The old platform at Dagenham East station

Image: © Marathon Taken: 9 Mar 2016

The London, Tilbury & Southend Railway opened its line from Forest Gate via Barking and Dagenham Dock to Tilbury in 1854. In 1858 the company opened a cut off between Bow and Barking. What is now the C2C line was opened in 1885 by the London, Tilbury & Southend Railway between Barking and Upminster, and a station was opened at Dagenham (East) the same year. Little housing development took place around this station until much later on, although some factories were built nearby from about 1900. No further stations opened on the line until Gale Street Halt (now Becontree) in 1926, followed by Hornchurch, Heathway (later renamed Dagenham Heathway from 1st May 1949) and Upney on 12th September 1932. On the same date as these stations opened in 1932, the District line was extended over new tracks alongside the existing line between Barking and Upminster. The present C2C line therefore dates from 1885 and the present District line from 1932. This view from the down platform looks across to the disused extension of the up platform. Several of the stations along this stretch of the District line have disused parts of the platforms at their London end. The next station in this direction is Dagenham Heathway.

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