london railway railway line opened november carry london newly opened miles southwest london surrey time largest cemetery world designed large accommodate deaths london centuries come hoped gain monopoly london burial industry cemetery intentionally built far london affected urban growth dependent recently invented railway connect city railway ran existing tracks london branches main line london trains carried passengers dedicated station london tracks reaching cemetery trains reversed dedicated branch line stations cemetery burial non want church_of_england funeral station waiting rooms compartments train living dead passengers religion class prevent different social backgrounds mixing regular funeral traffic london railway transport large numbers bodies mass removal number london company failed gain monopoly burial industry scheme successful promoters hoped planned carry bodies year years operation slightly conducted roughly bodies year night april london terminus badly damaged air raid rendered continued operate occasional funeral services station railway station immediately north cemetery london railway soon end second world war surviving parts london station sold office space rail tracks cemetery removed london building housed offices survives today stations cemetery remained open years subsequently demolished site northern station serving cemetery heavily site southern anglican station location russian orthodox monastery shrine king edward martyr incorporate surviving station platform station london burial crisis london dead traditionally buried local churches limited space oldest graves regularly free space new half 19th century population london doubled little million people half million despite rapid growth population land set aside use remained unchanged approximately acres km2 spread small sites decaying corpses contaminated water supply city suffered regular cholera smallpox public health policy time generally shaped theory belief airborne particles primary factor spread disease bad risks disease caused bodies rotting corpses caused great public concern established investigate problem concluded london burial grounds impossible dig new grave cutting existing cholera epidemic killed people london overwhelmed burial system completely bodies left stacked awaiting burial relatively recent graves way new proposed solutions wake public concerns following cholera findings act amend laws concerning burial dead metropolis act passed act new prohibited built areas london seven large recently opened short distance london process opening temporarily london main burial grounds government sought means prevent constantly increasing number deaths london overwhelming new manner overwhelmed traditional burial grounds proposed closure existing burial grounds vicinity london privately owned northwest city greatly enlarged provide single burial ground west london large tract land thames miles southeast london single burial ground east london treasury scheme financially viable widely unpopular metropolitan act authorised scheme abandoned alternative proposal drawn sir planned use emerging technology transport resolve crisis scheme entailed buying single large tract land miles london near surrey called london distance land far maximum projected size city growth london connected london enable bodies shipped london site easily envisaged dedicated coffin trains carrying bodies travelling london new early morning late night stored cemetery site time funeral carried appropriate cemetery dedicated passenger train day calculated acre km2 site accommodate total individual graves single layer practice burying single family grave abandoned traditional practice grave adopted site capable bodies assuming deaths year families choose share grave calculated prohibition mass graves years fill single layer cemetery site long distance london argued speed railway quicker cheaper reach seven existing required slow expensive horse drawn carry body london burial site shareholders concerned impact cemetery scheme normal operations railway shareholders meeting august concerns raised impact funeral trains normal traffic secrecy negotiations promoters cemetery conducted management pledged concessions cemetery operators promising use train day hostile general railway funeral schemes arguing noise speed railways incompatible christian burial service considered inappropriate families people different backgrounds potentially share train felt dignity deceased bodies respectable members community carried train carrying bodies relatives led immoral lives june promoters scheme given parliamentary consent proceed london formed common near owned chosen site new cemetery prevent exploiting monopoly access cemetery private act parliament scheme bound carry corpses cemetery set maximum levied funeral traffic specify detail funeral trains operate scheme envisaged cemetery running sides main line divided religion separate private railway main line incorporating chapel serve religion section new consulting engineer company rejected idea recommended single site south railway line served private branch line cemetery company considered plan dedicated coffin trains unrealistic arguing relatives want shipped separately deceased family internal disputes led losing control scheme later delays allegations caused changes scheme management september new board trustees work began scheme site london rail terminus identified leased acre km2 tract land stretching purchased lord westernmost acres km2 end designated initial cemetery site branch railway line built main line section november new cemetery opened southern anglican section consecrated bishop winchester time largest cemetery world november scheduled train left new railway station cemetery burial twins borough took place cemetery railway branch decided terrain initial cemetery site best suited railway branch west cemetery work began earthworks rails new branch early september single track branch completed time opening months later total construction cost terms consumer spending power junction known west facing meaning trains