I spent the first 7 years of my life in South Benfleet England now a sprawling bedroom exurb of London but then a village where everyone knew everyone else. The LT&S railway line traveled near our house and I would watch the trains go by from our front garden. Nearby Southend was a fading seaside resort (for Americans think Atlantic City without casinos). The original line to Southend ran via the port of Tilbury which was an important passenger steamship port on the Thames estuary and the departure point for many emigrants to Australia and other far flung places. Later on a more direct line was built bypassing Tilbury. By the 1950s steamship travel faded as airlines became more popular and the large terminal at Tilbury Riverside eventually abandoned and bypassed, due to needing a reversal to continue onto Southend.
Historically the line started as an independent company that was taken over by the Midland Railway then at the 1923 Grouping became part of the London Midland & Scottish which was a bit of an anomaly as the LMS was more of a West coast London to Scotland railway. This was corrected after Nationalisation when it was moved to the Eastern Region.
Originally the line had connections to the Underground's District Line and through boat trains to Tilbury and summer services to Southend from various points such as Ealing were run. Remember the District was originally run with steam. Even after electrification of the District they would haul these specials with electric locos to Barking where the power was exchanged for steam for the remainder of the trip.
The line terminated in London at Fenchurch St. probably the smallest of London's many termini with only 4 tracks. Back in the steam days the frequent service was handled by having trains pull in then the engine was detached and a new engine added at the other end ready for departure. The use of 4-6-2T tank engines helped as they could run in either direction.
A trip back as an 11 year old in 1961 showed change was in the air for the venerable line. Catenary was already installed and the tank engines were showing their age, as well as the old red carriages with their separate compartments holding 8 persons apiece. I recall there was a ladies only compartment at the end next to the guards compartment. One issue for ladies traveling alone was the possibility of being stuck in a compartment with a disagreeable male traveler who might make unwanted advances or worse, with no means of escape. One of many reasons why these compartments were phased out for open gangway, although I recall using a closed compartment as late as 1982 on an ancient set of EMUs out of Southend Victoria.
By 1962 steam was no more and electric multiple unit trains had taken over, surely faster and cleaner for the daily commuter but the loss of the romance if steam. I recall riding those on later trips to the UK with their traction motor sounds (I would always try to ride in the motor cars for the best effects). In more recent times after "privitisation" the line is now called C2C which no one can say what it stands for (City to Ceaside?) with more modern class 357s whiz people to the City.
I have always found this line fascinating and have lots of good memories from early childhood to later trips back there.
Historically the line started as an independent company that was taken over by the Midland Railway then at the 1923 Grouping became part of the London Midland & Scottish which was a bit of an anomaly as the LMS was more of a West coast London to Scotland railway. This was corrected after Nationalisation when it was moved to the Eastern Region.
Originally the line had connections to the Underground's District Line and through boat trains to Tilbury and summer services to Southend from various points such as Ealing were run. Remember the District was originally run with steam. Even after electrification of the District they would haul these specials with electric locos to Barking where the power was exchanged for steam for the remainder of the trip.
The line terminated in London at Fenchurch St. probably the smallest of London's many termini with only 4 tracks. Back in the steam days the frequent service was handled by having trains pull in then the engine was detached and a new engine added at the other end ready for departure. The use of 4-6-2T tank engines helped as they could run in either direction.
A trip back as an 11 year old in 1961 showed change was in the air for the venerable line. Catenary was already installed and the tank engines were showing their age, as well as the old red carriages with their separate compartments holding 8 persons apiece. I recall there was a ladies only compartment at the end next to the guards compartment. One issue for ladies traveling alone was the possibility of being stuck in a compartment with a disagreeable male traveler who might make unwanted advances or worse, with no means of escape. One of many reasons why these compartments were phased out for open gangway, although I recall using a closed compartment as late as 1982 on an ancient set of EMUs out of Southend Victoria.
By 1962 steam was no more and electric multiple unit trains had taken over, surely faster and cleaner for the daily commuter but the loss of the romance if steam. I recall riding those on later trips to the UK with their traction motor sounds (I would always try to ride in the motor cars for the best effects). In more recent times after "privitisation" the line is now called C2C which no one can say what it stands for (City to Ceaside?) with more modern class 357s whiz people to the City.
I have always found this line fascinating and have lots of good memories from early childhood to later trips back there.
