The Little & The Lost: Addiscombe Station | Another Station, Another Mile EXTRA

At the site of the current Blackhorse Lane tram stop, there used to be a junction as a branch line split off and travelled down to a small terminus station at Addiscombe. Now, 23 years after the line closed, we retrace the trail of this branch and discover what used to be at Addiscombe station - and what survives today.
Thanks to Andy, AKA Gloriouskodachrome, for the archive footage! Check his channel out here: / gloriouskodachrome
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[@works9989]

I drove on that line during its final few years. The signal box at Addiscombe burnt down just before its closure so at the end it was single line working with a Pilotman.

[@Neillan]

Love how you intercut old footage of the line with it's modern locations. Trippy seeing how things have changed since then!

[@peterdavy6110]

When I left Croydon it was still a working railway!

[@zebedep]

Great video. I remember this railway, which used 2EPBs and then Networkers for a couple of years before closure.

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

That's correct! There's a 2EPB and a Networker in some of the archive footage I think? :)

[@zebedep]

@@HeyItsAJOmega Yep, spot on! :)

[@thatkentishtrainguy6040]

Great video as always AJ. Cant wait for the next one!

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

Thank you!!

[@thatkentishtrainguy6040]

@@HeyItsAJOmega No problem. You deserve it. You bend over backwards to give us entertainment that is better than the rubbish on the BBC... that we pay for. The future is bright for ASAM

[@stuarthall6631]

As I commented upon the "Woodside and South Croydon" video, I worked at Charing Cross Control Room from 1979 to 1983. I well remember that what was then the Woodside and Addiscombe Branch off of the Mid-Kent line to Hayes (connecting at Elmers End) was very often closed due to Woodside signal box being shut as a result of staff shortage. (Woodside was an old, traditional box whereas the Mid-Kent itself was controlled from London Bridge.) During these frequent closures, the service was covered by special bus services. British Rail became (rightly) famous for its (unofficial) policies of "closure by stealth" and so could justify closure of the Addiscombe branch to its own services not only by diminishing passenger numbers (who wants to travel by special bus when you set out to travel by train?!) but by the spiraling cost of hiring the buses.

[@TheMisterB2u]

Loved the fact you interspersed old cab film into video.Trains used to propel from shed roads onto mainline with guard in rear cab and then driven into station to then work as passenger trains.There was a Traincrew depot there,and signalbox with semaphores.Also stock was old EPB units-happy days!

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

That's all correct! Awesome, I was fascinated reading about how things worked at Addiscombe. And go check out Gloriouskodachrome, he's the one responsible for the old archive and cab footage!

[@Dave1976.]

Its great walking old railway lines. There interesting, some times find memorabilia or things that are left in place as a reminder

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

Absolutely! ^_^

[@bussesandtrains1218]

i walked part of the w.a.j.r from spencer road to coombe road and i found an old bufferstop, some 40 yards from the now demolished bridge, rails, sleepers and trackside equipment. if your ever in croydon do check it out. spencer road bridge is easy to jump over

[@Sim0nTrains]

This was a lovely little video, like how you inserted some old footage with the currently footage gives it a past and present feel.

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

Thank you! Exactly what I was going for. ^_^

[@andrewholloway231]

Great little video. Thank you very much.

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

Thank you!

[@geoffbarry9540]

The important thing to remember about Addiscombe is that it wasn't planned or built as a bucolic branch line, but as an important element of the South Eastern Railway's suburban commuter system. The line was built to compete with the LBSCR lines in the area and formed part of a complex network of SER lines including the Selsdon and Hayes lines. Once all the competing routes became part of the Southern Railway rationalisation saw the lines immediately east of Croydon slowly diminish in importance, especially as integrated bus transport began to focus commuter travel on East Croydon. Addiscombe's role changed to being a valuable but minor player in the City traffic and an important inner suburban stabling point for passenger stock, especially after electrification, when the sheds were built and the new sidings laid out. Ultimately, like Crystal Palace High Level before it, it became an uneconomic duplicate route which BR did nothing to try and revive. Whether Tramlink has become a more valued and desired user of such of the route as it took over (and of the Selsdon line) is a matter for conjecture. The CP High Level line was not directly replaced by any other alternative travel system. Passengers were simply expected to migrate to buses or the parallel LBSCR line through Forest Hill. The Addiscombe and Selsdon lines were re-purposed as part of a solely local transport system. Whether any of the three routes could have been revived into the useful commuter routes that they once were and to mirror the stable fortunes of the Hayes line we will never know...and I for one am not in a position to argue about the eventual fate of Addiscombe. I used to pass it on the bus every day on my commute from New Addington to first Victoria then London Bridge when working between 1965 and 1968, and never gave a thought to whether (especially with regard to London Bridge) travel from Addiscombe might be a better option. Probably because even by then it wasn't.

