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Outer Circle (London)
Encyclopedia
The Outer Circle was a railway route in London
operated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries over tracks which are now mainly owned by Network Rail
but include parts of the London Underground
. Although not actually a circle or even a complete circuit, the route circumnavigated the northern suburbs and centre of the Victorian
capital and the name was used to reflect its similarity to the Inner Circle and Middle Circle
routes with which it partly shared tracks.
(NLR) and the Metropolitan District Railway
(MDR) over their own tracks and also those of the London & North Western Railway (L&NWR), the West London Railway (WLR) and, for a time, short sections of the London and South Western Railway
(L&SWR) and London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
(LB&SCR). The Outer Circle used existing rail lines and shared operations with the other services provided by the railway companies.
The service commenced operations on 1 September 1867. It initially ran between the NLR's terminus at Broad Street (now demolished) in the City of London
and Kensington (now Kensington (Olympia)
). From Broad Street the Outer Circle ran northwards via the NLR's viaduct to Dalston Junction
then turned west to follow the line through Highbury (now Highbury & Islington
) and West Hampstead
to Willesden Junction
. At Willesden Junction, the route joined the WLR tracks heading south to Kensington.
On 2 January 1868 the route was extended to continue south from Kensington over the tracks of the West London Extension Joint Railway through West Brompton
and across the River Thames
to connect to the L&SWR's line north-west of Clapham Junction
then pass through Battersea
and back across the Thames via the LB&SCR's tracks to terminate at Victoria station.
The Kensington to Victoria section of the Outer Circle service was short-lived. When the MDR opened a link line from Earl's Court
to the WLR south of Kensington station (by then renamed Addison Road) on 1 February 1872, a much shorter route between the two stations became available via the MDR's southern section of the Inner Circle. Outer Circle trains began running at that time to the MDR's eastern terminus at Mansion House
.
The service continued in this form for the next 36 years until, on 1 January 1909, the route was shortened to terminate at Earl's Court. In 1912, the route was truncated again and was effectively ended; through services from Broad Street ended and the section of the WLR between Willesden Junction and Earl's Court operated as a shuttle service.
Passenger services on the WLR were ended on 19 October 1940 following bomb damage to stations on the line.
As just one of a number of services operated by the NLR and MDR, the Outer Circle route did not appear separately on rail maps of the period. Although the service had effectively been discontinued be the time the first coordinated tube map
s were produced at the start of the 20th century it is unlikely that the route would have been specifically indicated - the Inner Circle itself was never specifically shown on the map and only began to be shown from 1947 as the Circle Line. The section between Willesden Junction and Uxbridge Road
did briefly appear on tube maps in 1939 and 1940 to mark the non-Underground connection between those two stations; it was labelled as a Great Western Railway
and London, Midland and Scottish Railway
route.
The following stations were served at various times by the Outer Circle route:
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
operated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries over tracks which are now mainly owned by Network Rail
Network Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
but include parts of the London Underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
. Although not actually a circle or even a complete circuit, the route circumnavigated the northern suburbs and centre of the Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
capital and the name was used to reflect its similarity to the Inner Circle and Middle Circle
Middle Circle
The Middle Circle was a railway route in London which operated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries over tracks which are now mainly part of the London Underground...
routes with which it partly shared tracks.
Route
The Outer Circle route was first operated by the North London RailwayNorth London Railway
The North London Railway was a railway company that opened lines connecting the north of London to the East and West India Docks. The main east to west route is now part the North London Line. Other lines operated by the company fell into disuse, but were later revived as part of the Docklands...
(NLR) and the Metropolitan District Railway
Metropolitan District Railway
The Metropolitan District Railway was the predecessor of the District line of the London Underground. Set up on 29 July 1864, at first to complete the "Inner Circle" railway around central London, it was gradually extended into the suburbs...
(MDR) over their own tracks and also those of the London & North Western Railway (L&NWR), the West London Railway (WLR) and, for a time, short sections of the London and South Western Railway
London and South Western Railway
The London and South Western Railway was a railway company in England from 1838 to 1922. Its network extended from London to Plymouth via Salisbury and Exeter, with branches to Ilfracombe and Padstow and via Southampton to Bournemouth and Weymouth. It also had many routes connecting towns in...
