Platform between Bickley and St Mary Cray

[MedwayValiant]

I notice this once in a while, and then never quite get around to asking about it!

If you travel on the Chatham Main Line between Bickley and St Mary Cray, there is a rather overgrown single platform to the north of the tracks close to Chislehurst Junction.

I'm not aware of there being a disused station at this location and the platform doesn't appear to have exit to the street, so what is/was this platform for? Is it ever used?

 

[jopsuk]

Is this what you mean? Pretty sure that's just a retaining wall

 

[30907]

Is this what you mean? Pretty sure that's just a retaining wall

Probably dates from the widening of the line in the 1890s, and it's in the same brick as other retaining walls at Bickley. Too far back from the line to have been a platform face.

 

[MedwayValiant]

Thanks, but I don't think that is the thing I had in mind.

It's not close to a road and so the Streetview cameras haven't seen it, but I think this is the apparent platform. It's about 300 yards east of the structure to which you linked.

 

[FQTV]

Is the chap in Hi-Viz standing on it in this photo?

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4455248

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Thanks, but I don't think that is the thing I had in mind.

It's not close to a road and so the Streetview cameras haven't seen it, but I think this is the apparent platform. It's about 300 yards east of the structure to which you linked.

Has anyone any idea what the building is in that area?

 

[yorksrob]

Has anyone any idea what the building is in that area?

I suspect You're talking about the substation. The ones built for the South Eastern side suburban electrification in the early 20th century were quite grandiose.

 

[Kite159]

Has anyone any idea what the building is in that area?

Sub-station?

With the platform being used as a staff halt for maintenance workers as it looks to have no outside access (plus access to that other low structure slightly north)

 

[EM2]

My first job on the railway was at the now-demolished Chislehurst Junction signal box.
The building referred to is an electricity sub-station, the 'platform' isn't anything of the sort, it just so happens that the substation is at a slightly higher elevation. As to why that is, I don't know.

 

[30907]

Nor do I, but the quadrupling in 1959 might have played a part in creating a retaining wall in place of a slope?

 

[Railsigns]

I found a picture of the site that I took in 1992. Unfortunately, a derailed train is blocking the view of the 'platform'.