As It Began
I guess one of those occasions where my connection with the railways started! A very young Purley Phottr at Selsdon station, I assume around 1968 just after I started Junior School.
On the right is the old goods yard. In the distance the line continues to Woodside and Elmers End underneath the substantial footbridge which survives today. Note the old gas lamp - gas lighting remained at Selsdon station right up to complete closure in May 1983.
Selsdon (formerly Selsdon Road) station was opened in August 1885 and had two platforms on the line from South Croydon through Oxted towards East Grinstead and Lewes, and two platforms on the line to Woodside and Elmers End. The Oxted line platforms were closed to passengers in June 1959, with all station buildings at the station being demolished around 1963. Two small wooden canopies were provided on the electrified Woodside line platforms for the dwindling number of passengers that used the station, which was only a quarter of a mile from South Croydon station on the main Brighton line. From 1976 through electric trains to London (which started from Sanderstead) via Elmers End and Catford Bridge were replaced with just Monday to Friday peak time shuttles operating between Sanderstead and Elmers End. Complete closure of Selsdon station, together with the line to Woodside occurred in May 1983. Selsdon was unusual in that it was fully lit by gas lamps right up until closure. Freight traffic, in the form of winter heating oil trains, continued for another 10 years serving the sidings which were linked at the north end of the station to the Woodside line.
Today, the Oxted line platforms are still visible from passing East Grinstead and Uckfield line trains. The Woodside line platforms, track and oil sidings are still in place, but all trackwork is not visible as it is now under 23 years growth of trees and vegetation. Bizarrely, although the link at the south end of the station between the Woodside line and the Oxted line has been severed, there is still an illuminated position light signal controlled by Three Bridges ASC!
From a point of around half a mile north of Selsdon station, through to Woodside and Elmers End, the route is now part of the Croydon Tramlink network.
As It Began
I guess one of those occasions where my connection with the railways started! A very young Purley Phottr at Selsdon station, I assume around 1968 just after I started Junior School.
On the right is the old goods yard. In the distance the line continues to Woodside and Elmers End underneath the substantial footbridge which survives today. Note the old gas lamp - gas lighting remained at Selsdon station right up to complete closure in May 1983.
Selsdon (formerly Selsdon Road) station was opened in August 1885 and had two platforms on the line from South Croydon through Oxted towards East Grinstead and Lewes, and two platforms on the line to Woodside and Elmers End. The Oxted line platforms were closed to passengers in June 1959, with all station buildings at the station being demolished around 1963. Two small wooden canopies were provided on the electrified Woodside line platforms for the dwindling number of passengers that used the station, which was only a quarter of a mile from South Croydon station on the main Brighton line. From 1976 through electric trains to London (which started from Sanderstead) via Elmers End and Catford Bridge were replaced with just Monday to Friday peak time shuttles operating between Sanderstead and Elmers End. Complete closure of Selsdon station, together with the line to Woodside occurred in May 1983. Selsdon was unusual in that it was fully lit by gas lamps right up until closure. Freight traffic, in the form of winter heating oil trains, continued for another 10 years serving the sidings which were linked at the north end of the station to the Woodside line.
Today, the Oxted line platforms are still visible from passing East Grinstead and Uckfield line trains. The Woodside line platforms, track and oil sidings are still in place, but all trackwork is not visible as it is now under 23 years growth of trees and vegetation. Bizarrely, although the link at the south end of the station between the Woodside line and the Oxted line has been severed, there is still an illuminated position light signal controlled by Three Bridges ASC!
From a point of around half a mile north of Selsdon station, through to Woodside and Elmers End, the route is now part of the Croydon Tramlink network.