Elmer's End to Addiscombe/Sanderstead

[frodshamfella]

I wonder if any member have memories of these two routes. I used to travel to Woodside quite often on the two car shuttle, and can also recall going Addiscombe at least once, which from what I remember was quite a substantial terminus, considering it was generally just a two carriage job going to Elmers End and back, with the on odd through service to London.

I also travelled to Sanderstead on one of the last days of operation of that peak hour service from Elmers End, all the station en route looked very run down I remember, quite a forlorn sight.

I didn't live in the area, just used to travel to see a friend who lived near Woodside in the 1980s, so wondered if anyone could tell me more, or anyone who used these routes.

Thanks
Carl

 

[yorksrob]

I'm a bit too young for Sanderstead, but I well remember visiting Addiscombe on the 2EPB shuttle a few times (me and my dad sometimes having it to ourselves). Very charming and sleepy for the Kent Link network.

I also remember visiting it a couple of times on prototype EPB 5001 on railtours (what a travesty it went to the torch!). Can't remember whether it was the EPB farewell or the Green Goddess (in 1991 I think), but when we got there, many gentlemen of a certain age needed the loo (EPB's of course not having toilets). Of course being a Saturday, the station was closed, so they all ended up lined up along an earth bank near the concourse

 

[frodshamfella]

I'm a bit too young for Sanderstead, but I well remember visiting Addiscombe on the 2EPB shuttle a few times (me and my dad sometimes having it to ourselves). Very charming and sleepy for the Kent Link network.

I also remember visiting it a couple of times on prototype EPB 5001 on railtours (what a travesty it went to the torch!). Can't remember whether it was the EPB farewell or the Green Goddess (in 1991 I think), but when we got there, many gentlemen of a certain age needed the loo (EPB's of course not having toilets). Of course being a Saturday, the station was closed, so they all ended up lined up along an earth bank near the concourse

Yes I remember it as a sleepy little service, almost felt like a rural branch line, my local station was Bexleyheath, and the shortest service you would see was four carriages, so to see a train with just two, was unusual for me.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Friend of mine was ASM at Elmers End , the line was deserted pretty much passenger wise and a constant problem for the amount of traffic it produced.

Addiscombe was really there just for the sheds - the 2 car shuttle was known as "The Popper" again - sparsely used. The retention of semaphore signalling was due to the uncertainty felt even in the early 1970's - which is why it was not put onto London Bridge SCC.

I have somewhere a priv single ticket for Woodside - Addiscombe - cost about 5p and serial number 006 or so - proper Edmonson card ticket too.

 

[yorksrob]

I only really saw it at weekends. Did it have any regular commuters?

 

[Antman]

The two car shuttle generally ran empty between Elmers End and Addiscombe most of the time, I think there were a few peak hour trains from Addiscombe that went through to Charing Cross?

 

[ChiefPlanner]

The two car shuttle generally ran empty between Elmers End and Addiscombe most of the time, I think there were a few peak hour trains from Addiscombe that went through to Charing Cross?

Correct ! - and a 2 car shuttle Elmers - Sanderstead am and pm peaks only (that is when they had train crew for them)

 

[physics34]

I'm a bit too young for Sanderstead, but I well remember visiting Addiscombe on the 2EPB shuttle a few times (me and my dad sometimes having it to ourselves). Very charming and sleepy for the Kent Link network.

I also remember visiting it a couple of times on prototype EPB 5001 on railtours (what a travesty it went to the torch!). Can't remember whether it was the EPB farewell or the Green Goddess (in 1991 I think), but when we got there, many gentlemen of a certain age needed the loo (EPB's of course not having toilets). Of course being a Saturday, the station was closed, so they all ended up lined up along an earth bank near the concourse

ha ha, i went on the EPB farewell, and was young so had a good bladder at the time. Remember visiting addiscombe. 5001 was coupled to 5176 (also scrapped now i think barring one trailer
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I wonder if any member have memories of these two routes. I used to travel to Woodside quite often on the two car shuttle, and can also recall going Addiscombe at least once, which from what I remember was quite a substantial terminus, considering it was generally just a two carriage job going to Elmers End and back, with the on odd through service to London.

I also travelled to Sanderstead on one of the last days of operation of that peak hour service from Elmers End, all the station en route looked very run down I remember, quite a forlorn sight.

