[Electrification reference list] Grid connections/traction power networks on DC railways

[GraphitProjekt]

Uckfield town is getting a decent 33kV supply amongst may local DNO upgrades which may open up possibilities.

Maybe I misunderstood. Were you saying Uckfield is getting a 132/33 transformer for railway use. Or do you just mean there's UKPN work there for general use.

The retirement of the connections from New Cross to the former Deptford power station and then onwards will help get rid of lots of orphaned voltage in the area and some 100+ year old oil filled cables that are currently still in use. The question is how big the clear out is.
Deptford Power station (Ferranti "experiment") is the UK/global reason for 11kV* increments in power distribution - it needed to be 11kV at the power station to get 10kV at the substation in Zone1 due to losses. The Ferranti system at Deptford was 25Hz (tram and later LBSCR overhead) and 83.3Hz for domestic and light industry. (83.3Hz is 10/3rds of 25Hz if you want to understand the alternator poles and windings!)
* whole number multiples: 11/22/33/66/132 [x12] /275 [x25]. Fractional multiples: 6.6kV is 3/5ths of 11kV and 400kV is 36&1/3 x11kV (109/3rds) or 16/11ths of 275kV if thinking about winding ratios.

How interesting! I've heard 25Hz was a good frequency for running DC rotors (for the trams). Those voltages seem to be the British ones you can find wherever the UK had imperial influence (except Ireland weirdly). Ex Soviet places (including China), for example, tend to go 10/35/110/220/500.

No Wandsworth Common NR substation on the opposite side of the B237 (Bellvue Road) from the station - you need to scroll right a tiny bit.
No cable routing marked going into it. (It is a very very big substation in 3rd rail terms)

Is it? Looks pretty average for the "art deco" 1930s era buildings.
This is Selhurst Streatham. Always stuck out to me as extra large in that style:

And the earlier "Cathedral" style has pretty big examples like here at Lewisham. (Lewisham ECR i think is the building in the foreground)

It shows as much on my map you were looking at, but Wandsworth Common DC is from the Wimbledon "A".

The two straight line 132kV leaving Wimbledon were added by someone who doesn't have clue on actual routings - I'm fairly certain the east bound 132 to Bengeworth Road (bottom right of that image) is actually under Bellevue Road.

OpenInfra is kinda like wikipedia. It's mostly people manually adding overhead powerlines that they physically visited (or from google earth images) and mapped in. Things that are underground are hard to find info on - but generally the connections between substations are sometimes known from publicly available documents between 400 and 33kV. I generally trust the layout of transmission network and 132kV lines on openinfra but very little is known of the routes of cables for lower voltages, even if the network topology is more available (except for NGED south wales/west mids area check that out!).

Two further thoughts/questions:
a) Chadwick Road (Peckham Rye) supply point. The original LBSCR 6.6kV 25Hz OHLE AC power generating station was here with links to Deptford Power station (for more power) was at located south of the track with the UKPN substation on part of the former site. Where is this currently fed from?

All I have is the 2014 UKPN docs which says Chadwick Road 66/33 is from New Cross 275/66 on 3 circuits: one direct and two tee-d off a couple of circuits going to Bankside 66/20kV. Although the 66kV parts of Bankside may no longer exist

The UKPN 33kV and 66kV cables follow the railway alignment here inside the fence (going to Bengeworth Road as the excavator operator digging the lift shaft at Denmark Hill discovered in 2011) not the straight lines on open infra map...

Why did they end up there? I might go in and change those alignments on openinfra with your insights!

b) Loughborough Jn. supply point. Where is this fed from?

Loughborough Junction DC? It's on the New Cross "B" supply but can be switched onto the "A" supply that comes down from Southwark

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Aug 2025 ==

Note that Pelaw to South Hylton is Network Rail, though there seems to be some integration between the two systems at Pelaw.

Makes sense that there's a TPH at Pelaw actually, not only the junction but because of the switch from Nexus ECO to Network Rail York. York ECR therefore gets the award for having the most variety of voltages (25kV, 1.5kV, 750V on Northern City Line and 750V OLE for the Sheffield tram-train.)

 

[hwl]

Why did they end up there? I might go in and change those alignments on openinfra with your insights!

