London's Lost Railways Ep.1 - Woodside and South Croydon

Lost Railways of London returns! And in Episode 1 here we take a walk through Croydon to discover that there's quite a lot left that you can see of the old Woodside and South Croydon railway ...
If you want to see more, then Adam from 'Another Station, Another Mile' also walked this last year in his video: • The Woodside & South C...
The Brighton Mainline 2 project wants to re-use the old line, more details on their website here: www.bml2.co.uk/
Download the London's Lost Railways map here: www.geofftech....
More station info:
Woodside - www.disused-sta...
Bingham Road - www.disused-sta...
Spencer Road Halt - www.disused-sta...
Selsdon - www.disused-sta...
With thanks to David Kirwin for Illustrations.

[@alanlaifer1593]

Geoff, your channel is absolute class and has been that for the past couple of years.

[@geofftech2]

thanks Alan, appreciated ... really appreciated! i put a lot of time and effort into my videos, thank you!

[@theocrysto7879]

I agree very much

[@klausolekristiansen2960]

@@geofftech2 It shows.

[@aldhous]

Just the two years though. Tough audience. ;-)

[@jimmunro4649]

Just last 2 year been great for years

[@cuppacharly]

This line is my childhood. The bridge over Spencer Road is what kindled my love for abandoned stations and track. My aunt used to take me for walks over that bridge when I was very small.

[@louisemitch1]

Love that you’re making these again Geoff - don’t know why I love it so much, except it’s your expert filming and editing and the script which makes the past come to life 💕

[@geofftech2]

you’re very kind, thank you Louise! I made a lot of effort on this one to get it just perfect ... 👍

[@TheCaptScarlett]

@@geofftech2 looking forward to similar high standard for the rest of the series (esp. The Ebury Way /Ricky to Watford)

[@matthewsmith6197]

I like this sort of video/film as it brings history to life.

[@toby070]

1:12 Handy for commuters... And squirrels... Anyway, a nice video I have to say.

[@andrewf9041]

I just saw that also!! :)

[@grahamross6397]

SQUIRREL!

[@adamjamro23]

I saw it too

[@b4mouse]

Great little film, I love the exploration stuff showing the abandoned railways. Good sleuthing Sir.

[@darrylkennedy2125]

Fascinating..Used to live in London in the 70's and was a regular user of the rail system both underground and above ground. I enjoy watching these as they bring back memories. Am in New Zealand these days and if it wasn't for you and Google maps I'd never know the changes made. Keep em coming and be safe.

[@Sim0nTrains]

That was a brilliant start to the Lost Railways of London, I do love the look of Spencer Road Halt, hopefully one day when I get back to London I might take a look at it myself.

[@Pirate-Scorcher-1998]

1:13 that squirrel on the other side wants to go on a ride on the tram lol

[@geofftech2]

ha ha! i spotted that too (but only on about the fifth time watching it back in the edit) ! i wondered who else would ... so funny.

[@davidyoung1234]

Seen it first time , but still did a rewind to confirm 😁

[@srhvideo]

Whenever mentioning this line I think the station sequence from "The Rebel" with Tony Hancock should get a few seconds. The scene has Hancock alone on one platform with the opposite platform packed as trains roll in on both, Hancock quickly runs through the empty train on his side, into the train at the other platform to claim a seat on the train at the other platform. hat was shot at Bingham Road

[@jl3701]

Opening scene with a great shot looking back over Bingham road bridge. I did not realise the line was so high up.

[@MrJohnmuddle]

Geoff, thank you so much for this video. As a kid, I traveled up from Uckfield for day trips to London and always wondered where that bit of track went and what it was used for and now I know.

[@baileyenergy1839]

There's something so relaxing & therapeutic about these videos. I can't stop watching.

[@77smp]

Lost Railways.... Abandoned some may say. The feud with the Whitewicks has intensified.😉 But in all seriousness, this look to be an interesting and engaging topic, I wish someone would do the lost lines of Edinburgh.

[@RegebroRepairs]

And also Paris. Wait a minute...

[@pwhitewick]

Haha.... it all helps.... the more content that's Aired like this the more it helps the content subject matter. That said, I can't come close to the production quality of this!...

