Foot Crossing on the Angerstein Wharf Branch
Open foot crossings on railway lines in inner London are rare, but one crosses the Angerstein Wharf freight branch near Charlton, South-East London. This is the view from the crossing looking south towards Angerstein Wharf Junction, on the North Kent Line between Blackheath and Charlton.
The crossing was originally provided for farm workers, as when the branch line was built it cut Coomb farm in two. When the surrounding area was developed with terraced housing and industry the crossing was retained, and an alleyway built between houses in Fairthorn Road. Nowadays the crossing provides a short-cut to and from Westcombe Park Station, via a footbridge over the Blackwall Tunnel Approach Road.
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The Angerstein Wharf branch was opened in 1851, and linked the North Kent Line near Charlton Station to Angerstein Wharf on the River Thames. It was promoted and built by John Julius Angerstein, a local land owner, investor, businessman and art collector (his collection formed the nucleus of the National Gallery). As the line passed over his land and was built with his own money he only needed to seek Parliamentary Powers to build the bridge over Woolwich Road - he is thought to be the only individual to have gained Parliamentary permission to build a railway in the UK. The line was leased by the South Eastern Railway in 1852 and bought outright in 1898.
During the line's life it had links to the South Metropolitan Gas Works and the London County Council (later London Transport) Central Tram Repair Depot at Penhall Road, which gradually became the place where London's Trams were scrapped after the system closed in the early 1950s. Although much quieter today the line is still in use, with trains conveying sea-dredged aggregates from a terminal at Angerstein Wharf four or five times a week. The line never carried passenger trains, although the odd enthusiast excursion has found its way along here.
Foot Crossing on the Angerstein Wharf Branch
Open foot crossings on railway lines in inner London are rare, but one crosses the Angerstein Wharf freight branch near Charlton, South-East London. This is the view from the crossing looking south towards Angerstein Wharf Junction, on the North Kent Line between Blackheath and Charlton.
The crossing was originally provided for farm workers, as when the branch line was built it cut Coomb farm in two. When the surrounding area was developed with terraced housing and industry the crossing was retained, and an alleyway built between houses in Fairthorn Road. Nowadays the crossing provides a short-cut to and from Westcombe Park Station, via a footbridge over the Blackwall Tunnel Approach Road.
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The Angerstein Wharf branch was opened in 1851, and linked the North Kent Line near Charlton Station to Angerstein Wharf on the River Thames. It was promoted and built by John Julius Angerstein, a local land owner, investor, businessman and art collector (his collection formed the nucleus of the National Gallery). As the line passed over his land and was built with his own money he only needed to seek Parliamentary Powers to build the bridge over Woolwich Road - he is thought to be the only individual to have gained Parliamentary permission to build a railway in the UK. The line was leased by the South Eastern Railway in 1852 and bought outright in 1898.
During the line's life it had links to the South Metropolitan Gas Works and the London County Council (later London Transport) Central Tram Repair Depot at Penhall Road, which gradually became the place where London's Trams were scrapped after the system closed in the early 1950s. Although much quieter today the line is still in use, with trains conveying sea-dredged aggregates from a terminal at Angerstein Wharf four or five times a week. The line never carried passenger trains, although the odd enthusiast excursion has found its way along here.