The LESC distribution route out from Deptford Power station out to Evelyn Road (where all the other cables are routed (slightly straight liner rather than following the road on open infra) then north to where it crossed the (now former) Surrey Canal then west along north side tow path ("Canal Approach" today, which becomes Surrey Canal Road further west (with the new 400kV is below on the last bit) to the SLL (have careful look at the building just to the east of the SLL on the north side of the road) then along the SLL to the LESC substation at Bengeworth Road.
Further west the New Cross 275kV substation is built on the former Canal alignment and the new 400kV on part of the adjacent former New Cross Gas works (more storage than works). West of New Cross the 275kV and 400kV roughly follows the canal to its former end. (The entire 275 kV cable routing on open infra is accurate according to my NG maps)

I have some maps of the 132kV routing some where it isn't anything like shown on the open infra either more pipes screensaver than straight lines! (It causes some routing issues for the LU Bakerloo extension routing and station sighting especially on Old Kent Road which is why TfL bought the old Toys'r'us site when they went under for the OKR 2 station site as it isn't Swiss cheese already underneath).

Maybe I misunderstood. Were you saying Uckfield is getting a 132/33 transformer for railway use. Or do you just mean there's UKPN work there for general use.

Uckfield (town) is getting a 400/33kV for general use (yes a rare beast but a very sensible solution). Thus avoiding the maxed out 132kV from miles away issue that currently exists.

 

[TRXsouth]

GraphitProjekt -
Re your first photo “This is Selhurst.” Is it rather Streatham DC Traction Substation 33kv, in the fork at Streatham Common Junction?
Also re Uckfield‘s new 400/33kv transformer, could you please clarify if the term ‘general use’ means it can supply both the town’s needs and also assist potential electrification of the rail line back up to Hurst Green?
Thanks for a fascinating thread.

 

[hwl]

GraphitProjekt -
Re your first photo “This is Selhurst.” Is it rather Streatham DC Traction Substation 33kv, in the fork at Streatham Common Junction?
Also re Uckfield‘s new 400/33kv transformer, could you please clarify if the term ‘general use’ means it can supply both the town’s needs and also assist potential electrification of the rail line back up to Hurst Green?
Thanks for a fascinating thread.

That is indeed Streatham the mislabelling confused me as well.
Selhurst is just north east of Windmill bridge junction.

Wandsworth common has been expanded with lots of transformers in the open air, the equipment extends along side the track for 50m - it isn't small!

I can answer the latter one town and wider surrounding area needs (including enough spare capacity for 3rd rail and BEMU charging) as the existing distribution network is maxed out and there are also a number of huge local solar schemes with massive export potential during the day.

 

[GraphitProjekt]

GraphitProjekt -
Re your first photo “This is Selhurst.” Is it rather Streatham DC Traction Substation 33kv, in the fork at Streatham Common Junction?

I promise everyone I do actually know the difference between these two, I was fully thinking of Streatham and it's large substation - I don't know why I just typed the wrong thing - maybe because Selhurst is pretty much where Ashburton grid supply is which happens to power Streatham, also Selhurst ECR also used to control this area.

Also re Uckfield‘s new 400/33kv transformer, could you please clarify if the term ‘general use’ means it can supply both the town’s needs and also assist potential electrification of the rail line back up to Hurst Green?
Thanks for a fascinating thread.

I was just trying to ascertain that there is no work currently being undertaken by NG or UKPN at an Uckfield site specifically in relation to a new supply for the railway. Because it would be quite a surprise to learn the Uckfield branch is getting electrified from an offhand comment deep in a thread about grid connections in general.

Wandsworth common has been expanded with lots of transformers in the open air, the equipment extends along side the track for 50m - it isn't small!

Oh okay, well all I have to go off is satellite images which are from March last year, so I suppose something new has been going on recently.

The LESC distribution route out from Deptford Power station out to Evelyn Road (where all the other cables are routed (slightly straight liner rather than following the road on open infra) then north to where it crossed the (now former) Surrey Canal then west along north side tow path ("Canal Approach" today, which becomes Surrey Canal Road further west (with the new 400kV is below on the last bit) to the SLL

Is this the route of the present day Deptford–New Cross 132kV line?

then along the SLL to the LESC substation at Bengeworth Road.

Because this would be New Cross–Chadwick Road 66kV, then Chadwick Road–Bengeworth Road at 33kV? There is also a Wimbledon–Deptford 132kV line which feeds Bengeworth Road 132/33,goes to both Depftord substations and then becomes the Deptford-New Cross line.

 

[Bald Rick]

That line is actually getting electrified! News in and of itself to me!

