Is this London's Weirdest Station? | Exploring Birkbeck

Hello there, today you find me at Birkbeck, which I consider to be one of London's Weirdest station so join me as I check out the reason why that is
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Class 455 Phwww.flickr.com/photos/9927913... Credit:

[@dougmorris2134]

I regularly used Birkbeck station in 1967 to 1971 travelling to and from West Norwood (via Crystal Palace and Gypsy Hill). At that time it was a normal third rail 2 track station with two platforms in use as part of Southern Region of British Rail. The station became part of the rail and tram system you see now with the building and operation of the Croydon tram system. For safety reasons the tram system uses overhead power pick- up to prevent people from being able to touch the high voltage wire etc., in public access areas ie streets, whereas the third rail is on the track areas on private property with no access except by trespassing. The third rail is at 650-750 volts DC with an approximate current capacity of 1500 AMPS. Note the barrier fence between the tracks in the station. Elmers End station (quite nearby- down Elmers End Road) also has both Trains and Trams. It is not unusual for trams to use railway station platforms where the the trains no longer run. Best wishes from Oxfordshire.

[@mrtrainz]

Thanks👍

[@ianmcclavin]

The 2nd BR track was removed quite a few years before Tramlink was mooted. It provide a handy means of putting the tram line in there though.

[@robertb7918]

What is rather confusing is that there is a college in London called Birkbeck but it is nowhere near the station. In the early 90s I was standing on the single platform one morning and I looked across the back gardens running up to the station to see through a glass door - a woman inside the house walked towards the door completely naked which does suggest that the station was never particularly crowded.

[@mrtrainz]

😂

[@CarolineFord1]

Both named after the same person I think.

[@nathanw9770]

Average Bromley girl 😂

[@robertb7918]

@@CarolineFord1 Andrew Hajducki's book "The Railways of Beckenham" says that the station was named after the local estate, probably owned by the same family that gave their name to the college.

[@CarolineFord1]

@@robertb7918 they are both named after philanthropist George Birkbeck

[@Clivestravelandtrains]

We lived briefly near Clapham Junction in the 1960s and I always remember the station being called "Bir'beck" with the silent K in the station announcements. It was on route 36 to Beckenham Junction. I used to travel to school by train from Clapham Junction, my local station.

[@norbitonflyer5625]

Wimbledon also has tram and 3rd rail next to each other. It's an island platform but atb the exit from it the two are side by side.

[@garychrister3504]

"This machine takes both cash and card". Clearly not!

[@mrtrainz]

?

[@garychrister3504]

@@mrtrainz There's no note slot, no coin slot, and the screen clearly shows notes and coins crossed out. These slim machines don't accept cash.

[@mrtrainz]

@@garychrister3504 oh ok

[@ianmcclavin]

It is the only station like it in London, but at Navigation Road station in Manvhester, a similar arrangement takes place between the National Rail network and Metrolink (1 platform each).

[@networkerfan]

another weird station in London is Sudbury and Harrow road where its a suburban London station but it only gets a few Trains per day

[@marmite1076]

Used to be a low usage 2 platform station with manned ticket office at top of stairs as late as 2000. The platform in use is the old Beckenham Junction direction platform. Opposite was the London bound one. When they introduced the trams from Beckenham to Croydon, they took over the rail section on the London bound side- hence the trams and tram maintance team on the other side.

[@mrtrainz]

That makes a lot of sense, can't imagine a station like this having a ticket office though

[@richjames2540]

Birkbeck opened in 1858 not 1958.

[@MikeGMcDermott]

There are sections of the Nottingham NET tram system and the East Midlands Railway rail route to Hucknall which run alongside each other for a fair few miles.

[@nathanw9770]

Another fun fact is that the Class 377 and the Bombardier CR4000 trams both have the same manufacturer.

[@PatrickOfTav]

Have I misunderstood something? Wimbledon Station has tram and mainline platforms alongside each other. And, by the way, the underground as well.

[@srfurley]

So does Elmers End.

[@Mounhas]

My memory of Birkbeck is visiting some obscure relative there, looking out the bathroom window, in the dusk, at a cemetery on the other side of the railroad line, and an ancient steam engine passing through. Have no recollection of the station though, too long ago.

[@shaunhouse8469]

I used Birkbeck Tram Stop every work day for about a year, that was 20 years ago but can state that although the tram platform does run next to the cemetery there was no access from he stop to the cemetery. (either from the platform or form the passage between the street and the platforms. If you want to get into the cemetery from the tram the next stop towards Croydon, Harrington Road is a much better bet as there's an entrance about 20 metres from the tram platforms

[@mrtrainz]

oh wow ok

[@robertb7918]

The cemetery entrance is quite a way down the road from Birkbeck station but this is the main entrance. The Harrington Road entrance is technically the rear entrance but is a lot more convenient.

[@xenon53827]

If you want to get into the cemetery quickly, just step on the track when the train (or tram) is coming !

[@geoffbarry9540]

Opened 1858, not 1958 and, as such, was not opened by the Southern Railway. It was in fact part of the fascinating West End of London and Crystal Palace Railway...

[@boxedyourdad6276]

Used to live here at my dad’s house as a young child back when the 455s were operating on here but we’ve moved in 2020. Very quiet station

[@mrtrainz]

Yep

[@richardmartin9961]

Interesting but you might want to think about the way you film. Too much of looking down at the floor, try not to move the camera too fast, try to zoom out so one gets a better overall picture. Compare to other peoples videos.

[@CarolineFord1]

Mitcham Junction has both tram and train. The interesting thing about Birkbeck for me is the name. Is it connected to Birkbeck College? They are both named after the same person, I think.

[@phaasch]

The was also, at one time, a bank in the City with the same name.

[@arp201267]

Navigation Road in Altrincham, Greater Manchester is heavy rail on one platform and Metrolink on the other.

[@mrtrainz]

I completely forgot about that, I gotta visit one day 😅

[@ROCKINGMAN]

I've not been to Birkbeck, I suppose you mean there is a single line for trains and another for trams serving the same station albeit different platforms. Elmers End also has trams on platform 1, while 2 and 3 serve through trains to Hayes and London. Some stations don't follow regular layouts, e.g. Greenwich platform 1 is a down service. Gravesend has a platform 0. The first Croydon tram is 2530 continuing on from the last numbered tram operated by London Transport.

[@DavidShepheard]

Good luck with your exams!

[@johnestilwell]

Please learn how to use your camera properly, pan around slowly

[@peedlejaydle]

yay, 300th subscriber

[@markjlewis]

Good luck with your exams.

[@91Roun]

Never heard of it. Quite weird seeing the dude standing on the track.

[@mrtrainz]

Yep, luckily the power was off

[@batman51]

@@mrtrainz Wasn't 3rd rail anyway. I don't believe you can access Beckenham Crematorium and Graveyard directly from the tram platform, only from the main road. It is only a few minutes walk to Elmers End which has much quicker and more frequent services to London, hence the low usage.

[@robtyman4281]

He was clearly a maintenance track worker....as he had an orange hi Viz jacket on. It wasn't some trespasser. Also it's overhead power on that side, not third rail. So not quite as dangerous to work on when the power is switched on. Though he would still need to be careful, when carrying large metal tools.