London's Lost Railways Ep. 11 - Crystal Palace High Level

It's Episode 11, and we're walking north to south from Nunhead down to Crystal Palace where the old High Level station used to be! There be tunnels ... two of them!
And with us, we have some special guests! Watch the Whitewicks video of the day, here : • The Abandoned Crystal ...
Subscribe to their channel here too : / pwhitewick1
I also managed to get inside the Crystal Palace subway back in 2015, when I made a video for Londonist about it, that's here: • Inside the Crystal Pal...
Download the London's Lost Railways map here: www.geofftech.co.uk/downloads...
With thanks to David Kirwin for Illustrations.

[@pwhitewick]

Bingo card ready.... lets do this. Wait.... thats us!!

[@japanesetrainandtravel6168]

Absolutely love your channel!

[@ok2760]

When a man is tired of Geoff, he is tired of life.

[@nitehawk86]

Therefore, Geoff is life.

[@RobinWootton]

Therefore, Geoff is London.

[@ThePrinceandPrincessofWails]

Im tired of him lol and enjoying life speak for yourself

[@ok2760]

@@ThePrinceandPrincessofWails thanks for sharing!

[@staticbanquet]

Live near this old line and bits of it are great. I just wish they hadn't built on the land and it survived as a Nunhead to Crystal Palace cycleway and walking route (with the original bridges, tunnels et al). Could have been a parkland walk for South London!

[@bustersw1760]

Back in the 60`s, when the motor racing circuit was operating, they used the station site as the car park. The get to the circuit, you went up some temporary stairs and through the the Grade 1 listed underpass and into the circuit. At one meeting a friend and I decided to do a bit of "urbex", before it was the thing. We entered the Paxton tunnel with no torches and quite a way in, my mate fell down a drainage hole, cutting his leg badly. That was our first and last last urbex adventure.

[@sihaz1969]

As a local resident, I also enjoy looking over the other side of Farquhar road and you can see where the turntable was. Also mustn't forget the fabulous foot tunnel under the road which gave access to the palace from the station and is sometimes accessible on open days.

[@barleyarrish]

As I was born in 1950, and lived in Lordship Lane this was my Playground, walking through both tunnels before entering the old High level station, the ticket office I remember had unsold tickets strewn across the floor, some still in the holders on the wall. The last tunnel was the scariest as you had to feel your way along the wall on the long curve and in spite of early southern electrification your hands and clothing got quit black. The old sub station was still in place in those days and the black berries from the track up to the long gone rock cottage were attractive to locals.

[@christophernoble6810]

This will show my age! I have walked through Paxton tunnel just after the line closed. I also knew the line prior to closure as my grandfather owned the Dulwich Wood House pub which is just up the road from Upper Sydenham station and looks almost unchanged since the 1950s.

[@ericlackford6718]

I used to go to the Woodhouse for many an evening's drinking. Went to Kingsdale school and a few of us often went there. I walked through both tunnels, snuck in to see the racing, cars and mcycles. I remember the station when it was just about complete with tracks and saw it being demolished.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Geoff hyping another channel is so sweet! Good luck to Paul and Rebecca!

[@AlexBourner]

Just found these videos, they are great, especially as a trainee driver, learning the history of overground is brilliant!👍👍

[@geofftech2]

Welcome aboard!

[@AlexBourner]

@@geofftech2 thank you! Hopefully see you on board one day 🤞

[@grumjv]

Thanks for this one. I grew up in one of the houses in St. Asaph Road, just behind Geoff's shoulder when he is on the bridge at the beginning of the video. I remember being taken to Crystal Palace on this line when I was a child. Good to see it remembered.

[@Bungle2010]

Just the one I've been waiting for! I used to live in Nunhead. There used to be a whole lot more left of the bridge in Brockley Way (a few minutes walk from my house), the whole abutment on one side of the road, but at some point since I moved in 1998 it's been demolished. I also remember when the site of the High Level station was just a derelict wasteland with nothing to be seen looking down into it except undergrowth.

