Chiltern Railways

A train operating company owned by Arriva UK Trains. It operates commuter/regional services from its Central London terminus at London Marylebone along the M40 corridor, as well as long distance se...

Group, Transport

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Elizabeth Croll

Elizabeth Croll

Born New Zealand. Scholar at SOAS specialising in the role of women in China. Vice Principal of SOAS. 2007 awarded CMG.

Person, Education, Gender Issues, China/Hong Kong, New Zealand

1 memorial