Eastern Union Railway
Encyclopedia
The Eastern Union Railway (EUR) was an early English
railway
, initially sanctioned by Act of Parliament on 19 July 1844, with authorised capital of £200,000 to build from Ipswich to Colchester. Further Acts of 21 July 1845 and 26 June 1846 authorised further increases in capital of £50,000 and £20,000 respectively. The latter Act also specified the options for connection with the pre-existing Eastern Counties Railway
(ECR) at Colchester
, including effectively 'buying out' the ECR's unexercised rights immediately east of that station.
One of the main protagonists was John Chevallier Cobbold and the engineer was Peter Bruff
.
The EUR's Colchester-Ipswich line duly opened experimentally for goods traffic on 1 June 1846, passing government inspection shortly after. Following an inaugural passenger journey for VIPs and lavish opening ceremony on 11 June 1846, the line opened for public passenger traffic on 15 June 1846 from an end-on junction with the ECR at its Colchester station to a terminus at Ipswich
. The distance was 17 miles with three intermediate stations, Ardleigh, Manningtree and Bentley. This now forms part of the Great Eastern Main Line
.
Another company, the Ipswich and Bury Railway Company (I&BR), was formed to build a line to Bury St Edmunds
. Its Act of 21 July 1845 authorised capital of £400,000. Theoretically separate from EUR it had with many shareholders and directors in common with the EUR, and also the same Head Office location. It did not propose an end-on connection from the planned Ipswich station, but instead a connection slightly to the west via a tunnel under Stoke Hill, to a new station, which on completion replaced the old one. The line was 26.5 miles long, with intermediate stations at Needham, Stowmarket, Haughley, Elswell and Thurston; it is now part of the Ipswich to Ely Line
. The opening ceremony was on 7 December 1846 after goods traffic had started a week earlier; passenger service formally started on 24 December 1846. The EUR and I&BR were worked as one from 1 January 1847, and formal amalgamation was obtained by Act of 9 July 1847.
The opening of this line led to the rapid decline of the River Lark
as a navigation, and a further extension from Haughley to Norwich
opened on 12 December 1849.
The company became a constituent of the Great Eastern Railway
in 1862.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
railway
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
, initially sanctioned by Act of Parliament on 19 July 1844, with authorised capital of £200,000 to build from Ipswich to Colchester. Further Acts of 21 July 1845 and 26 June 1846 authorised further increases in capital of £50,000 and £20,000 respectively. The latter Act also specified the options for connection with the pre-existing Eastern Counties Railway
Eastern Counties Railway
The Eastern Counties Railway was an early English railway company incorporated in 1836. It was intended to link London with Ipswich via Colchester, and then on to Norwich and Yarmouth. Construction began in late March 1837 on the first nine miles, at the London end of the line.Construction was...
(ECR) at Colchester
Colchester railway station
Colchester or Colchester North is the main railway station for Colchester in Essex, England. It is on the former Great Eastern Railway main line from London Liverpool Street to Norwich and is a junction for the line to Walton-on-the-Naze and Clacton-on-Sea, which diverges southwards from the main...
, including effectively 'buying out' the ECR's unexercised rights immediately east of that station.
One of the main protagonists was John Chevallier Cobbold and the engineer was Peter Bruff
Peter Bruff
Peter Schuyler Bruff , born in Portsmouth, England, was a civil engineer best known for founding the seaside resort town of Clacton on Sea, Essex, and for improving the lives of residents in the Essex towns of Walton-on-the-Naze, Colchester and Harwich...
.
The EUR's Colchester-Ipswich line duly opened experimentally for goods traffic on 1 June 1846, passing government inspection shortly after. Following an inaugural passenger journey for VIPs and lavish opening ceremony on 11 June 1846, the line opened for public passenger traffic on 15 June 1846 from an end-on junction with the ECR at its Colchester station to a terminus at Ipswich
Ipswich Stoke Hill railway station
Ipswich Stoke Hill railway station was the northern terminus of the Eastern Union Railway line from Colchester to Ipswich. In 1860 the terminus closed and was replaced by the present Ipswich station because the line had been extended to the north west through the Stoke Tunnel and beyond.For more...
. The distance was 17 miles with three intermediate stations, Ardleigh, Manningtree and Bentley. This now forms part of the Great Eastern Main Line
Great Eastern Main Line
The Great Eastern Main Line is a 212 Kilometre major railway line of the British railway system, which connects Liverpool Street in the City of London with destinations in east London and the East of England, including Chelmsford, Colchester, Ipswich, Norwich and several coastal resorts such as...
.
Another company, the Ipswich and Bury Railway Company (I&BR), was formed to build a line to Bury St Edmunds
Bury St Edmunds railway station
Bury St Edmunds railway station serves the town of Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, England. The station, and all trains calling there, are operated by National Express East Anglia.-Historical Services:...
. Its Act of 21 July 1845 authorised capital of £400,000. Theoretically separate from EUR it had with many shareholders and directors in common with the EUR, and also the same Head Office location. It did not propose an end-on connection from the planned Ipswich station, but instead a connection slightly to the west via a tunnel under Stoke Hill, to a new station, which on completion replaced the old one. The line was 26.5 miles long, with intermediate stations at Needham, Stowmarket, Haughley, Elswell and Thurston; it is now part of the Ipswich to Ely Line
Ipswich to Ely Line
The Ipswich to Ely Line is a railway line linking East Anglia to the English Midlands via Ely. There is also a branch line to . Passenger services are operated by National Express East Anglia...
. The opening ceremony was on 7 December 1846 after goods traffic had started a week earlier; passenger service formally started on 24 December 1846. The EUR and I&BR were worked as one from 1 January 1847, and formal amalgamation was obtained by Act of 9 July 1847.
The opening of this line led to the rapid decline of the River Lark
River Lark
The River Lark is a river in England, which crosses the border between Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. It is a tributary of the River Great Ouse, and was extended when that river was re-routed as part of drainage improvements. It is thought to have been used for navigation since Roman times, and...
as a navigation, and a further extension from Haughley to Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
opened on 12 December 1849.
The company became a constituent of the Great Eastern Railway
Great Eastern Railway
The Great Eastern Railway was a pre-grouping British railway company, whose main line linked London Liverpool Street to Norwich and which had other lines through East Anglia...
in 1862.