[@brianfretwell3886]

I'm sure my mum and I went under the bridge before it was demolished, on the 184 bus in the 1950's and early 1960's when going to visit her long term friend in Brockley.

[@wombat1238marsupial]

I was a bit disappointed that there were no allotments😂😂

[@stephenholt4670]

There are quite a few allotments right next to Sydenham Hill Wood actually, but none on the line itself I guess.

[@JoeGrohlDJ]

You can also see the allotments by Nunhead Resevoir from Brenchley Gardens, but again, not on the line itself.

[@hannahk1306]

When he was looking over the side of the bridge, I was expecting him to say allotment not tunnel 😆

[@RideWithGerben]

I don't know why I like this. But I like this series! Thx KZbin recommendations.

[@geoffbocian2501]

Great video. As a nostalgic expat, I know the area really well, as I grew up on the Kingswood council estate. As a nipper I saw the High Level station before it closed and walked the entire line's ROW as a teenager. These escapades helped to generate a lifelong interest and professional career in urban and public transit planning/light rail. The Croydon LRT/tram system uses the same German technology as the Calgary and Edmonton transit systems, built in 1978...... All the best from Western Canada !!!

[@geofftech2]

Thanks Geoff (good name) lovely comment!

[@HenrysAdventures]

Good to see The Whitewicks, I wondered when they would join you! I'll go and watch their video now! :)

[@sueramsey8181]

I never listen to my local radio station but put it on today and there was Geoff!! Don't forget to look out for the Lady Godiva train, Geoff!!

[@geofftech2]

I don’t spot trains but I will try and spot that one, Sue! 😁

[@CelticGoals]

As someone who went to college in crystal palace and worked on the farm and has a massive interest in infrastructure I've waited so long for you to make this video, going to sydenham woods is one of the best dog walking places. Fun fact Geoff as a kid going to primary school nearby 16 years or so ago we used to have rumours go around that a train crashed in that tunnel and people died and that on haloween you could hear sounds from in the tunnel which as a little kid freaked me the hell out hahaha Love the content as always Geoff

[@estellehowell4414]

Ah, my local area. I regularly walk in Brenchley Gardens and Sydenham Woods and knew the train line went through both but didn't know how it connected up. Will have to go explore that route now. Have also seen the painting of Lordship Lane Station in the Courtauld Gallery in Somerset House. Good to see a new Lionel Stanhope station sign for the station at Crystal Palace too, he is a fab local street artist (his studio is in Ladywell).

[@johnstilljohn3181]

That's brilliant..! Me and some mates used to go through the old foot tunnel under the road, climb down that wall, then walk through Paxton tunnel as far as we dared. It's a curved tunnel, so you end up in pitch black darkness...

[@pauldavis6857]

Delighted to see this, Geoff. We used to live at the other end of Farquhar Road, and I explored the site of the High Level station whenit was derelict, before Bowley Close was built on the station site. Farquhar, original secretary of the Crystal Palace company, Joseph Paxton, architect/designer of the Building. Keep up the good work! Followed you for years.

[@geofftech2]

thanks Paul, lovely comment very kind!

[@srfurley]

It is still possible to see what the inside of the station was like. In 1958 Ken Russell shot part of a short film there. The title was ‘Amelia and the Angel’, there is an extract available on line, and I think the whole film is on BFI Player, but I don’t have access to that. The extract does show the station. The station features some heavy iron gates and railings and reminds me somewhat of North Eastern railway architecture. You don’t mention the famous subway which linked the. station to the palace itself.

[@petercox1049]

I, and two members of the Dulwich Society submitted plans to Tfl (pre Covid) for an extension of Croydon Tramlink from Birkbeck via Annerley Hill to Crystal Palace HL ,the SLJR trackbed (with some modifications), to just north of Honor Oak, then along the northern rim of Peckham Rye Park/ Common, Rye Lane (interchange) and the Surrey Canal pathway to connect with the Bakerloo extension at Dunton Road. Your video skills and public persona could be very valuable in promoting this scheme.

