THE LONG DEPRESSION AND NEW LEGISLATION
The last of the railway proposals relevant to Farnborough in the early phase of railway building was the Bromley Farnborough and West Wickham proposal of 1865. Soon after that the country entered the 'Long Depression', which some sources say lasted from 1873 to 1896. It was notable in being the first global depression. The causes were complex and are discussed in this Wikipedia Article.
In the United Kingdom the advent of the Long Depression coincided with the end of the main phase of railway building, during which virtually all of the main lines had been established, in little over 35 years. For example in London, all of the railway termini had by then been built, with the sole exception of Marylebone. This was not constructed until virtually the end of the century. It opened in 1899, and was never a great success, consisting of only 4 platforms until its expansion in modern times.
Farnborough did not figure in any more railway proposals for a couple of decades. Having been left without a connection despite all the earlier proposals, it was at a disadvantege compared with other local towns, particularly Orpington. Population growth in Farnborough was as given in the table below: this was less than might have been expected had it had a railway link (source: Wikipedia)
| Year | 1821 | 1831 | 1841 | 1851 | 1861 | 1871 | 1881 | 1891 | 1901 | 1911 | 1921 | 1931 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 553 | 638 | 680 | 920 | 955 | 1,086 | 1,451 | 1,627 | 2,262 | 3,210 | 3,322 | 4,373 |
The government came to the realisation that railway development after the depression had lifted would be different and more small scale than what had gone before, and that the planning framework would therefore need some adjustment. Consequently two acts of parliament were passed to try to address the issue:
Tramways Act 1870
The Act attempted to promote this new means of transport by clarifying
and regulating the legal position. It authorised local boroughs or
urban district councils to grant a 21-year concession to a private
tramway operator. The operator could construct the track as part of the
concession but was responsible for the repair of the public highway
between the tracks and a short distance either side. The local authority
could construct the track themselves if they wished to retain complete
control of the highway, but they were not allowed to operate trams.
At the conclusion of the lease, the local authority could purchase the complete undertaking, including the trams and horses (or, in the case of a steam tramway, the locomotives and trailers). This was at a normal asset valuation, which took account of depreciation, and not a valuation of the business as a going concern.
See Tramways Act 1870
The Tramways Act was of considerable significance and benefit in London and other cities, but was not relevant to Farnborough. Not so this later act:
Light Railway Act 1896
The Light Railways Act was of importance because it did away with the need to gain Parliamentary approval for each new railway proposed. Instead an umbrella act was passed in 1896, following which individual schemes could proceed subject just to the granting of a Works Order.The Act limited weights to a maximum of 12 tons on each axle and speeds to a maximum of 25 miles per hour (mph), and 8 mph on bends. These limits enforced the use of lightly laid track and relatively modest bridges which helped keep costs down. The act also exempted Light Railways from some of the other requirements of a normal railway – for example level crossings did not have to be protected by gates, but only by cattle grids, saving the cost of both the gates and a keeper to operate them. It did not exclude standard-gauge track, but narrow gauge tracks were used for many railways built under its provisions.
The Act, though, gives only a vague description; perhaps a better one is found from John Charles MacKay in the same year: "A light railway is one constructed with lighter rails and structures, running at a slower speed, with poorer accommodation for passengers and less facility for freight. It can be worked with less stringent standards of signalling and safety practice. It is a cheap railway and a second class of railway."
Many of the railways built under the auspices of the act were very basic, with little or no signalling. Many ran under the 'One Engine In Steam' principal.
see Light Railway Act 1896
Further Proposals after 1890.
There were four further local proposals after 1894, one regular railway and three Light Railways - see menu. None of them came to fruition, and they became less relevant once motor bus services started in about 1912.MAIN LINES
Amalgamation - the SE & CR
The SER had a history of acrimonious relations with other companies with which it had to deal, most notably the London Brighton and South Coast Railway.
This also applied to the East Kent. It is arguable that if the SER had co-operated from the outset with the desire to have a good connection to towns on the North Coast they would not have later been placed in what proved to be an unfavourable competitive position,
In the event, many difficulties were caused by the intense competition and lack of co-operation between the LC&DR and the SER. This led to much duplication of routes, and there were two un-connected stations in a number of towns including Maidstone, Canterbury, Catford and indeed Bromley.
However by 1898, following the bankruptcy of the LC&DR and consequent replacement of the entire board of directors, tensions had eased somewhat. The LC&DR and SER agreed to share the operation of the two railways.
They were worked as a single system, the South Eastern and Chatham Railway), (crest above), and receipts were pooled. But it was not a full amalgamation - the SER and LC&DR remained separate companies with their own shareholders until both became constituents of the Southern Railway, on 1 January 1923.
After amalgamation some route rationalisation took place, notably the new and complex connections between the two main lines where they cross near Bickley.