This website, intended for Historians and Light Railway Enthusiasts, illustrates the early months of The Docklands Light Railway, known as the DLR. The period covered is the five months preceding the the Public Opening on August 31st 1987.

 

Most of the images on this web site are taken from a series of photographic albums acquired by the author. The most interesting images are shown here in chronological order.  The identity of the photographer is currently unknown, but assumed to be someone involved in the construction of the railway. The comments, when shown in quotes, are those written on the original photographs. Move the cursor over any small image to view an enlarged version.

 

Another section shows images of early DLR ephemera collected by this site’s authors.

1987 Feb 24.

1987 Apr 21.

1987 May 31.

1987 Jun 14.

1987 Jun 21.

1987 Jun 24.

1987 Jun 26.

1987 Jul 11.

1987 Jul 14.

1987 Jul 02.

1987 Jul 28.

1987 Jul 30.

1987 Aug 5.

1987 Aug 31.

Ephemera.

Early view of Tower Gateway Station.
Stratford and Bow Church Stations.
Tower Gateway, Limehouse, Westferry Area and Poplar Works.
Tower Gateway, Limehouse and Poplar area.
Tower Gateway, Limehouse and Poplar area.
Heron Quays
Westferry and Heron Quays to Limeharbour.
Crossharbour to Island Gardens.
Devons Road to Poplar and Crossharbour.
Limehouse and Poplar Viaducts in detail.
Poplar Depot to West India Quay and Limehouse.
The Royal Opening
Island Gardens, Heron Quays, Canary Wharf
Inaugural Day - Train Captains.
Ephemera relating to the early development of the DLR.

This site has been created by East London Historians for non commercial informative purposes only. Some of the illustrated ephemera may show material that is copyright of the DLR. No copyright is claimed for any material on this site.

Webmaster: Harold Mernick

Email: harry@mernicks.com