london obliged reverse branch run loop provided single crossover allowed trains branch reverse northern london bound track new branch ran east downhill gradient passing white gates marking boundary cemetery curved south northern section cemetery site north station line straightened ran southeast level crossing road dividing northern southern halves initial cemetery site crossing branch turned east ran southern anglican section cemetery terminating south station near road today marked eastern boundary site major roads paths cemetery entire branch lined giant trees significant planting trees introduced europe britain aside short yard siding south built serve new masonry workshop layout branch remained unchanged operation brick water tower added near masonry works siding allow locomotives tanks returning london avoid need journey poor quality gravel soil initial reason site selection site cemetery poorly suited railway rails particular deteriorated rapidly needed constantly replaced early years cemetery operation locomotives hauling funeral trains travel branch cemetery leave engine wrong end train return journey instead train stop immediately passing carriages engine team black horses haul carriages sloping branch line cemetery stations train branch line engine train horses drew branch main line railway station opened immediately east conjunction building station run loop added allowing locomotives rear train arrival junction london engine push train cemetery rear close supervision staff left engine positioned pull train cemetery use run loop end train pull london line increased tracks thin slice northernmost cemetery ceded allow widening line station rebuilt new junction west station allowed trains pass cemetery branch lines operations offered classes determined type railway ticket sold deceased class funeral allowed person buying funeral select grave site choice cemetery time opening prices began terms basic foot plot special coffin specifications expected class graves erect permanent memorial kind course following funeral second class cost terms allowed control burial location right erect permanent memorial cost additional shillings terms permanent memorial erected reserved right use grave future class reserved buried parish expense section cemetery designated parish forbidden mass graves burial grave lowest class funeral provided separate grave deceased class granted right erect permanent memorial site families buried pay upgrade class grave higher class later wanted erect memorial practice rare time service inaugurated trains divided class religion separate anglican sections separate second class compartments separation applied living dead passengers prevent persons different social background mixing potentially prevent bodies persons different social classes carried compartment provide different levels facilities different types compartments intended classes religions similar design primary difference different ornamentation compartment doors sundays train leave london arriving sundays trains capable transporting large numbers required funeral businessman sir july saw travelling class dedicated train extremely large major public figures provide additional trains station main line meet demand member parliament vocal advocate indian self government popular figure indian community london attended funeral february carried long special trains carriages long included year old witnessing loud argument champion clergyman north station waiting return train return trains london generally left south station return journey initially took hour owing need stop engine water following construction water tower cemetery fell minutes agreement gave consent operate funeral trains day demand traffic levels rose sufficient level activate clause train ran coffin passengers london terminus waiting use journey london later return cancelled leave london morning run single second class coffin carried cases coffin funeral party held service generally trains ran direct london cemetery occasional stops water trains stopped benefit south west london want travel intermediate stops discontinued reinstated october sunday trains discontinued daily train service ended trains ran required act parliament establishing specified maximum ticket prices railway traffic rose level justified undertake costly time consuming lobbying change legislation consequence despite effects inflation competition variable costs london railway changed years operation live passengers charged class second class class worth respectively consumer terms return ticket dead passengers charged class second class class worth respectively consumer terms way ticket railway intended visiting cemetery attending tickets issued living passengers returns london provided passenger carriages abandoned second class services consequence discontinued sale second class living passengers continued separate coffin tickets second class dependent type funeral booked intentionally set low level time cemetery railway opened later years fixed offered substantial saving main line tickets class fare twice cost equivalent additional traffic generated disguised travelling golf course built parts land bought incorporated cemetery fixed prompted complaints london funeral firms opening rival given access cheap trains pay cargo rate shillings ship coffin stations transfer years operation wartime rises costs fixed fare structure july january slight adjustments live passenger rates rose class class equivalent changes remained far cheaper equivalent living dead passengers absorbed restructuring britain railways fare structure january remained use following april suspension london railway services occasional conducted platforms station allowed attending use cheap visiting cemetery relocation london burial grounds wholesale large cases containing human bodies children weighed cwt cwt human remains sent cases conveyed night arrangements body cost shillings fortunate reasonable terms cemetery horrible business scarcely imagine men continue work constant powder easy task bishop warden particularly relatives