No - its a new NG connection, nothing to do with the railway.

 

[hwl]

I promise everyone I do actually know the difference between these two, I was fully thinking of Streatham and it's large substation - I don't know why I just typed the wrong thing - maybe because Selhurst is pretty much where Ashburton grid supply is which happens to power Streatham, also Selhurst ECR also used to control this area.

I was just trying to ascertain that there is no work currently being undertaken by NG or UKPN at an Uckfield site specifically in relation to a new supply for the railway. Because it would be quite a surprise to learn the Uckfield branch is getting electrified from an offhand comment deep in a thread about grid connections in general.

So for any initial confusion - it is very much a general DNO upgrade but it removes a key "road block" as there was no spare DNO capacity in the wider area.

Oh okay, well all I have to go off is satellite images which are from March last year, so I suppose something new has been going on recently.

Some of the outside transformers to the north of the building have tree cover.

Is this the route of the present day Deptford–New Cross 132kV line?

No, different route. The 132kV came about 50 years later than the previous routing (which got added to over time). The 132kV has a more southerly route for the main East - West part between Deptford and New Cross

Because this would be New Cross–Chadwick Road 66kV, then Chadwick Road–Bengeworth Road at 33kV? There is also a Wimbledon–Deptford 132kV line which feeds Bengeworth Road 132/33,goes to both Depftord substations and then becomes the Deptford-New Cross line.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Maybe I misunderstood. Were you saying Uckfield is getting a 132/33 transformer for railway use. Or do you just mean there's UKPN work there for general use.

Uckfield isn't getting a new 33kV supply from the new 400/132kV substation being built outside Uckfield. That is being built primarily to allow the removal of the Lewes to Eastbourne 132kV pylon route through the South Downs National Park. The new s/stn will supply Lewes Grid Supply Point at 132kV this then supplies Uckfield with 2x33kV supplies as per today.

.

Is it? Looks pretty average for the "art deco" 1930s era buildings.
This is Selhurst Streatham. Always stuck out to me as extra large in that style:
View attachment 187178
Building on the left was built in the late 1920's when the LB&SCR OLE was replaced with DC. Building on the right was built in 1950's under the Change of Frequency Scheme and contained the rectifiers and 33kv AC switchgear replacing what was contained in the 1920s building.

 

[ETMbloke]

Indeed happens at Maidstone and Chislehurst substations. Then you have Penge s/stn on the South Central lines feeding the South Eastern lines below. There were also a few track paralleling huts where it happened as well (Chiswick & New Beckenham) although both subsequently upgraded to substations.

There are some exceptions, where two sets of lines cross each other, but the adjacent sub only feeds one set of lines.

One example I can think off is Brockley substation, which is actually physically next to the Catford Loop lines, but doesn't supply them. Instead it only feeds the London Bridge - Croydon lines.

 

[GraphitProjekt]

As far as I understand it, Eden substation only feeds the East Grinstead Line but not the Redhill-Tonbridge line overhead, could be wrong on this though. Technically speaking, Canal Junction as well - it only feeds ELL who's system is completely separate from the SE lines.

But the general convention seems to be for lines crossing each other to share substations. Even on AC lines sometimes, like at Hackney Downs (but not South Tottenham).

Penge is an interesting one in that the substation is split across two levels/lines and between two ECRs, so too is Queens Park. Of course, substations are shared between ECRs all the time at boundary points but Queens Park and Penge are not the end points for any control room. Clapham Junction is also notable for having three ECRs clambering over each other, is that more than the number of signal boxes?

 

[hwl]

As far as I understand it, Eden substation only feeds the East Grinstead Line but not the Redhill-Tonbridge line overhead, could be wrong on this though. Technically speaking, Canal Junction as well - it only feeds ELL who's system is completely separate from the SE lines.

But the general convention seems to be for lines crossing each other to share substations. Even on AC lines sometimes, like at Hackney Downs (but not South Tottenham).

Penge is an interesting one in that the substation is split across two levels/lines and between two ECRs, so too is Queens Park. Of course, substations are shared between ECRs all the time at boundary points but Queens Park and Penge are not the end points for any control room. Clapham Junction is also notable for having three ECRs clambering over each other, is that more than the number of signal boxes?

Penge is three levels/three lines/two ECRs - the Crystal Palace lines are fed directly from the substation when they are already quite a bit above the London Bridge - Croydon lines in height terms and "south" of the junctions.

