When ever the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Intuition) is mentioned, most peoples memories go back to the seaside and the sight of a large orange Lifeboat racing down a slipway, her brave crew off to face the perils of the sea, the danger captured in Phil Coulter famous song “Home from the Sea”, but not many would think of Canning Town and the River Thames!

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.

From the collection of Newham Heritage Services.