Deep beneath this Ilford Flyover lies a tale of ambition and progress. This flyover isn’t just concrete and steel. It’s a testament to London’s relentless drive for modernization.
The Ilford Flyover emerged from a pressing need. Before its construction, trains from the “Local” line had to cross the “Through” lines near Liverpool Street Station. This caused significant congestion and delays. The electrification of the line to Shenfield in the 1930s presented an opportunity. The project wasn’t completed until 1949 due to the outbreak of war in 1939.
The plan involved swapping the functions of the Local and Through lines. New platforms were built on the former Through line at Maryland, Forest Gate, and Manor Park. The Through line became the “Electric” line. The Local line became the “Main” line. A flyover was needed to swap the lines back to their original positions. This allowed electric trains to access the new depot north of the line between Ilford and Seven Kings.
Imagine the scene on May 6, 1939. Work was well underway on the brick piers of the flyover’s approaches. The down Local line was brand new. Upon completion, it became the down connection between the Main and Electric lines. The up Local line was formerly the down Local. It eventually became the down Main. Express trains traveled over what was formerly the up Local line. This later became the up Main. A new up Through line provided the up connection from Main to Electric.
Look closely at old photographs. You might see a posed shot of an up express hauled by LNER B-17 4-6-0 1629 Naworth Castle. It travels on the new Main line. A brand new L-1 Class 2-6-4T 9000 ascends the Ilford Flyover. It carries an up suburban train. This train is one of eight eight-coach sets built by the LNER in 1935-6. They were specifically for Ilford line traffic.
Consider the complexity of this railway interchange. Just west of Ilford station, a grade-separated crossover exists. The fast lines swap from being north of the slow lines to being south of them when heading out of London. The purpose of this design remains a topic of discussion. It’s similar to a bridge on SWR north of Wimbledon. However, the Wimbledon bridge changes lines from separated-by-use to separated-by-direction. The Ilford Flyover’s purpose isn’t as obvious.
Today, the Ilford Flyover continues its vital role. It manages the flow of trains in and out of London. It stands as a reminder of the ingenuity and effort required to build our modern infrastructure. It’s a piece of railway history. It shows how engineers solved complex problems to improve transportation. So, next time you pass beneath the Ilford Flyover, remember its story. Think about the trains. Think about the people who built it.