[@rklammer]

Great video Geoff, i love the friendly plug for the Whitewicks, much more refreshing then the usual recommendations people put on youtube.

[@andrewhutchinson36]

An interesting distinctive aspect of this particular closed railway was that it was electrified. It went "live" in 1925 with the Southern Railway's DC 3rd Rail System. There is of course a large network of abandoned railways in the UK, but very few on boast the benefit of electrification prior to closure.

[@oldtablecloth]

Yo! I literally live right next to where Geoff is standing in the first shot! Wow I feel honoured

[@tomnefzger]

As always, great video 👍

[@Sim0nTrains]

Awesome Video Geoff, Paul and Rebecca Channel is enjoyable to watch, I'm sure those years ago I remember seeing a tweet from you mentioning Paul's channel when they uploaded their first video and being honest it was your tweet that introduced me to Paul and Rebecca's channel and watch their videos ever since and please do watch Paul and Rebecca's video it is amazing to watch. 100% cannot wait for the Parkland Walk Video. I have walked from Stroudly Green to Crouch End back in 2019 while waiting for the Class 313s to return to London on the Farewell tour.

[@rptbr]

These are incredible videos Geoff - loving this series

[@nutsnproud6932]

Thanks for the video. Thanks for the series.

[@rbybus4363]

This is very interesting! Thank you for your great job Geoff! ☺️

[@peterrussell830]

Great historical video Geoff, keep them coming.

[@anomalousoddity]

I love that you're elevating other content makers that's so amazing and lovely

[@andybbeck2043]

Brilliant thanks for such a great channel 👍and nice seeing you all working together 2 great channels

[@jamesballantyne8349]

another good one Geoff, thank you!

[@PokhrajRoy.]

I love these episodes! Such fun 👏🏽

[@marlibuuuu]

love this geoff you’re amazing

[@eddiewillers1]

The wonderfully ornate masonry on the tunnel portals is testament to the pride that the architects, engineers, and craftsmen took in their work. Why do we not build in a similar vein in the 21st century?

[@TheDaf95xf]

Thanks Geoff. Fantastic video 👍🏻

[@Ben-nl4fo]

It's fun seeing Geoff in my area and walking through my old estate. Great Vid!

[@tallbaldpaul]

Have just watched these back to back, really interesting stuff many thanks, will check out the suggested channel as I keep meaning to capture the route of the line that ran through our village.

[@scottbogfoot]

Thanks for sharing their channel I'll be watching that! 😃Cheers from Newfoundland

[@andyh444]

Wonderful series, Geoff. Looking forward to the ones to come. And a seriously classy decision and reference to the Whitewicks, you are all true train history lovers.

[@DanLoudShirts]

Another cracking video. Well made, well presented, excellent graphics. Pro.

[@ParaSytius]

Thanks Geoff for the heads up for another channel to follow.

[@ElijahPerrin80]

Hey thank you for the Whitewicks channel, I appreciate you.

[@tardismole]

Brilliant episode.

[@davidf2281]

Great series.

[@ashokbhavanikrishnan1304]

Hi Geoff I live right next to these old tunnels! I am so happy you came and visited the remains that you can see today of this line really are quite something! Keep up the great work mate!

[@steverose1]

Loved this video Geoff, thank you. We used to play in these tunnels back in the 60s as they weren’t very secure!

[@jonsmith8582]

Great video as usual and a big up for Paul and Rebecca's channel , it's well worth a look

[@fiona6lay]

Yes Geoff! I live in Honor Oak and loved this

[@PokhrajRoy.]

‘One Tree Hill’ is not only a Television Show. Interesting 😂

[@4623620]

It's a location two. 😉

[@RatelHBadger]

I thought One Tree Hill was a U2 song

[@4623620]

@@RatelHBadger That's true 2 (but only a single).

