The Croydon and Epsom Railway was an early railway in southern England running between the two

Surrey Surrey () is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Greater London to the northeast, Kent to the east, East Sussex, East and West Sussex to the south, and Hampshire and Berkshire to the wes ...

towns mentioned in its name. The company was formed March 1844 to operate a new line using the atmospheric principle. However, before its line was opened it was amalgamated with other companies to form the

London, Brighton and South Coast Railway The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR (known also as the Brighton line, the Brighton Railway or the Brighton)) was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1846 to 1922. Its territory formed a rough triangle, with London at ...

(LB&SCR) on 27 July 1846.

History

Plans

The early success of the

London and Croydon Railway The London and Croydon Railway (L&CR) was an early railway in England. It opened in 1839 and in February 1846 merged with other railways to form the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR). Origins The Croydon line and other railways ...

(LCR) encouraged its directors to form a new independent company to continue the line to

Epsom Epsom is a town in the borough of Epsom and Ewell in Surrey, England, about south of central London. The town is first recorded as ''Ebesham'' in the 10th century and its name probably derives from that of a Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain ...

. This was approved by shareholders at a meeting on 7 March 1844. The railway was then experimenting in the use of atmospheric propulsion and decided to use the

Samuel Clegg Samuel Clegg (2 March 1781 – 8 January 1861) was a British engineer, known mostly for his development of the gas works process. Biography Clegg was born at Manchester on 2 March 1781, received a scientific education under the care of Dr. Da ...

and Jacob and Joseph Samuda system patented in 1838. However, difficulties in acquiring suitable land meant that the line was not completed in 1846 as originally planned.

Merger

The company was merged with others to form the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR) on 27 July 1846 before the line was completed. The railway opened to the public 10 May 1847, but by that time atmospheric working had been abandoned by the new company. p.1-7.

References

{{reflist Early British railway companies Railway companies established in 1844 Railway lines opened in 1847 Railway companies disestablished in 1846 1844 establishments in England