 

[FirePower]

yes thank you! I've actually recently finished the big project this was a part of - which is a map showing the extents of railway grid connections in the London area, but going quite far south. You should be able to download it here from my Flickr. But i'll put a couple screenshots here for preview. But this whole thing about dedicated railway transformers was an interesting loose end that I just couldn't find anything about online.
View attachment 185302View attachment 185303
I think my next trick will be adding some traces of powerlines from openinframap to show how the grid infrastructure relates to railway GSPs.
Regarding other DC railways:
- For LUL i know where the grid connections are (in fact i'll add them now to my original message) but no idea where the DC substations are.
- For DLR I think i have enough to find where the DC substations are but no idea how the power is supplied/whether they have HV AC
- For Tyne & Wear, I've found nothing at all! I could probably sit down and watch a few hours of cabview footage looking out for DC substations cross-referencing with Google Earth to locate transformers (to tell if it's a TPH or a TSS) but that could be quite inaccurate and maybe too dull even for me. Still, no idea of the supply side. So if anyone has some insights for T&W specifically I'd be interested!
- For the tram systems, ditto everything I've said about T&W. Although there is some good info on Croydon i found.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Aug 2025 ==


A one-to-one transformer that is mean to "boost" voltage, how intriguing! Everytime I think I understand what a transformer can be used for, there's always something more. That piece of equipment sounds eerily familiar to the so-called "booster transformers" used on 25kV lines although for a completely different purpose.

thank you, edits made

Interesting you say that! In a 2014ish UKPN document I found online they give this blurry schematic.
View attachment 185304
Northfleet East (the main 400/132 substation in the area) has a 33kV local switchboard shown on the left with 3x 132/33kV transformers. I take it the diagram there is incomplete because elsewhere it shows Northfleet East 132/33 supplying a range of local primary substations. But in this diagram it does seem to be discussing BR feeds - perhaps shown here due to their priority? It seems to be saying BR1112, BR1126, BR1637 and BR 1639 although it's too blurry to tell some of those digits definitively.
My main source for all of this is a network rail document briefly shown in a PWI lecture on youtube that seems to be more up to date but even more blurry.

View attachment 185305
But I can make out feeder 1112 going down towards the Chatham mainline so these schematics must be talking about the same thing.

My take on the feeders is BR1607 and BR1608 go to NR Northfleet. BR1112 goes to NR Farningham via Hook Green (old HS1 Interchange). BR1126 seems not to be used now, according to SR/F/267.

When BR1112 and BR1126 were along the old abandoned Gravesend West branch track bed, they used to suffer from excessive copper theft attempts, I read somewhere.

 

[GraphitProjekt]

Thanks for that, very interesting. Strange that 1126 is decommissioned but 1112 remains if they're basically next to each other

 

[thecrofter]

For Tyne & Wear Metro (Sunderland Direct) as of 2019 (my last info) there were the following sites:

Pelaw TPH
Fellgate Metro Substation
Seaburn Metro Substation
Pallion Metro Sunstation
South Hylton TPH

 

[GraphitProjekt]

Sounds like those will be the York ECR ones. Do you know if the sunderland line substations are on HV AC feeders or are they individually connected to the DNO?

 

[thecrofter]

Sounds like those will be the York ECR ones. Do you know if the sunderland line substations are on HV AC feeders or are they individually connected to the DNO?

Yes they are on the York ECR pages. Don't have info on the AC side I'm afraid.

 

[GraphitProjekt]

Tyne & Wear Metro substations:

Airport TPR
Kenton Bank Metro Substation
Gosforth Metro Substation
Monument TPR
Old Fold Substation
Pelaw TPH
Fellgate Substation
Seaburn Substation
Pallion Substation
South Hylton TPH

Monument TPR
Byker Substation
Percy Main Metro Substation
Whitley Bay Metro Substation
Benton Square Metro Substation
Gosforth Metro Substation
Monument TPR
Old Fold Substation
Pelaw TPH
Hebburn Metro Substation
Chichester Metro Substation

There are also station supplies substations at Regent Centre, Control Centre, Jesmond Metro, Haymarket, Monument, Central, Gateshead, St James and Manors. And depot substations at Howdon and Nexus Learning Centre (not sure the official names of these two).

Don’t ask why some have Metro in the name, there is a logic to it but I can’t remember the details. I think it’s something to do with the distribution network.

