Whitechapel and Bow Railway

Whitechapel and Bow Railway
Legend Whitechapel Stepney Green Mile End Bow Road Bromley

The Whitechapel & Bow Railway was an underground railway in east London, United Kingdom; now entirely integrated into the London Underground system.

It was built as a joint venture between the Metropolitan District Railway (commonly called the District Railway) and the London, Tilbury & Southend Railway. The two mile long line opened in 1902 and linked the Metropolitan District Railway at Whitechapel with the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway at an above-ground junction at Bow, to the west of Bromley station. The line from Whitechapel to Bow, and on to East Ham, was electrified in 1905.

Regular services were provided by the District Railway with joint stock. A through Ealing Broadway to Southend service was also provided from 1910 to 1939, traction west of Barking being provided by District Railway's electric locomotives. Ownership and management of the line, stations and joint stock passed to LMS upon grouping in 1923. The LMS quadrupled and electrified the track from Barking to Upminster and in 1932 electric District Railway trains reached Upminster.

Ownership of the Whitechapel and Bow Railway passed to London Transport when the railways were nationalised in 1948. The d.c. electrified line from Bromley to Upminster become London Transport property in 1969. Today the short line forms part of the District Line and Hammersmith & City Line, between Whitechapel and Bow Road stations.

List of stations

• Stepney Green
• Mile End
• Bow Road