History
The station was opened on 1 May 1903 as part of the Great Eastern Railway's (GER) Woodford to Ilford "loop" or branch line (the Fairlop Loop). This line, designed to stimulate suburban growth, had a chequered career. As a consequence of the 1921 Railways Act, the GER was merged with other railway companies in 1923 to become part of the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER). As part of the 1935 - 1940 "New Works Programme" of the London Passenger Transport Board, the majority of the loop was to be transferred to form the eastern extensions of the Central Line. Although work commenced in 1938, it was suspended on the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 and work only recommenced in 1946.
Steam train services serving Fairlop were suspended on 29 November 1947 and electrified Central Line passenger services, to Central London via Gants Hill, finally commenced on 31 May 1948. The line from Newbury Park to Hainault through Fairlop had been electrified for empty train movements to the new depot at Hainault from 14 December 1947.
Few alterations took place during this transfer, and the station remains a fine example of an Edwardian railway station including canopies that still bear the "GER" symbol in the bracketry.
Read more about this topic: Fairlop Tube Station
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