Wash drawing by John Cooke Bourne, from a collection of views of the construction of the London & Birmingham Railway (LBR). In 1833, Robert Stephenson (1803-1859) was appointed chief engineer of the LBR, the first railway into London. Running from Curzon Street Station, Birmingham, to Euston Station, London, the 112 mile long line took 20,000 men nearly five years to build, at a cost of £5.5 million. The entrance to Euston Station was marked by an imposing Doric arch designed by Phillip Hardwick, which cost £35,000 to build. It was demolished, despite public protest, between November 1961 and February 1962. A similar arch, also designed by Hardwick, was built at the entrance to the Birmingham terminus.

Bourne, John Cooke

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