[@joermnyc]

@@RatelHBadger yes, but it’s about One Tree Hill in Auckland, New Zealand (it’s a tribute song to Greg Carroll, Bono’s friend and assistant/roadie who came from there, and was sadly killed in a traffic accident in Dublin. The first time U2 was in Auckland, Greg took Bono to the top of the hill, so the song is about their friendship, and his thoughts after witnessing Greg’s traditional Maori funeral back in New Zealand.)

[@tubaman500]

The reason the whole area is called Honor Oak, is because Queen Elizabeth I is supposed to have visited and at the time the top of the hill only had one oak tree, which is where the Queen was supposed to have rested.

[@dementedpenguinprodu]

ahh i have been waiting for this one for ages! Its what got me interested in trains nad railways and abandoned buildings

[@bullettube9863]

Paul and Rebecca recommended your channel. Good advice as usual! Will be busy now looking back at all of your interesting videos.

[@bellyruffian]

Makes me very happy to see my two favorite You Tube teams working together.

[@MrGreatplum]

Splendid stuff - I do like a good tunnel portal... and now off to see the Whitewicks’ video!

[@scythal]

I love this series! I really hope to visit London one day and check them out!

[@Cowman9791]

I would be mad if people distract me from making a metropolitan line map, but you are officially exepmpt from that because your videos are awesome

[@TropicalP456]

Thanks so much Geoff I love this keep it up stay safe

[@zoefroon4269]

Thank you 💗 for sharing

[@michaelboys2602]

Great video, Geoff. I don’t know why but I thought episode 10 was the last in the series. So glad it wasn’t. Cannot wait till the next one.

[@petermc7098]

Hello There, thank you for sharing this decent video, it was great to hear your perspective and see some of the remains of this Heritage of a decent and one well used Railway. Cheers Peter :)

[@neilbain8736]

Cast iron pillars; one, possibly more, for Crystal Palace were sunk into the bottom of Whittlesea Mere as it was drained (in 1851?) to measure shrinkage as the land dried out and settled. It had been a very large body of shallow water that formed part of the Fenland and Wash area. (Ramsey Abbey was on an island. As the Mere was drained, a sunk shipload of stone for construction was discovered). Presumably the post top would be level with the ground as was and the land consolidated around as it dried out. By 1971 or so the post was in danger of falling over so a new one was erected beside it. It is now about 12 - 15 feet below sea level.

[@Mickey-wl9oc]

love the videos Geoff

[@oskarpayne9547]

Love it, well done everyone

[@martinusher1]

After the line closed the stretch beside Horniman Park was turned into a rose arbor. I suppose a Nature Trail requires less maintenance. The tunnels weren't fenced in at first but I must confess to have been too young and too chicken to walk all the way through either of them. The line was always lightly used, my mother told me it only got used properly the night the palace burned. The line was electrified but on the cheap -- no substations, it just tapped power through that shaft from the Bromley line. The line was closed during the war and the tunnels use to store rolling stock like the Brighton Belle Pullman trainsets. There's something remaining under the parade that you might try to get a look at. There's a pedestrian subway that connected the station with the palace proper. Its an architectural marvel so it got preserved after the station closed. (The station, long gone as you noted, was also a bit of a masterpiece.)

[@pcackett91]

Lovely to see KZbinrs supporting KZbinrs! 💪🏻

[@chriswebb141]

Great video ! That tunnel vent shaft used to carry power cables down to the main line . There was a Electric sub station next to it on the high level branch .

[@aquilarossa5191]

I live in NZ now, but at primary school I used to peer out the window watching trains head up the hill toward that transmitter. Penwortham school I think it was called. Then I began bunking off to have a closer look at trains. Then I learned how to sneak on the underground and go sight seeing all over London. Then I got arrested at Heathrow airport in the departure lounge past customs trying to stowaway to NZ to see my real dad. The other dad supported Arsenal, so can you blame me? I was nine or ten. Then we moved to Milton Keynes and I discovered all kinds of new trouble to get myself into. It all began with liking trains.

