The Great Eastern Railway's history from its formation in 1862 to 1924, detailing its expansion, infrastructure developments, and strategic alliances and challenges.

This is the second volume of the history of the Great Eastern Railway from 1811 to 1924. This volume covers from 1862 when the Great Eastern Railway was formed to 1924 when with the absorption of the Colne Valley and Halstead Railway and the Mid Suffolk Light Railway into the LNER, the cessation of locomotive building at Stratford and the departure of the Company’s last General Manager, Sidney Parnwell the GER could finally be said to exist.

The history covers many things including the building and the subsequent expansion of Liverpool Street station and the development of the extensive suburban system. The Company’s attempts to gain direct access to the northern coal fields which resulted in the formation of the Great Northern and Great Eastern Joint Line is mentioned as is the abortive proposed working union with the Great Northern and the Great Central railways.

Relations with London, Tilbury and Southend Railway including the battle for the Southend traffic from 1911 are dealt with, as is the effect of Midland Railway takeover of that Railway.

How the GER dealt with the threat of electric tube railways at the turn of the 20th century receives attention as do the abortive proposals in 1918 for the electrification of the Company’s suburban services.

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Introduction
• Section 1 The Great Eastern Railway From its Formation in 1862 to the End of 1895
• Beginnings
• Finances
• Ships
• Manningtree to Harwich Line
• Lines in Hertfordshire
• Lines in Essex
• Lines in Suffolk
• Lines in Cambridgeshire
• Lines in Norfolk
• Lines in Metropolitan Essex
• Changes to the GER
• Carriage Lighting
• Record breaking construction!
• Braking
• Signalling
• Industrial relations
• Natural hazards
• Section 2 The Great Eastern Railway 1896 to 1922
• GER New Lines
• Light Railways
• Unbuilt Lines
• N&SJR New Lines
• The Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway
• Widening and doubling of lines
• New and Branch Lines
• Trams and Light Railways
• The Southwold Railway
• Mid-Suffolk Light Railway
• Southend
• The Midland Railway London, Tilbury and Southend Railway takeover Act
• Attempted Amalgamation
• Electrification
• Signalling
• Water troughs
• Named trains
• Pullman Cars
• Changes to Services
• Road Services
• Ships
• Hotels
• National Events
• The Flood of 1912
• Accidents
• The Great War
• Peace
• Miners’ Strike
• The Grouping begins
• Appendix: Locomotives, Rolling Stock, Ships and Motor Buses 1862 to 1924
• Bibliography and Sources