London and Brighton Railway

The London and Brighton Railway (L&B) was incorporated in 1837. It ran from a junction with the London & Croydon Railway (L&C) at Norwood - which gave it access from London Bridge, just south of the River Thames in central London to the South Coast at Brighton. The railway opened in sections, since major earthworks delayed building the line in one piece, as follows:

* Brighton - Shoreham 12 May 1840 - The locomotives and rolling stock had needed to be taken by road for the opening.
* Norwood - Haywards Heath 12 July 1841
* Haywards Heath - Brighton 12 September 1841

There have been many changes to the railway network. The animation shows the development including defunct stations at Devil's Dyke, Rowan, Lewes Road, Kemptown and four tunnels: Highdown Road tunnel 1840-date, Preston tunnel 1841-date, Elm Grove tunnel 1869-1932, Cliftonville tunnel 1879-date.

It built workshops at Brighton and its engineer John Gray was responsible for some very successful engines, culminating in David Joys design, the 'Jenny Lind'.

On July 27 1846, the L&B amalgamated with the L&C to form the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway.

(Dates from the "Railway Year Book" 1912)

References

*Cooper, B. K., "Rail Centres: Brighton", Booklaw Publications, 1981. ISBN 1-901945-11-1
*Gray, Adrian, "The London to Brighton Line 1841-1977", The Oakwood Press, 1977. [no ISBN]
*Searle, Muriel V., "Down the line to Brighton", Baton Transport, 1986. ISBN 0-85936-239-6
*Turner, John Howard, "The London Brighton and South Coast Railway: 1 Origins and Formation", Batsford, 1977. ISBN 0-7134-0275-X