The South Eastern Railway Company's North Kent Line was constructed between the North Kent East Junction near London Bridge via Lewisham, Woolwich, Erith and Dartford to Gravesend. In 1846 the South Eastern Railway purchased the Thames and Medway Canal tunnel near Higham and laid railway tracks through it; in 1847 trains were working through from the Strood terminus, on the River Medway to Gravesend. From 30 July 1849 the line was extended, via Blackheath, to a junction with the London and Greenwich Railway at North Kent East Junction, near Deptford. (location accurate to the nearest 2m based on available information)