October 1843; Hertford; opened 31 October 1843; relocated 27 February 1888; renamed 1923; still open. Whishaw reported that "At Shoreditch this Company is accommodated with part of the Eastern Counties station. The intermediate stations already opened to the public are at the Lea Bridge Road, Tottenham, Edmonton, Enfield-Highway and Ponder’s End, Waltham Cross, and Broxbourne." In fact the two parts of Stratford station were to the east of the point of junction; the present day platforms 1 and 2 are on the site of the original N&ER station. The station was approached by Station Road, connecting to Angel Lane. The present-day main entrance in Gibbins Road came much later. Locomotives The company purchased 14 2-2-2 locomotives from four builders: Robert Stephenson and Company Bury, Curtis, and Kennedy R. B. Longridge and Company (of Bedlington, Northumberland) Charles Tayleur and Co (later Vulcan Foundry) The locomotives were regauged to standard gauge in September and October 1844. Whishaw said that "The principal engine-station [depot] is near the Stratford junction." Carriages Carriages were long and wide. They had six wheels and were first, second or third class with capacity for 24, 32 and 60 to 70 passengers respectively. They had footboards to allow passengers to board at locations with no or low platforms. The third class carriages were open to the elements. Whishaw had a comment about the carriages: "The carriages on this line present a novelty in being mounted on six instead of four wheels, except those of the Great Western and Blackwall lines. One of the advantages of this mode of construction is, that the carriages are less likely to run off the line, or to give way by reason of an axle breaking on the journey." See also Eastern Counties Railway Great Eastern Railway References Early British railway companies History of rail transport in London Pre-grouping British railway companies Railway companies established in 1836 Railway lines opened in 1840 Railway companies disestablished in 1902 Transport in the London Borough of Enfield Transport in the London Borough of Hackney Transport in the London Borough of Haringey Transport in the London Borough of Newham Transport in the London Borough of Waltham Forest 5 ft gauge railways in the United Kingdom Standard gauge railways in England 1836 establishments in England