[@stuarthall6631]

I enjoyed that, Mr. Marshall. Thank you! I worked at Charing Cross control room when this line was still open and am pretty sure that there was one train during the peak which worked through from Charing Cross to Sanderstead via the Mid Kent Line. This would have been in around 1979.

[@muxradow]

Thank you, Geoff, for the many _map_ _inserts_ ! Having done a great deal of video editing myself, I _appreciate_ the substantial added effort to do this ! Preparing those excellent incremental map _graphics_ surely added more detailed steps, too ! ¶ Here in NYC, USA, it was now easy for me to match locales on your inserts with paper maps & Google Maps. ¶ As an _aside_ : With these keyed map inserts, this video will now live _forever_ as a reference for City Planners and students of Historic Preservation & Urban Planning. Thank you, again, for all of this additional and rewarding effort ! ,,,/ Mike

[@wilfbm9067]

Really good to see you out doing what you do best again 😁

[@RaymondOreFineArt]

I walk along that railway park nearly every day, wonderful use of a disused railway.

[@Moth11]

Proud to be here on episode 1

[@rebeccajackson2862]

Nice that you were able to use a bit of the old footage!

[@jlizamavera]

Greeting from achile .I m always happy to discover a new video about London area trains. I hope explore some for myself my next time ib London. I used to be there once a year, before pandemic.

[@melroyreus3417]

I use to to take this route while travelling to high school never noticed an old train station.Thank you

[@Dunstire]

My Nan was one of the platform staff at Bingham road many,many years back.Some of my earliest memories climbing the stairs to say hello! Must have been the very early 70s

[@ThorTheGiant]

Thoroughly enjoyed the episode Geoff. Can't wait to see more

[@100SteveB]

I am looking forward to this series, and this one especially, I used to use the trains on these old lines, and even walked the old track bed soon after closure - that was before the trams came along. Hard to believe how much some of it's changed, especially the Addiscombe stretch, but very nice to see they have turned some of it into a park.

[@vincentcalvelli6452]

Thank you Geoff for this video, I am delighted to see the Tram,Tram, Tram, has used a large portion of the old railways.

[@maidangela734]

I have just seen the program about the lost railway Hammersmith to Chiswick. Many years ago I was stopped at the level crossing in Bath Road when the last train on the line went through.

[@gideon3648]

Great Video. Brought back memories as Coombe Lane station was being demolished when I started secondary school. I used to walk past the diggers at work as they gradually cleared the site on my way to and from school. I think I read somewhere else that Selsdon Road was one of the last stations that still had gas lighting.

[@ernestshackelton6278]

Wow! This showed up in my feed. How fun! I used to live in London and had to travel all over the city for substitute teaching. It’s great to see all the old history of places I have passed through or near.

[@pb4rton]

Thank you Geoff for producing such good quality and informative videos. Please keep doing this. I love watching them!

[@geofftech2]

Thanks Paul, truly appreciative of the kind comment. Will do!

[@altvctr]

Left UK in 2016 and, as a railway aficionado, Geoff's videos always bring back memories. Can't wait for the remaining episodes of this series, thanks!

[@mikemasters1208]

Currently work for Network Rail and have done for some time now.... I wouldn’t consider myself a ‘railway enthusiast’, not in the slightest. But, I’ve found myself subscribing to your channel and thoroughly enjoy every video! So informative and light hearted. Fantastic viewing!

[@geofftech2]

ha ha, thanks MIke! you should look up the footbridge on your systems. let us know when it was it got the nice green paint job!

[@VoiceOfVoiced]

This is the best new discovery of a channel worth subscribing to I've found all out about in quite a while. What a credit to this channel also that I am NOT personally normally interested in railways OR derelict former railway places OR this much amount of London history and intimacy. However, Geoff Marshall here I stumbled across and he has enticed me with high quality and enjoyability of videos and storytelling. Keep them coming! (I'm subscribed now and all that.)

[@dennistay9980]

Ooo a relaunch! Absolutely love visual illustrations. Thanks Geoff!

[@JaneOO]

Glad you are able to get out and about again. Looking forward to more!

[@marlibuuuu]

Geoff looks so happy to be doing this again, I'm so happy to be seeing this video mate. Thank you!

