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The Surrey Iron Railway is famous for being the first company in the world to include the word "railway" in it's title. Despite this it was not what we today would recognise as a railway. It was actually a plateway, where vehicles with plain wheels ran along flanged rails. The promoters of the Surrey Iron Railway originally wanted to construct a canal along the Wandle valley, to serve the many industries along the route. At its north end was to be a basin at Wandsworth, and it was to use the existing canal basin at Croydon (now filled in and the site of West Croydon railway station). However, studies showed there was insufficient water available to supply the canal, so the design was changed to a plateway. The engineer for the line was William Jessop. 
Plaque beside an example piece of rail. Wallington library 1984. An Act of parliament authorising the approximately 8 mile line was passed in 1801 and the line was opened 26th July 1803. A branch to Hackbridge followed in 1904. The company finally ceased to trade in 1846. Part of the route was re-opened in 1855 as a conventional railway running between what are now Mitcham Junction and West Croydon stations (this was the Wimbledon & Croydon Railway). More recently this section of route has become part of the Croydon tramway system. From its opening in 1803 traders paid tolls to take their horse drawn wagons along the Surrey Iron Railway, making it an iron equivalent of the then common turnpike roads. The use of stone blocks to support the rails ensured that the horses had a clear walkway between the rails (it is for this reason that wooden sleepers were only feasible on steam worked lines). 
Two example plates supported by stone blocks. Wallington library 1984. In 1804 W B Luttly, Clerk to the Company wrote that the committee "HEREBY, GIVE NOTICE, That the BASON at Wandsworth, and the Railway therefrom up to Croydon and Carfhalton, is now open for the Ufe of the Public .." (note the letter "f" substituting for "s" in this early printed document) According to the 1804 document the toll for carrying each ton of dung was 1d per mile. Most minerals were 2d per ton per mile, and other goods were charged at 3d per ton mile. Coal was charged at 3d per chaldron per mile. (note that 1d is one old penny. There were 12 pennies to one shilling and 20 shillings to one pound) 
Two example plates supported by stone blocks. Wallington library 1984. The 1804 document mentions that apart from the tolls for the transport of goods, there were also tolls on goods entering or leaving the basin area at Wandsworth. Chaldron wagons of coal were charged at 3d each and other goods were charged at 3d per ton. Soon after the opening of the Surrey Iron Railway a significant extension to the line was built. This was the Croydon, Merstham & Godstone Railway. |
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