Dear Eunice,
The first section of the Great Western Railway was Paddington-Taplow
(Maidenhead) and it opened on 4th June 1838. On 17th March 1840 the line
was extended as far as Reading. Meanwhile work went on at the Bristol end
of the line and the section Bristol-Bath was opened on 31st August 1840. By
June 1841 the whole way was open from London to Bristol.
Regards,
Jeroen van der Vliet
-----Original Message-----
From: E & R Shanahan [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Sunday, September 05, 1999 1:20 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Railways and Reading Berks
Are there any railway buffs on the local history list?
I have another query that some members may be able to help me with - I
have just found out that my great grandfather was listed in the 1881 census
as living in Friar Street Reading, and being a 'railway labourer'. Does
anyone know which railway would have been built around that area at that
time ? The Great Western went from Paddington to the west country, and I
think it went through Reading, but was it at that time ?
Any help gratefully received
Eunice in Queensland.
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