Housing construction was continuing apace and Higham approached the GER board with money to build the line.

Time was running out on the 1864 act but parliament extended this and instructed the GER it should build a branch from its main line between Stratford and Tottenham Hale to Walthamstow.

The line between Hackney Downs and Church Hall Junction opened on 1 August 1872 and direct services to Bishopsgate commenced as a result.

In 1873 the line was extended to a temporary terminus at Chingford (where the engines refilled their tanks from a farm pond).

This extension saw the closure of Shern Hall station and the opening of Wood Street and Hale End (since renamed Highams Park).

As well as goods traffic this saw match day specials from c1930[5] for Tottenham Hotspur home games at White Hart Lane.

[6] The late part of the 19th century saw significant housing development in the Walthamstow area although Chingford remained largely rural with pleasure traffic being its major source of revenue.

Although not as susceptible as some suburban lines to competing road and tram transport the Chingford branch saw a decline in passenger traffic in the 1920s.

This is partly as industrial developments northwards along the Lea Valley saw employment patterns changing although through the 1920s continuing house building along the route offset this.

[8] By 1928 all services were in the hands of the N7 0-6-2T locomotives and LNER Quint Art sets replaced the older GER four wheelers (by 1931).

Before this the local MP had described the train service as being run "by the most decrepit engines and the most ramshackle rolling stock imaginable".

Additionally British Railways were having problems retaining staff who were attracted to better paid industrial jobs, so it was clear that to maintain train services that something needed to change.

The Chingford line was electrified (to 6.25 kV AC) in the late 1950s, with electric services commencing on 12 November 1960.

The section from Stratford to Lea Bridge and thence via the Hall Farm curve was also included in this scheme giving a second route to Chingford (the Liverpool Street to Shenfield line had already been electrified by this point) however the work was started but never completed.

In 1967, the Hall Farm Curve from Lea Bridge to Hall Farm Junction (near St James Street) was closed to regular traffic although it is possible occasional goods trains ran until the goods yard at Wood Street closed in 1968.

It also operated the suburban services out of Kings Cross and Moorgate stations and its rolling stock was maintained at Hornsey and Ilford depots.

Between November 1872 and January 1874 trains terminated at the newly constructed Bishopsgate (Low Level) and then to Liverpool Street when that station opened.

In the May 2015 timetable all services call at all stations on the branch plus Clapton, Hackney Downs and Liverpool Street.

[10] By the 1950s following the rise of road transport freight traffic on the branch was largely coal, timber, general merchandise and building materials.

Designed by Alfred John Hill they were employed on suburban passenger services throughout the North East London area between 1915 and 1962.

[5] Holden designed the GER Class S44 (LNER G4) 0-4-4T engines of 1898 with the Chingford and Enfield branches in mind.

Worsdell for both freight and passenger duties they were introduced in July 1883 and they were so successful that new batches were built (largely unchanged) to 1913 the final total being 289.

From opening until the mid 1920s coaching stock was four wheeled and even as late as 1900 the majority of GER suburban trains were composed of four-wheeler carriages.

This set, which also included such modern features as slam lock doors and gas tail lamps became the model for future suburban carriage design.

In the early 1900s some four-wheeler carriages were cut in half longitudinally and a section inserted to make them wider in order to increase the capacity.