The old Waterloo training school

[James Clark]

This may be a silly question, but does anyone here happen to remember the old railway training school at Waterloo that stood on the site of the London Necropolis Railway terminus? (That terminus closed after air raid damage in April 1941.)

The reason I ask is that I’m writing a small book about strange stories and legends from the London Borough of Lambeth and have been told that at least part of the Necropolis Railway site later became a railway training school housed within various temporary buildings. Furthermore, I was told that one particular part of this school – known as “A” Block – stood (possibly still stands?) on the site of one of the old Necropolis platforms, and that some of the staff believed the block to be haunted.

I don’t know too much about railways so I was hoping to pick some of the expert brains here to find out some background details – particularly the (approximate) years in which this school started and closed. If anyone knows I’d really appreciate the help!

 

[Capybara]

There are still temporary buildings there but I'm not sure if they are currently in use. COI on Hercules Road backs on to the site on the one side and there are a couple of stabling sidings on the other. They are easily visible from the train into or out of Waterloo.

 

[thedbdiboy]

I often went there for training courses or sometimes meetings in the early 1990s in my BR (NSE) days. I was aware that they were built of the site of the old Necropolis railway. I've heard the tales of hauntings but never experienced anything or saw anyone who had though!

As has been said, they look pretty disused at the moment.

 

[James Clark]

There are still temporary buildings there but I'm not sure if they are currently in use. COI on Hercules Road backs on to the site on the one side and there are a couple of stabling sidings on the other. They are easily visible from the train into or out of Waterloo.

Many thanks. I might use this as an excuse to take a morning off, catch a train to Waterloo, look out of the windows and pretend I'm "working"
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I often went there for training courses or sometimes meetings in the early 1990s in my BR (NSE) days. I was aware that they were built of the site of the old Necropolis railway. I've heard the tales of hauntings but never experienced anything or saw anyone who had though!

As has been said, they look pretty disused at the moment.

Thanks very much. Your being there during the early 90s is actually a real bonus for me because the very brief details I was given about this story date from that same period. I don't suppose you remember anything about the stories you heard, do you? It doesn't matter if you can't but I'd be silly not to ask!

 

[Safety365]

They are still in use as art studios

 

[Clip]

Was a few years ago but I remember using them in th 00's at some point

 

[James Clark]

My thanks to you both - this is really coming together now! That art studio turned out to have a short history section at their website (http://www.makespacestudios.com/London_Art_Studios/MSS_site_history.html), according to which the training school "fell into disuse about a decade ago", so presumably that must have been during the early 2000s. The website also suggests a start date for the training school of the early 1970s, although it seems it must have actually started a bit before this because a photograph in "The Book of the Merchant Navy Pacifics" shows (according to the caption) "the old Waterloo training school" in the background and that was taken in 1965.

I really appreciate the help, folks. I know a huge amount more now than I did yesterday.

 

[thedbdiboy]

No, I'm afarid I never heard any stories from anyone based there. I was aware of the location and the history, and I can imagine the place being a little spooky on a dark evening if you were on your own!

Many thanks. I might use this as an excuse to take a morning off, catch a train to Waterloo, look out of the windows and pretend I'm "working"
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Thanks very much. Your being there during the early 90s is actually a real bonus for me because the very brief details I was given about this story date from that same period. I don't suppose you remember anything about the stories you heard, do you? It doesn't matter if you can't but I'd be silly not to ask!

 

[KiddyKid]

I did both my Secondman and Driver Training at the Southside Training School in the late 70's early 80's, never heard any stories about it being haunted. It was fairly run down then and probably wouldnt be acceptable today as it only had one entrance via a staircase between the substation and the former Necropolis Company offices.

 

[James Clark]

No, I'm afarid I never heard any stories from anyone based there. I was aware of the location and the history, and I can imagine the place being a little spooky on a dark evening if you were on your own!

Not to worry - it was worth a try Given the history it would probably be more suprising if the place didn't attract a ghost story or two!
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I did both my Secondman and Driver Training at the Southside Training School in the late 70's early 80's, never heard any stories about it being haunted. It was fairly run down then and probably wouldnt be acceptable today as it only had one entrance via a staircase between the substation and the former Necropolis Company offices.

Many thanks for the info - it's a great help!

 

[steamybrian]

I worked there in the period 1997-1999 working as a contractor to Railtrack.
By 1999 most of the offices were empty (but usuable) with the Drivers Training School was still in operation. It was mainly used for training courses PTS, PICOP, Engineering Supervisors or for training such as cutting current on and off, use of track circuit clips, etc for which the adjacent sidings were often used with the permission of the signalman. I was never there at night time as even during the daytime it was quiet..!
There were two entrances both via a long metal staircases. One entrance was from Westminster Bridge Road (opposite the Red Lion pub) and the other entrance from a side road (cannot remember name) off Hercules Road.
The buildings were on the site of the original Necropolis Station which was destroyed by bombing during the war and subsequently demolished in the 1950s.
The original main entrance building is still standing converted to offices as no. 121 Westminster Bridge Road .

 

[James Clark]

I worked there in the period 1997-1999 working as a contractor to Railtrack.
By 1999 most of the offices were empty (but usuable) with the Drivers Training School was still in operation. It was mainly used for training courses PTS, PICOP, Engineering Supervisors or for training such as cutting current on and off, use of track circuit clips, etc for which the adjacent sidings were often used with the permission of the signalman. I was never there at night time as even during the daytime it was quiet..!
There were two entrances both via a long metal staircases. One entrance was from Westminster Bridge Road (opposite the Red Lion pub) and the other entrance from a side road (cannot remember name) off Hercules Road.
The buildings were on the site of the original Necropolis Station which was destroyed by bombing during the war and subsequently demolished in the 1950s.
The original main entrance building is still standing converted to offices as no. 121 Westminster Bridge Road .

Thanks very much for these details!
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Hello again, I was just looking at the floor plan of the art studios that now use the school site: http://www.makespacestudios.com/London_Art_Studios/MSS_Floor_plan.html

Does anyone happen to recall which part of the layout was known as “A Block” when this was a school? That’s where the alleged ghost story was set.

Also, I want to acknowledge you all in my book as a thank you for your help. At the moment, I’ve noted you all down by your usernames but if anyone would prefer their real names to appear then please let me know. You can get in touch with me via the contact form at my website: www.james-clark.co.uk