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SURREY IRON RAILWAY.
41 George III. Cap. 33, Royal Assent 21st May, 1801.

45 George III. Cap. 5, Royal Assent 12th March, 1805.

THIS railway commences at a basin which connects it with the River Thames at a place called Ram Field, in the parish of Wandsworth, and from thence proceeds in a southerly direction, running parallel with the River Wandle to Mitcham, (where there is a branch from it to Hack Bridge, in the parish of Carshalton;) it proceeds from thence in a south-easterly direction to a place called Pitlake Meadow, in the town of Croydon, where it unites with the Croydon, Merstham and Godstone Railway, already described in this work, and called in our map the southern part. The basin is about a quarter of a mile long, with a lock next the Thames, and is sufficiently spacious to hold thirty barges or more at once. The length of this railway is nearly nine miles, with no where a greater ascent than about 1 inch in 10 feet. It was the first public railway constructed near London, and the expense of its construction, including lock, basin and branch, was estimated by Mr. W. Jessop at £33,000.

The act of parliament authorizing this undertaking was passed in 1801, and is entitled, 'An Act for making and maintaining a Railway from time town of Wandsworth to the town of Croydon, with a collateral Branch into the parish of Carshalton, and a navigable Communication between the River Thames and the said Railway at Wandsworth, all in the county of Surrey.' It incorporates the subscribers by the name of "The Surrey Iron Railway Company," and empowers them to raise, for tile purposes of the undertaking, amongst themselves the sum of £35,000, in three hundred and fifty shares of £100 each, and, if necessary, a further sum of £15,000, either amongst themselves, by creation of new shares or by mortgage of the tolls and rates, and also authorizes them to take the following