[@emilycollison8129]

I live locally to the Spencer Road halt site, it's so fascinating, I've been over the bridge tons of times but still get goosebumps looking down at the rails!

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

Oh that's amazing! So would I if I lived so close to something so special ^_^

[@bussesandtrains1218]

fun fact if you look behind that bullcrap representation of a victorian house you can see a part of the old station building

[@cassieSP]

I really enjoyed the old footage mixed in with what's left of the rail line and the current walking paths. That's a great way to see how history has changed right in front of your eyes.

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

Right? It stunned me how like, you can place *exactly* where the old tracks were when you put the footage side by side. And even parts like the section where the path goes down and through the gates - where the 'Addiscombe Railway Park' sign and little monument are - you can see in the old footage that that originally just kept going at the original height, and there was a little bridge over that alleyway section instead.

[@cassieSP]

Yeah it was very neat! I'm impressed there is even footage of the line especially when I'm sure it wasn't the most exciting line around. But maybe I'm underestimating why people would have filmed it?

[@gloriouskodachrome]

@@cassieSP in my case I filmed it as it was local/social history, never take anything for granted, after the Woodside-Selsdon line closed, it was only a matter of time before the axe fell on Addiscombe. The line was more a little more exciting pre-networker EMU days.

[@cassieSP]

@@gloriouskodachrome oh that's definitely a good reason to film things. Being from somewhere that doesn't use passenger trains I've never really thought of the history of them and how people would have the forethought to go out and try and preserve part of it in film before it was gone.

[@dodgydruid]

My late father was D grade relief out of Elmer's End signalbox for some time before moving on to Wimbledon A and London Bridge at F grade with Elmer's End covering the whole line including Addiscombe, he was quite a happy chap back then and didn't like the electric Wimbledon box or dealing with "amateurs" as he called it from LT, then he got the "widowmaker" panel at London Bridge the heinous 1-6 and loop platforms panel and it withered him mightily that panel did lol He passed away 5 years ago after spending most of his retired years working for Swanage Railway as their senior signally chap.

[@dodgydruid]

We actually lived almost atop the Bromley North line in David Bowie land aka Sundridge Park, I remember when Bromley North still had its modest goods yard and mail loading ramp.

[@CoxallK]

Great footage of the approach to Addiscombe station. Thanks to ‘Disused Stations’ since 2007, this has been my absolute hobby. Tomorrow, I walk .... 👍🏽

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

Have fun exploring! And do you mean the Disused Stations website? I've spent many a night staying up far too late reading on there xD

[@dr.emerald]

Old railways make me excited

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

...same.

[@SpencerEvans1]

Great channel, subbed

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

Thank you! ^_^

[@andrewtaylor5984]

I travelled on the last scheduled train from Addiscombe on 31 May 1997. (A special followed later.) As there was no return working, I had to return on the bus from Elmers End. I am not quite sure when rolling stock ceased to be stabled at Addiscombe, but it had ceased by 1990, when I started to use the line occasionally. I am not sure what the carriage depot was used for in its last years, if it was used at all.

[@Andrewjg_89]

I think Londonist could of covered this former lost railway line as they have done videos of lost and former railway lines around Greater London. But this is brilliant. I like how you added the old video of where the railway line used to go to before it was closed forever and completely replaced by new housing development.