[@appleone1001]

I am glad to know you like geocaching. I love it

[@UTubeTulip]

That brick work/masonry is too cool to be abandoned.

[@lapiswake6583]

Excellent video, as always. Just came from the Whitewicks' video.

[@geofftech2]

Thanks for coming, hello!

[@scuzzy983]

Beautiful filming, editing and voiceover work as usual Geoff 👍

[@brianfretwell3886]

I still remember reading about the No.3 bus (a DAF Optaire Spectra I think) that had a power surge going up the hill to the palace and went over the wall and fell where the entrance to that final tunnel is. Thankfully no fatalities.

[@Jimyjames73]

Keep them coming Geoff 🙂 I already watch the Whitewick vids 🙂🚂🚂🚂

[@deanlynch2456]

Great vid, Geoff. & a generous shout to Paul & Rebecca, too. But he keeps hitting all around me!! Last time it was the Greenwich lost line where I live. Now he's at my daughters place at High Level Drive. Honestly, Some people just don't want tea.... ;)

[@shaunwest3612]

Great video Geoff 👌, I watch Paul and Rebecca, they are great 👍👌😀

[@davemassive8147]

very enjoyable. i did some of the walk and take a load of pics some years ago for my own project. one MAJOR omission here though - the crystal palace subway!

[@chrishines6048]

Love watching stuff on Paul and Rebecca's channel and I have subscribed to their channel a while ago

[@michaelmiller641]

when I was a schoolboy, our cross country running route ran through areas associated with the crystal palace high level railway, and we walked through crescent wood tunnel, and across coxes walk on the wooden bridge

[@petec3241]

I remember as a very young child seeing the last workings of the yard and of the massive turntable below the Parade. It was like looking down on a giant model train set.

[@petersmith5277]

Great video - thanks. Exposes my lack of visual adventure even tho Living in 1950s Catford and rail to Nunhead for school, visiting CP, museum etc. one went there but did not see what you illustrated. Thanks

[@zoesemple3418]

That ending was the highlight of my week. 👋👋

[@DanielMeakin1]

Great video Geoff

[@liamwinning860]

Brb just crying my eyes out about what could’ve been

[@tubaman500]

As a 9 year old boy, I walked through the tunnel from Coxes Walk, then through to the second tunnel, out into what was then, prefabs and their gardens. This was in 1966!

[@pleaseyourselfsir]

Thanks for the footage on Asaph Road , I had intention of making a video on Lordship Lane too , however , you beat me to it . 🧐🇬🇧🤔👍🤝

[@Hanzilla75]

I lived in this area for 11 years and never knew anything about this line or the remnants of it until now when I have moved abroad. Great video and coverage. You forgot to mention the very decorative tunnels that are hidden below Crystal Palace Parade next to the high level station that used to link the palace with the station. But maybe you already did a video on them, or was that someone else? Did you also know that the site of the old high level station was used as the pits and crew garages back in the days when Crystal Palace Park was also a motor racing circuit? The was a tunnel large enough for cars to pass through into the park from the station site. When I first moved to the Upper Norwood area there were still ruins of the old station building that were being cleared to make way for the health centre and houses that are there now. And now I feel ancient!! Glad I finally subscribed. Greetings from Copenhagen.

[@geofftech2]

thanks for Subscribing! yes i made a video back in 2015 for Londonist about the decoratiive subway, that's here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5ipqKGFbqmnkMk

[@mwrcrft]

Thanks ,I came from Paul and Rebecca's channel that I found through Martin's and thanks for the look around where Crystal Palace was I hear it's name on Premier League updates by Rebecca Lowe and always wondered why they had that name. I live near Toledo Ohio USA so knowing the history of the UK is always interesting.