I didn't live in the area, just used to travel to see a friend who lived near Woodside in the 1980s, so wondered if anyone could tell me more, or anyone who used these routes.

Thanks
Carl

the section between just after Coombe Road station and Elmers End is now used by Croydon Tramlink, including the tunnels.

The track is now at ground level at Bingham road and has a tram stop close by called Addiscombe (about half a mile from the site of the old Addiscombe terminus.

There are a few pics and things on this site http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/b/bingham_road/

 

[bangor-toad]

Hi there,
I was down that way a few months ago and at the southern end of the line the remnants of Selsdon station are still visible.
If you look carefully there you can see the still working shunt signal (at red obviously!) that governs the access from the line onto the Oxted line. The fact that the actual junction was removed years ago is moot! I guess that it too expensive / complex to remove the signal when the junction was removed and it was just left in situ.

It's a fascinating reminder of what was once there...
Cheers,
Mr Toad

 

[physics34]

Hi there,
I was down that way a few months ago and at the southern end of the line the remnants of Selsdon station are still visible.
If you look carefully there you can see the still working shunt signal (at red obviously!) that governs the access from the line onto the Oxted line. The fact that the actual junction was removed years ago is moot! I guess that it too expensive / complex to remove the signal when the junction was removed and it was just left in situ.

It's a fascinating reminder of what was once there...
Cheers,
Mr Toad

thats exactly the reason as i understand it

 

[yorksrob]

ha ha, i went on the EPB farewell, and was young so had a good bladder at the time. Remember visiting addiscombe. 5001 was coupled to 5176 (also scrapped now i think barring one trailer

That's very sad news indeed. Last I heard, the Bullied society had the other three carriages of 5176?

 

[frodshamfella]

The two car shuttle generally ran empty between Elmers End and Addiscombe most of the time, I think there were a few peak hour trains from Addiscombe that went through to Charing Cross?

Yes I recall seeing some peak hour direct Addiscombe to Charing Cross service, I think at least one was a fast service and missed out several stations after Elmers End. this would have been in the 1980s at some point.

 

[yorksrob]

The two car shuttle generally ran empty between Elmers End and Addiscombe most of the time, I think there were a few peak hour trains from Addiscombe that went through to Charing Cross?

Alas, most of my trips on the branch were on one day travelcards, so wouldn't have helped the lines passenger figures. If only I'd known what I know now about the ticketing system!

 

[frodshamfella]

Did Service ever run direct to London from Selsdon...i mean way back ?

 

[physics34]

That's very sad news indeed. Last I heard, the Bullied society had the other three carriages of 5176?

hopefully you are right with that. have seen some pics though and the unit is in a horrible state.

 

[bangor-toad]

Did Service ever run direct to London from Selsdon...i mean way back ?

Hi there,
Have a look at this old e-bay listing: Link

It's a poster from 1979 showing the Sandersted to London direct services.
Cheers,
Mr Toad

 

[steamybrian]

I was born and brought up in Croydon and for many years lived between East Croydon and Addiscombe stations.
I used Addiscombe many, many times and as some one mentioned it was very much like a quiet branch line from Elmers End. Fond memories.!!!
I also travelled over the Woodside to Selsdon line on several occasions which was also like a quiet branch line.
When I first travelled over the lines in the 1960s there were through trains from both Selsdon/Sanderstead and Addiscombe to London. On one occasion I got on the 10EPB at Waterloo East and when we arrived at Addiscombe there was only myself and one other passenger on the train.
Selsdon was the last station in the London area to have gas lighting when in closed in 1983.
Addiscombe still sold 1d (yes old penny) platform tickets until well into the 1980s. Addiscombe station still retained its character until the early 1990s when the station was destaffed, the carriage depot/train crew depot closed, the station fell into decline, the signal box was destroyed by fire in 1996 a year before the line closed in 1997.

Please see the articles on the "Disused Stations" web site which I helped to compile.!

 

[30907]

Hi there,
Have a look at this old e-bay listing: Link

It's a poster from 1979 showing the Sandersted to London direct services.
Cheers,
Mr Toad

No, it shows connecting services, "change at Elmers End." The through trains had gone a few years earlier. A few services reversed at Selsdon, to keep them clear of the Oxted line, as they had to change ends and shunt Down to Up at Sanderstead, which was awkward in the evening peak. Especially with 10 EPB!

 

[Antman]

Alas, most of my trips on the branch were on one day travelcards, so wouldn't have helped the lines passenger figures. If only I'd known what I know now about the ticketing system!

