Suburban electrification of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
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The London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMSR), in common with the other railways in the "Big Four", was involved in the development of the railway electrification of Britain. Like the other railways the LMSR took over several schemes that had been developed by its constituent companies and also completed some of its own. All were suburban lines, in the districts of London, Liverpool and Manchester, and were usually steam lines converted to electric traction. Each service is listed below, showing dates of opening and the railway responsible for its conversion:
- London District, LMSR
- Euston and Broad Street to Watford: opened in sections as follows:
- 1917 Willesden to Watford: London and North Western Railway(L&NWR). Jointly operated by the LNWR/Bakerloo Line at its opening
- 1922 Euston and Broad Street connected to the line; branch to Croxley Green (L&NWR)
- 1927 Rickmansworth branch (LMSR)
- 1916 Broad Street - Kew Bridge - Richmond
- 1914 Willesden to Earl's Court
- 1908 Bow - Barking. The ex-London, Tilbury and Southend Railway (part of the Midland Railway) electrified to permit Metropolitan Railway trains to operate; extended to Upminster in 1932.
- Euston and Broad Street to Watford: opened in sections as follows:
The four-rail system was adopted for all the above schemes; the total route mileage in 1927 was 40.2 (64.3km)
- Liverpool District LMSR
- Liverpool Exchange - Southport - Crossens and Ormskirk. Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (L&YR) 630v DC third rail system.
- Birkenhead - West Kirby and New Brighton: the Wirral Railway/Mersey Railway. Electrified by the LMSR in 1938
- Manchester District LMSR
- Manchester Victoria - Bury - Holcombe Brook. Bury to Holcombe Brook electrified 1913; extended to Manchester 1916. Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (L&YR). Third rail system.
- Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway. Electric traction began 11 May 1931, overhead 1500v DC. Joint line LMSR/London and North Eastern Railway
- Lancaster - Morecambe - Heysham. Electrified 1908 on 6600v AC overhead system. Midland Railway