Finally getting round to properly looking into T&W.
From conferring with book Eastern Electric by John Glover there is a description about the station/aux supplies system as follows (p112):

Owing to the high supply security standards demanded by the underground sections, all traction and distribution supplies in the central area are provided via trackside 11kV ring cable feeders from Gosforth Metro substation, which has duplicate 33kV supply feeds.
Each underground station, the control centre, Regent Centre interchange and Gosforth Depot has a distribution has a distribution substation comprising a 500kVA, 11,000/415V transformer and associated switchgear supplying all electrical services and signalling at that location. Pairs of stations are automatically linked by a connector cable should one of the supplies fail, and each underground station has a battery lighting system which automatically maintains emergency lighting for three hours in the event of a shutdown.
A standby 11kV supply is available at Jesmond, and this an be switched in to provide emergency power to the central area should a major supply failure arise at Gosforth Metro substation.

This explains why some have "metro" in the name, as that word denotes a connection with NPG at 11kV (or 33kV for Gosforth) and most of the 1.5kV substations just connect to local 11kV infrastructure. Since Byker and Old Ford traction substations are supplied by Nexus' 11kV ring they have no connection with the local grid and so don't have the word "metro". This also explains why your list has a "Jesmond Metro" because that's the backup grid connection for the central 11kV ring.
I also found some pictures of the old metro control centre from before 2013, however as always the shots of the power control panels were an afterthought and are too blurry to discern much and also incomplete. One of the photos actually shows the 11kV system but is too blurry to make out what any of it says. But armed with your list and Glover's description it makes it easier to guess what smudges probably are:

Across this panel and the DC panel also partially shown in that album, red is 11kV and blue is 1.5kV. We can also see green for 33kV and black must be for 415V. Red and Green are the standard colours used for those voltages by NPG and light blue is at least used on ORM for 1.5kV.

But I've also found this, evidence of a 11kV grid connection at Haymarket visible from streetview. The building dates from the rest of the Haymarket Hub project in 2010. So is this a replacement or addition to the Jesmond supply? Or is it a whole new independent 1.5kV DC substation that's been added to the core?

 

[GraphitProjekt]

Some interesting articles I've found about the electro-mechanical SCADA systems at South London and Kent Coast control rooms in scans of the GEC Telecoms magazine:
- Raynes Park, Selhurst, Lewisham in issue 23, 1957
- Canterbury and a minor mention of Paddock Wood in issue 31, 1962
Most of it is far too advanced for me to understand so I'll be picking through them for sometime.

I was intrigued by the brief mention of the previous system in South London with 11kV 25Hz circuits powered by the railway's power station at Durnsford Road (presumably inherited from LSWR) and the Grid (then "CEA") power station at Depftord which must not have been very helpful to the Grid producing 25Hz all the way into the 1950s. In the new system, Dursford Rd is closed and Deptford changes to 50Hz at 66kV distributing to the railway at Lewisham, South Bermondsey Nunhead and Brockley where it enters BR's system and is stepped down to 33kV. (Although I thought some of those were 66/11kV connections previously?). As well as this, 33kV connections are established from CEA at Wimbledon, Leatherhead, Croydon. All of those are still going except for Deptford of course, and in the same area there have been some new ones: Ashburton and Bromley. I wonder whether Bromley is not on the map because it was controlled by Swanley ECR which predates all these from a similar vintage to Woking and Three Bridges control rooms? Or maybe Bromley was installed as part of Kent Coast phase 1?

Either way, from these maps I've bene guessing at the control area of the former Swanley ECR. Fringing with Lewisham at Chelsford, St Mary Cray and Denton, with Canterbury at Rainham, and bordering with Paddock Wood at Maidstone (both lines) and somewhere between Sevenoaks and Tonbridge, not sure where. The above area is now controlled by Paddock Wood which must have been modernised in the 1990s since that's when I've heard Swanley closed.

 

[etr221]

Yes, Durnsford Road was originally LSWR, built for their 1913 onwards electrification project. What I don't know is what was done about power supplies from Lots Road (MDR/Underground Group) originally used for those lines electrified for MDR trains 1905.

The LBSCR contracted with the London Electric Supply Company for their electricity supply, at 11kV 25Hz from their (LESCo) Deptford Power House, which also supplied the Southern's SE suburban lines from 1925, presumably as an extension of the contract. The impression I have is that this was essentially a dedicated part of the Deptford setup, for supplying the railway.

The SECR electrification proposals originally provided for their own generating plant, but this was refused - they were told to buy it in from outside.