It was way beyond saving anyway and the land is put to much better use now as part of Tramlink.

 

[Taunton]

Back in the period 1930s-60s the Mid Kent line had through 8-car trains from Cannon St/Charing Cross to all three branches roughly equally. Here's the 1950 timetable which had four trains from London to Sanderstead between 1700 and 1800, others to Addiscombe, and a minority to Hayes.

http://www.timetableworld.com/book_viewer.php?id=6&section_id=1765

 

[yorksrob]

hopefully you are right with that. have seen some pics though and the unit is in a horrible state.

Indeed. Rolling stock deteriorates pretty quickly when stored outdoors for a long time.

The sad thing is that BR managed to care for their preserved 4SUB and the NRM's 2BIL for many years with them coming out for special occasions, so it's not inconceivable that 5001 at least might have been with us today. Just one of those things jettisoned with privatisation unfortunately.

 

[wimbledonpete]

Always remember that the morning travel news on local radio more often than not seemed to include "and no service between Sanderstead and Elmers End."

 

[frodshamfella]

Thanks for all the information

Carl

 

[Peter Mugridge]

This might bring back a few memories?

 

[frodshamfella]

This might bring back a few memories?

Great photo !
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

No, it shows connecting services, "change at Elmers End." The through trains had gone a few years earlier. A few services reversed at Selsdon, to keep them clear of the Oxted line, as they had to change ends and shunt Down to Up at Sanderstead, which was awkward in the evening peak. Especially with 10 EPB!

Yes I had an idea some might have only gone as far as Selsdon, but wasn't sure.

 

[steamybrian]

This might bring back a few memories?

Excellent photo with memories of the 2EPBs.
In its prime when both platforms were in use..!!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I recently posted that on Twitter to a local newspaper editor asking if he recognised it - nobody did, even though it was in their territory and the top of that ugly "ONE Croydon" tower is in the top right of the picture!

 

[colchesterken]

Yorksrob..do I understand you that the preserved 4 sub has been scrapped !
That is terrible I blame the NRM they have no understanding that todays scrap is tomorrows history
From my area there is no complete BR first generation 25 kv unit preserved they have missed out a whole era as the wiring is the same ( unlike the 1500 dc ) if they had kept some they could still run, 302 217 was saved from refurb by BR it ran on LTS in the early 80 well maintained in Green with shiny wood inside . I do not know how but it got lost It would have been nice to show the next generation what they used in the late 50s.they could have ran 2 units together showing pre and post re furb

Short rant please my favourite train 306 017 is still rotting at EARM it is owned by the NRM and just being allowed to rot in the open. It could be saved with a rub down and a cote of undercoat until it can be done properly ( like Gordon ). They can find millions to rebuild Scotsman but not a couple of grand to save the only 1st generation 25 kv LNER based unit

 

[Busaholic]

I could be wrong about this, but didn't Sanderstead retain gas lighting on the platforms to the end and, if so, were they the last such on B.R.?

 

[yorksrob]

Yorksrob..do I understand you that the preserved 4 sub has been scrapped !
That is terrible I blame the NRM they have no understanding that todays scrap is tomorrows history
From my area there is no complete BR first generation 25 kv unit preserved they have missed out a whole era as the wiring is the same ( unlike the 1500 dc ) if they had kept some they could still run, 302 217 was saved from refurb by BR it ran on LTS in the early 80 well maintained in Green with shiny wood inside . I do not know how but it got lost It would have been nice to show the next generation what they used in the late 50s.they could have ran 2 units together showing pre and post re furb

Short rant please my favourite train 306 017 is still rotting at EARM it is owned by the NRM and just being allowed to rot in the open. It could be saved with a rub down and a cote of undercoat until it can be done properly ( like Gordon ). They can find millions to rebuild Scotsman but not a couple of grand to save the only 1st generation 25 kv LNER based unit

Hi Colchesterken,

I don't believe that the 4SUB has been scrapped - as I understand it, it's at the Coventry railway centre undergoing restoration (although I'm not sure how far that's progressed at the moment). That said, it would have been better if either BR (or one of its successors) had been able to maintain it on the Southern Region available for special occasions as BR did during the 1980's and early 90's.

There seems to be a question mark over the survival of 4EPB 5716, which if true, would be as alarming. If anyone knows of its status I'd welcome an update !