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

Thank you! :)

[@djpuffthethird]

Addiscombe Station was basically my home in the 80's to early 90's I used to walk up to the Unique SER clapboard Signal Box and spend hour's in there with Andy McHugo and sometimes Fluff . I don't know what happened to him 😕 Think I heard the worst. Neil would never let me in the box 😟 . I think one of the last box operators was a woman . Was it Alice . I went into the box with her the once . I remember the interior was always pristine , with plungers , instruments , spider plant's and the Red wooden lever blocks . In fact one lever was missing completely , said to have vacated the Signal Box by the Goods Yard viewing window many years ago . Memories of Alan Doggett the Guard R.I.P walking my mother up the platform at Addiscombe to find me at the Box . The fire destroyed pretty much all of the box . But oddly the Ledger Desk survived the disaster as well as the Ledger Book . The SECRPS chairman still has it . I was with the SECRPS . So it was a massive heart breaking loss for me to lose my home . I found a Junior Porters jacket in the Grey tickets collectors cabin at Addiscombe . I wore it for years before I eventualy grew out of it and gave it to SECRPS. Having that Black and Red striped waistcoat as the group underdog was a massive upset to the local kids . They just couldn't beat my legit rly jacket ! My train spotter group disbanded , and then that's when I took it more seriously at Addiscombe Station . The staff all recognised me in me jacket . Side saddling a 1970's Pro Am Gold cast aluminium racing skateboard , that I use to side kick my way up the road , or punt my way along with a big stick 😆 . Yes you found the back wall of Platform 3 But again you missed the best part ! The Cast Iron square and tall fence post that is planted on the side of what used to be a Sub PO out front . Can't remember if it's SER or SECR tho . I've forgotten that bit . There is also the remains of some red brick walls the other side, with bricked in fire place , but I think that's hidden behind shrubbery now . I went to Woodside School and watched the trains passing from a Wooden Balcony at Black Horse Lane . The best view of the railway from there. As my mother was Secretary for R A Juchau and associates ( structural engineer ) In the Very Early 90's when a long rake of EPB coaches from London went past and disappeared around out of view . All I saw was the trailing coach of the train/units and a big Black puff off smoke ! I ran down Dalmally Road to Dalmally Cul De Sac to find two trains Fighting to get into the Carriage Shed at the same time . One EPB leaning very precariously towards a house on the inside corner of Dalmally Cul De Sac . Not sure if the incident was documented or photographed. I have'nt seen anything in the years after .

[@DrivermanO]

The East India Company had an Officers training academy for its private army at Addiscombe, which occupied the area between Canning Road and the next 4 roads eastwards and Addiscombe Road to Lower Addiscombe Road. This was in operation between 1809 and 1861, when the site was sold for housing - when Canning road and the others were created. Addiscombe station opened in 1864, so bearing in mind how long it used to take to get a line surveyed, Act of Parliament passed, land purchased and line built, I wonder whether the station was intended to serve the Academy. It is bang opposite what became Canning Road. Once the Academy was closed in 1861, the station could have been left to serve the houses built on the site - which were 'villas' - and the smaller houses in Tunstall Road etc, as much of the capital would have been spent by then, although East Croydon Station was about the same distance away along Addiscombe Road. Probably all down to Railway Mania and competition of that era!

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

Oooh, that is an interesting theory! One other theory I've read is that Addiscombe was originally not planned to be a terminus - the South Eastern Railway wanted to actually build all the way through to Redhill, but the LB&SCR understandably were not too keen on the idea when their prestigious Brighton Main Line already ran through Redhill xD But then, twenty or so years later, they collaborated on building...the Woodside and South Croydon Joint Railway! Funny how things worked in those days...

[@DrivermanO]

@@HeyItsAJOmega Have a look on Wiki for the Mid-Kent railway. The Addiscombe extension was completed in 1862, which seems to correlate with my theory! Bearing in mind timescales. You may be able to throw more light on this - but of course, I may be barking up the wrong tree, although I can't see any reason for Addiscombe station otherwise - why would trhis be built if it didn't have an objective? Although that in itself wasn't a bar for many other railways! The Fort Augustus springs to mind!

[@corinheathcote9868]

I bet the people living there could do with a railway line to London.