[@highpath4776]

Hi, Crystal Palace play down the road in Croydon- Selhurst Park - near Selhurst Train Depot. Its worth looking at other videos on the Crystal Palace and the 1851 Great Exhibition and the removal of the building to Sydenham Hill and Park, plus the motor and bike racing at the race track in the grounds in the 1950s onwards

[@glynjones2540]

I remember going to see the prototype Routemaster in 1956 then crossing the road to peer into the closed station. Later, after it was demolished, we would park on the site then walk through the subway under the Parade to watch motor racing at the old track.

[@geoffbarry9540]

At 6.30, if you're where I think you are, turn around and look down and you'll be looking at the turntable which was the southern end of the station, and which I looked into one evening in the 1950s after the line had closed. There was no track but the pit circle was clearly visible. It was spooky for a small boy but fascinating for an embryonic railway enthusiast. I've seen comments suggesting that the line should have been kept open and developed, but when you look at it, the connection at Nunhead points toward Holborn Viaduct and Victoria (eastern). There are better commuter options along the entire route of the branch, in the shape of the parallel LBSCR/London and Croydon route. It's interesting to note that even as far back as the Great War there was not seen to be any great travel hardship in closing the branch as an economy measure...

[@TomIrani]

These videos are fascinating but make me sad for what was lost. There can never be enough railway!

[@jamesabbott5242]

Awesome video

[@SoiBuakhaoRoutemasterbus]

Nice upload Geoff, i was watching the Whitewicks vid of the line before yours! A couple of ideas for future lost lines in London.....There was a line from Newbury Park to the Great Eastern Main Line with junctions both Up & Down Road. The site of the junctions is now Ilford Car Sheds, with New Shed sitting right in the path. To the north of the depot are a couple of roads with bridge humps but no railway underneth. One is on the 364 bus route. In west London, the Brentford branch survives as far as tthe West Waste terminal just to the north of the A4. I regularly drove trains into & out of the bin terminal, next to the south gate where we ran round the train, is an old MkI coach on a stub of track, while the branch line continued into bushes, how much further it goes i do not know. But the line originally went to the Thames at Brentford Dock, with Brentford High Street station along the way. Just a couple of ideas to keep this interesting series alive!.....PS-just thought of another, it had a passenger service but wasn't part of any main line railway company, there was a line from Custom House to Gallions, part of the Port of London Authority line......plus i suppose the original London & Blackwall line to Poplar and the Docks although parts are now the DLR......

[@downhilltwofour0082]

I say! Decent of you to share their channel. I'm on my way there now!

[@vincentcalvelli6452]

Very interesting series

[@stephengarratt5076]

A fellow rail enthusiast told me of a steam hauled rail tour in the early 1950s which he travelled on starting at Merton Abbey Station, featured in another of these presentations, and ending up at Crystal Palace High Level Station.

[@PlanetoftheDeaf]

Just been watching a video on Paul and Rebecca Whitewick's channel, and they were in exactly the same location, what a coincidence 😁

[@lotiirwin3372]

Isnt it wonderful! Not just a subway! Thanks for the film. You may be interested in other Lucas Brothers railway stuff. Charing Cross, Hungerford bridge, Canon Street, Fenchurch Street, Liverpool Street, and more!

[@Robslondon]

Great video Geoff, the old Crystal Palace and its high level station are two of those old London buildings I really wish I’d been able to experience in their heyday.

[@highpath4776]

Mum can remember seeing the burning destruction of Crystal Palace

[@Robslondon]

@@highpath4776 wow...

[@highpath4776]

@@Robslondon She was about six miles to the South, I still need to travel via balham or a long bus ride to get to Crystal Palace Parade (Question to others is Crystal Palace in Upper Norwood ? the whole area needs a video from Jay Foreman)

[@Robslondon]

@@highpath4776 Some say it's in Sydenham... poking a hornet's nest there! ;-)

[@highpath4776]

@@Robslondon But is Sydenham in Lewisham, or Bromley ?