watched steps taken interviews people correspondence great satisfied expected taking new london closed burial grounds envisaged physical relocation existing burial grounds provide final solution problems caused built areas massive london civil engineering projects mid-19th century railways sewer system 1860s london underground necessitated demolition existing major relocation took place construction railway station railway lines necessitated demolition burial ground cubic yards earth displaced bodies packed large containers containing adults plus children shipped london railway existing cemetery cost shillings body london burial grounds relocated railway numerous relocated road following railway closure section land set aside sole burial ground britain military casualties world war casualties occurred continental europe buried number interred small total servicemen buried cemetery entry united_states second world war american cemetery enlarged servicemen beginning april large numbers american personnel based west england dedicated rail service transport bodies operated devonport august bodies buried american military cemetery time discontinued casualties buried authority general united_states_army servicemen buried second world war january requested shipped united_states remaining bodies transferred new cemetery outside cambridge burial site servicemen executed serving united_kingdom bodies carried rail american execution facilities transferred cambridge instead unmarked graves dedicated site servicemen executed second world war railway service suspended north station renamed ending rail services temporary hold bodies awaiting shipment usa cambridge branch line cemetery longer use temporary platforms built branch line serving shooting range opposite line cemetery following removal war graves site buried divided free french forces italian prisoners war rolling stock locomotives terms agreement establishing provided locomotives crew operations dedicated locomotive trains worked suitable engine happened available improvements locomotives rarely entered cemetery branch line trains generally hauled branch line horses end railway operations 1930s route worked class locomotives usually passenger carriages passenger carriages london railway owned loaned set carriages permanently loaned carriages lent needed concerned passengers discouraged regular services knew carriages potentially carried dead bodies recently original set carriages wheeled carriages design little recorded number specifications carriages set carriages remained use years prompting increasingly strong complaints deteriorating quality agreement equipped conjunction london terminus demanded new passenger carriages supplied quality character inferior ordinary main line traffic new carriages supplied late 19th century probably december wheeled comprised foot passenger brake containing class compartments baggage compartment guard compartment foot passenger carriage divided class second class compartments foot passenger carriage divided class compartments second class recorded likely carriages permanently loaned use needed set carriages remained use short period replaced new set carriages little known set replaced foot passenger brake containing class compartments foot carriage class compartments foot carriage class compartments set operated inter war period withdrawn april replaced similar set coaches time withdrawn september outbreak hostilities use troop trains carriages replaced built defunct south eastern decorated carriages destroyed bombing london terminus unlike loaned locomotives passenger carriages owned dedicated outright despite painted colour scheme currently use match passenger cars locomotives loaned carriages living passengers designed prevent bodies mixing different backgrounds original sections rows capable holding coffin later slightly different design probably carried fitted internal divide second class intended use half anglican half prevent sharing carriage practice arrangement little unlike traditional victorian invariably led funeral procession photographic evidence shows placed van rear train trains reversed cemetery matter arrangement van inevitably rear train journey ordered operational time cemetery opened origins recorded bought suggesting conversions existing carriages built order records period lost certain delivered records suggest bought leased early years operations van carried known funeral trains late 19th century carried use settlement relocation london terminus new given new longer divided levels compartments total van replaced existing remained use closure railway destroyed bombing london terminus transferred remained use brought passenger service london railway large space probable funeral traffic light carried space cemetery stations advice stations cemetery built temporary structures expectation need rebuilt railway operational issues operating railway unique nature designed presented designs march station built storey building square courtyard adjacent railway line left open wings extended building platform brick platform faces chimneys foundations stations built entirely wood station held class ordinary reception rooms class ordinary room set apartments staff rooms stations licensed permitted sell alcohol train crews generally wait rooms trains ready return london occasion january driver drunk drive train london incident prompted complaint time provided train crew free lunch provided drank beer dug beneath stations coffin reception rooms station converted waiting rooms station equipped gas electricity existence buildings lit oil lamps coal ranges heating cooking platform faces incorporated brick width deep width courtyard facilitated unloading lower levels carriages arrival stations usually hand drawn pulled staff appropriate chapel taking place escorted waiting rooms station arrival second class generally brief service class single service appropriate chapel buried funeral service held parish church london terminus taken directly train grave north station north station serving roman catholics jews christians groups dedicated