[@sr6424]

I remember visiting this site shortly after the line closed. We were meant to visit Coulsdon North which closed at a similar time. We didn't for some reason. The other line which went at thew same time was a loop to link Selhurst to Norwood Junction.

[@TheDaf95xf]

Morning Geoff. Hope you’re keeping safe and well? It’s fantastic now you can get out and about recording our railways. Your videos about our railways are full of fantastic information and well put together. I love them 😍 Cheers Stevie.

[@digsdrains]

Very Cool Geoff .. it's a Big bit a history and I am so looking forward to your delving into it mate ..Cheers !!

[@kevinclark4933]

Thanks Geoff. Great video and brought back memories of living near Addiscombe station in 1982 and hearing the trains warming up at 6am (better than an alarm clock). A friend who lived in Addiscombe too, tells that a plan to extend from Addiscombe to E Croydon for Brighton traffic was blocked by the E India company situated there. Also Bingham Rd featured in a Tony Hancock film "The Rebel" where he gets a seat on 07.32 to London by boarding the coincidental s/bound service and crosses over the carriages!

[@tardismole]

i used to travel along that route in my formative years. Glad to see that a lot of it is still being used. An excellent start to the series.

[@ViN-kr3ri]

Excellent video. I'm in my 60s now and have lived in Bromley all my life but knew nothing about this line's history or its stations, except that the Bingham Rd station featured in the film The Rebel with the great Tony Hancock.

[@wnd-43]

Another great Geoff Marshall's episode about railways. They're good as always! (Sorry for my bad english)

[@maplady572]

Awesome video Geoff! I really love anything to do with disused lines and stations, so this pleased me greatly. Great to see old routes being repurposed for tram use, that was done with the NET tram line in Nottingham, in places. 10/10! Going to watch the others now. Thanks! 👍🏻

[@croydon1975]

Cheers Geoff for taking the time to film and document this, my home tramstop is Sandilands, moved to Croydon in 2007 so always very interested in seeing past history of what the railway used to look like before the Croydon tramlink started. Cheers

[@IsmaelR94]

As a Spanish train lover, this series of abandoned stations makes me stay tuned in your channel, I love the history behind the abandoned stations and see it's actual status, cheers!

[@edwardsmith8679]

One of the most comforting KZbin channels

[@gary3561]

Always a great pleasure to watch Geoff.

[@timsully8958]

Great stuff Geoff! Perfect accompaniment to my morning coffee! 😎 ☕️ I only lived up the road in Tooting and remember the Addiscombe branch still running, though I must admit I never had cause to use it sadly! 🤷🏻‍♂️ I have passed through Selsden on the Oxted Line a few times en route to the Bluebell Railway though 😜 Cheers mate, great stuff as ever 👍🍀

[@misstakenot9582]

This brings back memories of my commute from Waterloo East on the mid-Kent line to Hayes. "For Woodside and Addiscombe, please change at Elmers End"

[@jez1987]

I’ve been walking during lockdown on a great lost railway between Rickmansworth and Watford!

[@keka9117]

Love this video, I'm a rail fan that lives in Croydon but have learnt a few new things about this old line! Thanks Geoff! 👌🏾

[@louisetebble2344]

geoff i love your videos for the last couple of years you put lots of hard work in it love you geoff

[@stephenwilliamson8798]

I used to travel to work everyday from Elmer's End to Addiscombe station. It was a very small branch line that stopped at Woodside and Addiscombe only. The train had two slam door carriages and was usually empty in the morning going towards Addiscombe.

[@SaturnCanuck]

Brilliant Geoff. I love the history of abandoned stuff.

[@hyperdistortion2]

Always enjoy these videos! Lived right by the old bridge over Croham Road for a few years, at the time we had no idea why it never seemed to be in use. Great to see a video on the topic, and the rest of the former line. Also great of course at just how much Tramlink has reused!

[@jamescaseymusic]

Have walked much of this. Ace to see it again.

[@XaviMacBash]

i saw the another station,another mile" of this,i cant wait!

[@dumbbellenjoyer]

I always used to get the East Grinstead train down towards Oxted and I had always wondered what that disused station trains often waited at before entering East Croydon was for. I recognised the train line when I saw it even before you mentioned which trains run on the line.