[@AZPL909]

Addiscombe SignalBox: This was my first signalman job back in 1992 just as it was being slowly run into the ground. Sadly all of the shed cleaning staff and train crew depot had already closed although rolling stock mainly EPB, but also some VEP and CEP still continued to be berthed there with the help of the shunters. However the advent of the Networker 466/465 stock killed off the berthing shed and siding use ☹️ for all time as they were limited to platform 2 only. Eventually the station lost it’s shunters, then the ticket office was unmanned too, with the staff travelling on the train to / from Elmers End selling tickets, eventually that ended too. Then one fateful night the signalbox met it’s destiny too and was destroyed by a raging 🔥 fire, leaving the line to be run by pilotman working for the remaining months...

[@sergioivan8915]

Instablaster.

[@simonwalker602]

3:38 curse of the missing glasses. I do that shit all the time.

[@googletookmyoriginaluserna4182]

Why can't you have a housing area with the original station building as a clubhouse / gym or something? Sometimes developers are myopic t***s!

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

Amen! Given they built a new entrance building type thing to lead into the housing estate, I'm not even sure why the original station building couldn't just have been an entranceway for that?

[@glennsavage9147]

Like it.

[@charlesfrancis4433]

Amazing video - loved it! Where did you get the footage used at 0.59? I'd love to see the full clip. Thanks, C

[@laurenceskinnerton73]

I knew someone who was a driver at Addiscombe.

[@borderlands6606]

The Addiscombe sheds were reputed to be haunted. Lots of info on the internet.

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

I saw that story in the comments of another video! I believe someone mentioned in the comments for the cab ride video - can be found on Gloriouskodachrome's channel! - you can even spot what looks like a ghostly figure stood outside the Addiscombe sheds as the train goes past... *X Files music plays*

[@djpuffthethird]

The Carriage She'd was reputed to be Haunted by a Ghostly Shunter . Described as being a Grey intermediate outline with a white face . He was renowned for moving NSE Carriage cleaners trolleys about . Rattling carriage door handles and starting up break compressors on trains when disconnected . As well the sound of trains moving in the Shed , even tho nothing was . After 1997 I went into the SR Carriage shed with SECRPS . And you know what ! Roads 1 2 and 3 Pigeon Shit Road 4 No Pigeon Shit ! 😱 . Then at 53 Grant Road a Red Step Ladder I was using to get from over the fence from 51 to 53 . Moved from closed leaning against the fence , to open in the middle of the garden ! So I had to sit on the fence and jump down into the garden at 51 51 Grant Road has been empty for well over 10 years ! Maybe longer . The back door of 51 had not been opened , spider webs still intact. The Garage Door at the back of 51 . All cobwebs intact , garage door had not been opened . But what color was the Step Ladder Red The same colour as NSE carriage cleaners trolly steps 👻 This was 2019

[@shauntodd7123]

Nice little second half and a real shame about addiscombe station. Is there a third video with the Northbound connection to the mainline. Also how do you keep your hair looking good and in place.

[@TheMisterB2u]

Lots of gel !

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

Hahah! It's actually wax and hairspray xD

[@shauntodd7123]

@@HeyItsAJOmega you do well never wind swepped

[@teecefamilykent]

You need to do a history of the North woolwich line.

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

Noted!

[@jontownsend8090]

Unfortunately around the country, this scenario is rather too common, councils thinking of a quick buck, not about what it should be doing, working for and with its residents.

[@gloriouskodachrome]

very true, I've never been back to the site of the station since demolition despite living 3 miles away. This great video has sparked some interest, I am gobsmacked on how much 'new build' has been dumped on the site, no wonder the land was sold and the museum project was blocked. I was aware the embankment at Dalmally Passage had been flattened and bridge removed. Very sad to see the site of Addiscombe now.

[@danieljones8737]

TBF to the council at the time one of the most profitable options under consideration was to redevelop much more of the old line as housing, but the local campaign to transform it into a linear park won out with higher density housing restricted to the old station site. It's the only real park in Addiscombe West council ward and is very popular now. The name and a few other features reminds people of the old railway heritage.