plots northern cemetery actors station branch time cemetery opened north station incorporated superintendent cemetery bailey sole cemetery superintendent moved cottage grounds apartment given cemetery porter census records lee living north station mother ann later wife charlotte number cemetery staff lived station apartment 1950s time railway closed station remained open steps led foot long platform path leading chapel station large numbers allied service personnel buried military section cemetery authority general united_states_army bodies servicemen january shipped united_states railway service suspended north station renamed ending rail services temporary hold bodies awaiting shipment usa retirement operated station building lived station apartment building abandoned demolished 1960s owing dry south station design south station broadly similar north station unlike platform steps north station platform south station ramp leading anglican chapel northern end platform shed adjacent station held hand drawn transport large southern cemetery time branch line opened platform south station feet long far shorter foot platform north station point platform greatly extended south station building total length feet allowing equipment disturbing users station time opening apartment station housed superintendent anglican cemetery north station sole cemetery superintendent use apartment granted cemetery porter housed succession cemetery staff years following suspension railway services building renamed remained use operators retired late 1960s station building cemetery half building destroyed fire september building popular railway architectural enthusiasts distinctive piece victorian railway architecture despite lobbying campaign preserve surviving sections station remaining buildings platform demolished shortly time demolition temporary structure years old station time cemetery opened nearest railway station cemetery branch railway station miles away train day ran london cemetery stations ran place access cemetery difficult staff negotiations leading creation cemetery told planned build main line station near cemetery cemetery fully operational planned new asylum near likely boost traffic agreed build mainline station improved goods yard provided supplied necessary land built approach road house new station new station called railway station gradually dropped opened june substantial commuter village grew northern non cemetery new station station building northern tracks enlarged conjunction works branch line added bay platform shooting range running west north main line curving north tracks necessitated major rebuilding station westbound platform demolished new foot long platform built second station building facing cemetery led cemetery branch tracks cemetery london stations site london terminus near suggested sir proximity thames meant bodies transported terminus water london area easily accessed north south river road arches huge brick carrying station station easily converted felt journey london rail routes london ran tunnels deep densely populated areas time urban development south london taken place route ran entirely countryside contemplated taking terminus railway station following opening convenient station goods traffic chartered trains taking migrants north_america private trains royal family main secondary terminus despite objections local residents concerned effects potentially large numbers dead bodies stored largely residential area march settled single terminus purchased plot land westminster bridge road york street street site architect engineer drew design station approved june london terminus design based storey main building separated main private access road beneath twin rail lines intended allow arrive leave avoid need stop public road building housed workshops series separate waiting rooms attending second class steam powered lift carried lower floors platform level original london terminus chapel occasions able willing journey ceremony personal religious reasons unable hold funeral service london church occasions waiting rooms makeshift funeral chapel site station adjacent arches blocked increase number lines serving station renamed bridge station urban growth area south west london trains ran led congestion station formally presented proposal provide new station return site existing terminus agreed proposals return granting control design new station new station token rent providing new rolling stock removing limit number passengers service providing free carriage machinery equipment cemetery extremely unhappy considered excessive demands companies signed agreement gave demand addition paid compensation million terms consumer spending power relocating station offices agreed returning cemetery travel train second london terminus site replacement terminus bought south existing site opposite completed february widened serve greatly enlarged station destroying traces original terminus new building designed contrast traditional associated funeral industry narrow storey building westminster bridge road held offices main terminal held communal class waiting room workshops oak intended unable journey pay respects deceased building led platforms lined waiting rooms ticket office destruction second world war station nearby thames bridges significant target axis bombing near misses station london blitz train service owing enemy action line station undamaged early stages bombing campaign night april major air raids london bombs repeatedly fell area rolling stock siding burned railway arch connecting main line terminus damaged terminal building remained unscathed multiple devices high explosive bombs struck central section terminus building office building platforms survived workshops destroyed class waiting room inspected damage april report read simply buildings demolished station officially declared closed recorded funeral party carried london railway edward irish buried april offered temporary use platform station allow service continued refused allow continue sell cheap tickets visitors travelling cemetery