[@johnstilljohn3181]

Brilliant stuff. Great to see my local area on here - I often walk along the railway park. I once caught a train from Elmers End to Bingham Road - a long time ago. The retaining wall you saw at Addiscombe separated the station from the maintenance sheds...

[@geofftech2]

that's great local knowledge John, thanks!

[@rogernorman200]

That wall also backed onto the the yard for Mansell Building Contractors. I worked there from mid 70’s for nearly 35 years. Addiscombe was used for parking trains during the daytime either side of the rush hour. When they demolished the station there was a major fire one day that we had a private view of. The oil etc that dripped off the trains when parked had saturated the track bed. When they started cutting the old track it suddenly caught and about 100m of track bed was on fire. Great memories. Old slam door train to Elmers End then on to London.

[@johnstilljohn3181]

@@geofftech2 If you walk form the new houses to the park, on your left is a building supply yard. A lot of the old sleepers have been used to make walls in the yard's storage area...

[@nnmmnmmnmnnm]

Love these type of exploration videos; especially when they are close enough for us to travel there ourselves.

[@richardhigh196]

Great video, looking forward to subsequent episides.

[@keithpotter6669]

Brilliant as usual and also looking forward to the next instalment 🛤️

[@Aaron-be2pt]

Amazing and wonderful video! I followed you along on Google Earth and it was probably one of the more exciting things I've done recently. Super great, can't wait to watch the rest of this series. Cheers from the US!

[@DestinyBatesa12]

it's really nice to see remains of places that i live in....thank you for this !

[@AchyutChaudhary]

Love this! (Especially in 4K now!) Well done Geoff, looking forward to see lots more videos about Abandoned and Disused Stations and Lines from you!!

[@geofftech2]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ianmcclavin]

Nice to see you out and about a bit again Geoff. I never rode the Woodside - Bingham Road - Selsdon section in BR days, though I have been into Addiscombe old station a few times...I was on the last one in there on the Saturday night when it closed

[@scsciencecentre230]

I ❤ the London's lost railways episodes!!!

[@scsciencecentre230]

I just posted that 1 minute ago! You're fast at responding whoever liked this comment.

[@MidNightWolf6942]

At the time of me typing this 15 people have pressed the “thumbs down” button, but why? What’s not to like? I’m not from London but it’s nice to see the history of the place. Keep up the good work.

[@brooklyntrainspotting8464]

Geoff, well done! Your channel is absolutely fantastic and this video gives information on the old tram lines. Can’t wait for the next episode for the series! Keep up the hard work.

[@cottamtraction4671]

Thanks for the videos Geoff, keep em coming. My brother and I have an annual pilgrimage to London for a 4 or 5 day spotting trip. Usually we comment on being at places where Geoff does his videos. Due to Lockdown 2021 and because of restriction in place we are giving this year a miss. So your videos will be our London top up until 2022. All the best for post lockdown filming.

[@Deanrwp]

Hi Geoff, It is great to see you once again with a brilliant video of the lost railways! I absolutely love watching all of your videos, with all the hard work you put in! I look forward to your next video! 😊👍

[@kaduteixeira]

It is so interesting your channel! I can't miss any videos of yours.

[@andrewwisker6918]

Fantastic 😀😀😀 great updated video looking forward to the next one 😀😀😀

[@Karlinski73]

Geoff's back! Without ever being away. Loving the new look and feel. It's all good.

[@danielegerussi7453]

I really wish there was someone like you here in Venice taking us into this kind of great adventures in transportation history

[@danielegerussi7453]

I think i will do some research myself as i know there are many abandoned railways that have been converted into parks, bike lanes or just left to rot

[@roomullan3050]

Very interesting, I remember Woodside station in early eighties. It was busy at rush hour times but dead at other times

[@stuartbusdriver2038]

Great video Geoff as always and a lovely day for filming as well look forward to the rest of the series.

[@CharmEng89]

I haven't the slightest interest in trains... but I have been enjoying your channel. I find these videos interesting as a matter of seeing how landscapes change over time.

[@CDN_Store]

Thanks for sharing this. Knew of most of this line partly from my Delivery days but didn't know about the Coombe lane section.