G T Moody's Southern Electric has (brief) notes on these.

 

[GraphitProjekt]

Yes, Durnsford Road was originally LSWR, built for their 1913 onwards electrification project. What I don't know is what was done about power supplies from Lots Road (MDR/Underground Group) originally used for those lines electrified for MDR trains 1905.

Lots Road was originally 11kV 33.33Hz so not compatible with Deptford or LSWR's Durnsford Road which was 11kV 25Hz. The system Lots Road fed was also or could also be powered by the Metropolitan Railway's 11kV 25Hz plant at Neasden. At 'some point in the 1960s' it was modernised to produce 50Hz suggesting LUL's Change of Frequency was sometime after BR's. I also wonder if was upgraded to produce 22kV at this time? Since it was shutdown in 2002 and LUL's power supply modernised in general, Lots Road was replaced with a 132/22kV grid connection being fed by 2x 132kV circuits from Wimbledon A (275/132kV substation) which is also where the BR supply that was installed in 1957 originates and you can see both in this schematic from 2014.

The LBSCR contracted with the London Electric Supply Company for their electricity supply, at 11kV 25Hz from their (LESCo) Deptford Power House, which also supplied the Southern's SE suburban lines from 1925, presumably as an extension of the contract. The impression I have is that this was essentially a dedicated part of the Deptford setup, for supplying the railway.

Having a look at the Wikipedia article and another other page on the Deptford site, Deptford East Low Pressure power station started generation in 1889 at 11kV to a substation at Grosvenor Gallery on Bond Str and by 1912 was supplying 4 different voltages:

• 11kV single phase AC at 83.33Hz
  • I think this was the original system from 1889 that had always stepped up to 11kV after the generators which themselves produced 2.5kV
• 3 wire DC system of 460 or 240V.
• 6.6kV three phase AC at 25Hz for industries and tramways.
• 6.6kV single phase AC at 25Hz for LBSCR only

Then in 1929 it has:

• 4x generators at 83.33Hz single phase (2.5kV stepped up to 11kV)
• 2x generators producing 6.6kV 25Hz three phase
• 3x 20MW generators producing 11kV 25Hz three phase specifically for Southern Railway
• there is mention that those latter 5 generators had the ability to be switched to single phase generation (however that works) specifically "to the single phase section of the Southern Railway" which would have been mostly dismantled by 1929

Then there is vague mention that Deptford East LP was downsized when the area was standardised to 50Hz, whenever this was I don't know but I think SR must then have been the principle customer of Deptford East since they still needed 25Hz power until 1957. It also says there was a motor generator converting between 25Hz and 50Hz at Deptford West allowing Deptford East LP to feed the 50Hz network until closure in 1968.

There was also Deptford West producing power between 1925 and 1972 and Deptford East High Pressure operating between 1948 and 1983. I can't find specifically what voltage they produced or which one BR was connected to after 1957. But I'd assume both power stations fed the same local substation at 66kV (also the voltage of Battersea I believe). When BR's 1957 arrangement (4x 66kV cables from Deptford) was replaced in the 2010s, the power was coming from New Cross 132/66kV substation which was presumbly the replacement for Deptford East HP in the 1980s.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Yes, Durnsford Road was originally LSWR, built for their 1913 onwards electrification project. What I don't know is what was done about power supplies from Lots Road (MDR/Underground Group) originally used for those lines electrified for MDR trains 1905.

The LBSCR contracted with the London Electric Supply Company for their electricity supply, at 11kV 25Hz from their (LESCo) Deptford Power House, which also supplied the Southern's SE suburban lines from 1925, presumably as an extension of the contract. The impression I have is that this was essentially a dedicated part of the Deptford setup, for supplying the railway.

The SECR electrification proposals originally provided for their own generating plant, but this was refused - they were told to buy it in from outside.

SECR originally wanted to build their own power station at Angerstein Wharf but by the time they were proposing electrification the Electricity Commissioners had been established and they had to approve any new power station in the UK. They frustrated SECR in this as they had not properly sought cost from other suppliers so were forced into an enquiry. The Kent Power Co wanted to supply them from a new power station at Belvedere but they were deemed as too small financially. The SECR hadn't approached LESCo maybe due to the antipathy to LB&SCR but in the end there hand was forced when they provided them with a competitive cost although SECR still insisted they could have still done it cheaper. LESCo had to add further 25Hz generators to support SECR electrification.