By Robert Rogers

In 1871, the Beckton Gas Light & Coke Company decided to build a Railway system and in 1872 a goods line was opened between the Gas works and the Great Eastern Railway’s Custom House station. In 1873, a passenger service was introduced, manly as `Workman’s Specials` from the newly opened Beckton station (for the Gas works to Custom House Station, via West Ham South Depot Station, (not to be confused with West Ham Station).  

The Passenger service was mainly for the use of the Workforce at the Gas Works, and the time table co-incided with the Shift Changes. In 1874 it was leased to the Great Eastern Railway, who continued the Passenger service until 1940.  

In 1956 the old level crossing gateswere replaced by Lifting Barriers in Manor Way. By 1958 the Coke trains from the Beckton Gas Works were sorted at British Rail’s Temple Mills yard at Stratford.  In 1970, the last ever train run on the lines from Beckton; it was carrying Tar Pitch from the By Products Works of the Beckton Gas Works.  

Information from the book, `Return to North Woolwich`, by the Great Eastern Railway Society, and Photograph from London Borough of Barking & Dagenham.

This early photo shows the level crossing at Manor Way, Beckton