[@CLOCKSANDHAM]

Love this Geoff, was hoping you’d redo these. I got into your channel last year when the lockdown started and All The Stations was the perfect escapism haha. Keep up the good work

[@sillypuppy5940]

I like tracing old railway lines too! Good video, please make more.

[@trevordance5181]

Bingham Road station appears in location shots from the 1961 Tony Hancock film 'The Rebel'

[@1258-Eckhart]

Probably used because it was so quiet!

[@Paul_Harper]

Geoff - you might want to check your playlist contents. Keep up the good work, love the videos.

[@SteveInskip]

Great new series Geoff. Saw a few of the old ones and looking forward to the re-runs! 👍

[@timjtay]

Excellent - look forward to the rest of them.

[@91007RailwayVideos]

Another excellent video look forward to rest of the lost railways

[@huxleypiguk]

Great video and amazing to see unused lines in the South of London unused.

[@guillaumemaurice3503]

Thank you for the video, Geoff that was very interesting.

[@westyorkshireaudit9681]

Addiscombe closed when I was 6 😨 lol keep up the hard work 👊 brother thank you for all your hard work and insight and all your helper's much ♥️♥️♥️

[@eimdeima]

I used to live on Coniston rd, so know that old line very well and quite often walked along the railway park. Before I actually moved there, I Previously had a girlfriend who lived on Dalmally rd and I remember sitting in her garden and the train would come thundering past on its way to Addiscombe. Moved from there to North Devon about 3 years ago now. There are plenty of old disused railway lines down this way.

[@mariataif]

Geoff I live in Lincolnshire now near Skegness But I come from Croydon.I lived in Bingham Road 1981/1982 in a Bedsit just along from the Bridge now demolished which I clearly remember. Addiscombe was my local shopping area at that time SO your filming here brings back memories.Great the Croydon Tram was able to use some of the old railway routes. I remember all the Tramways being built and was living near at that time as well. You do great vlogs with great editing and was recently up by me just past Wainfleet at Havenhouse doing some filming there. atb Mike Skegness.

[@geofftech2]

hey Mike! Bingham Road closed in 1983, so did you ever catch the train from it? thanks for your kind comment - always appreciated.

[@davidbosher8377]

Hi Geoff, excellent video, although I live at Crouch End in north London, I know the Tramlink network well and the remains of Selsdon station too but I had no idea there were those remains at the site of Spencer Road Halt. You've whetted my appetite to go and have a look and get some photos, if I can work out how to get there. South Croydon seems to be the nearest station now. Many thanks for the excellent commentary too. Regards, David, London N8

[@MattTreml]

Know this one rather well - used to live in (what was at the time) the new development by the tracks where the oil shunting took place just up from Selsdon, and visited the platform of Spencer Road Halt many times since that's also still in use as a Scout hut.

[@mst4309]

Literally going into London first time since August tomorrow. I’ll definitely visit this halt.

[@thewalnutashdownsteamco.fi2554]

Love your passion

[@travelswithjess]

Great video @GeoffMarshall! I love watching your videos! They make me smile :)

[@eth3242]

I am watching your really nerdy videos from another country, cities I’ve never seen and places that I most likely will never see. Why am I doing this as a German? - well...because they are just bloody good and interesting. Keep going Geoff!

[@PlanetoftheDeaf]

Really interesting, definitely will be paying Spencer Road Halt a visit! Tramlink was a great way of taking these quiet branch lines and turning them into a something cohesive and useful

[@ShedTV]

Very interesting. When I lived in Addiscombe 30 years ago there was a bit more evidence of the old railway in place. Where the tram line crosses Lower Addiscombe Road now there were still the old railway bridge abutments and two old triangular shaped shops built into the walls. One was a taxi office as I remember. Also on Bingham Road there was also a lot more brickwork on both sides of the road and next to the old electrical sub-station building. The old Addiscombe station was still there of course, but I don't think I ever used it.

[@mdhazeldine]

I used to work in the "50p building" in East Croydon and spent many lunch breaks riding the teams around that area exploring. Didn't know the history though!!

[@francois738]

Great work Geoff, I've always been really interested in disused railways and what remains so I found this particularly interesting. Thanks!