London and Greenwich Railway opens first section

The London and Greenwich Railway inaugurated its initial 3.75-mile double-track line on July 15, 1836, marking the birth of London's commuter rail network. Engineered by George Landmann with innovative brick viaducts to cross marshland, the route used Bury 0-4-0 locomotives hauling first- and second-class carriages. This engineering solution avoided costly embankments and set the template for elevated urban railways worldwide. The opening spurred rapid suburban growth in south London and demonstrated the viability of regular-interval passenger services, influencing the later expansion of the Southern Railway and today's Thameslink network.