stations involved funeral day meaning visiting cemetery members funeral parties little reason choose irregular trains fast frequent services attempted negotiate deal genuine travel cemetery service service closest traditional departure time management severe financial pressure owing wartime constraints damage refused entertain compromise closure september following end hostilities directors met consider rebuild terminus reopen london railway main line remained use war good condition branch line cemetery unused destruction london terminus soil cemetery causing branch deteriorate use regularly maintained branch line extremely poor condition original promoters scheme envisaged london main cemetery scheme popular hoped original proposal calculated century operations cemetery seen million rate year great majority utilised railway reality time train ran april years opening people buried cemetery outbreak hostilities increased use road transport damaged railway faced costs rebuilding cemetery branch line building new london terminus replacing rolling stock damaged destroyed air raid directors concluded past experience present changed conditions running private train obsolete formally informed terminus reopened decision prompted complicated negotiations future facilities london december directors companies finally reached agreement railway related portions terminus site waiting rooms flat platforms pass direct ownership remaining surviving portions site office block westminster bridge road ruined central portion site pass use dispose saw fit sold site terms consumer spending power offices transferred continued use surviving sections track occasional 1950s clearing remained section site business operated road agreement allowed use services station subject condition service heavily british railways reserved right restrict number funeral parties given train carriages survived bombing unlikely carried space coaches shipped ahead funeral party transported road disused cemetery stations travel train funeral party transported station burial site chapel road proposed convert cemetery branch line grand avenue running station cemetery took place rails branch removed dirt road run loop branch line west station remained operational dismantled november closure branch line buildings cemetery stations remained open renamed closure following britain railways use railway transport went steep decline new operating procedures required carried separate carriage cargo regular services station electric multiple unit trains goods shipped carried road journey special train chartered railway funeral carried lord september march formally ceased carry altogether railway funeral held united_kingdom maritime transport workers general secretary carried london burial august stations site london terminus built new office developments years following end second world war office building westminster bridge road entrance station remains relatively externally words carved stone covered cleaning 1980s restored facade building appearance similar time building iron columns supported railway tracks surviving section internal car park building surviving london railway london station line south western main line little changed expansion rebuilding remains use village grown north railway line visitors cemetery south line small monument london railway consisting short length railway track erected outside southern cemetery entrance station site north station significantly changed ornate stands directly opposite remains platform operators islamic section cemetery planted boundary section cemetery includes platform north station trees removed remains station ultimately hidden destroyed land surrounding site south station station anglican redundant following closure railway london act obtained parliamentary consent convert disused original anglican chapel newer chapel funeral services station building coffin storage room attending suffering cash flow problems distracted succession hostile takeover bids management proceeded scheme buildings fell station building demolished damaged fire platform remained intact site south station owned forms russian orthodox monastery original anglican chapel visitor centre living quarters monastery larger anglican chapel built immediately north station martyr houses relics shrine edward martyr king england site station buildings main monastery building platform remains intact marks boundary monastic enclosure continued lobby successor british railways 1950s matter cheap visitors cemetery unable come agreement southern region british railways considered allowing sell discounted compared standard rate day return tickets london time visitors cemetery travelling road felt relatively minor difference sufficient attract visitors railway proposal abandoned area time heavily populated land holdings extremely valuable asset onwards target repeated hostile takeover bids property january announced successful takeover bringing century independence end property company little interest funeral business income insufficient maintain cemetery grounds went decline cemetery began revert wilderness trend continued succession owners cemetery act authorised cemetery owners time investments sell surplus land cemetery boundaries leading construction major office development site superintendent office near level crossing northern southern masonry works remained operational early 1980s converted office buildings named march cemetery bought family owns cemetery family embarked programme encouraging new cemetery slowly clearing sections cemetery successful planned remains largest cemetery united_kingdom largest world world dedicated funeral railway line london railway longest lasting far best known popular culture forming key element novel railway cemetery received widespread attention following publication novel railway books critically acclaimed led increased public interest london company railway operations july opening episode series bbc television drama street featured collision mainline locomotive train diverted criminals wrong line
London Necropolis Railway