(L&SWR) and London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1846 to 1922. Its territory formed a rough triangle, with London at its apex, practically the whole coastline of Sussex as its base, and a large part of Surrey...
(LB&SCR). The Outer Circle used existing rail lines and shared operations with the other services provided by the railway companies.
The service commenced operations on 1 September 1867. It initially ran between the NLR's terminus at Broad Street (now demolished) in the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
and Kensington (now Kensington (Olympia)
Kensington (Olympia) station
Kensington station is a station in West London managed and served by London Overground and also served by Southern and London Underground. It is in Travelcard Zone 2...
). From Broad Street the Outer Circle ran northwards via the NLR's viaduct to Dalston Junction
Dalston Junction railway station
Dalston Junction railway station is in the Dalston area of the London Borough of Hackney at the crossroad of Dalston Lane, Kingsland Road and Balls Pond Road...
then turned west to follow the line through Highbury (now Highbury & Islington
Highbury & Islington station
Highbury & Islington station is a London Underground and National Rail station in the London Borough of Islington in north London. It is served by the Victoria line, London Overground's East and North London Lines and First Capital Connect's Northern City Line....
) and West Hampstead
West Hampstead railway station
West Hampstead interchange is a proposal by Chiltern Railways to connect three existing railway stations and two lines now without platforms, on West End Lane in West Hampstead in the London Borough of Camden in London, England. Although physically separate, they are near each other and the...
to Willesden Junction
Willesden Junction station
Willesden Junction station is a Network Rail station in Harlesden, northwest London, UK. It is served by both London Overground and the Bakerloo line of the London Underground.-History:The station developed on three contiguous sites:...
. At Willesden Junction, the route joined the WLR tracks heading south to Kensington.
On 2 January 1868 the route was extended to continue south from Kensington over the tracks of the West London Extension Joint Railway through West Brompton
West Brompton station
West Brompton is a Network Rail West London Line and London Underground District Line station in west London. It is located on Old Brompton Road immediately south of Earls Court Exhibition Centre and to the west of Brompton Cemetery....
and across the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
to connect to the L&SWR's line north-west of Clapham Junction
Clapham Junction railway station
Clapham Junction railway station is near St John's Hill in the south-west of Battersea in the London Borough of Wandsworth. Although it is in Battersea, the area around the station is commonly identified as Clapham Junction....
then pass through Battersea
Battersea
Battersea is an area of the London Borough of Wandsworth, England. It is an inner-city district of South London, situated on the south side of the River Thames, 2.9 miles south-west of Charing Cross. Battersea spans from Fairfield in the west to Queenstown in the east...
and back across the Thames via the LB&SCR's tracks to terminate at Victoria station.
The Kensington to Victoria section of the Outer Circle service was short-lived. When the MDR opened a link line from Earl's Court
Earl's Court tube station
Earl's Court tube station is a London Underground station in Earls Court. The station is located between Earls Court Road and Warwick Road . It is on the boundary of Travelcard Zone 1 and 2 and is in both zones....
to the WLR south of Kensington station (by then renamed Addison Road) on 1 February 1872, a much shorter route between the two stations became available via the MDR's southern section of the Inner Circle. Outer Circle trains began running at that time to the MDR's eastern terminus at Mansion House
Mansion House tube station
Mansion House is a London Underground station in the City of London, near Mansion House . It is a sub-surface station served by trains on the Circle and District Lines. It is between Blackfriars and Cannon Street stations. The station is located at the junction of Queen Victoria Street and Cannon...
.
The service continued in this form for the next 36 years until, on 1 January 1909, the route was shortened to terminate at Earl's Court. In 1912, the route was truncated again and was effectively ended; through services from Broad Street ended and the section of the WLR between Willesden Junction and Earl's Court operated as a shuttle service.
Passenger services on the WLR were ended on 19 October 1940 following bomb damage to stations on the line.
As just one of a number of services operated by the NLR and MDR, the Outer Circle route did not appear separately on rail maps of the period. Although the service had effectively been discontinued be the time the first coordinated tube map
Tube map
The Tube map is a schematic transit map representing the lines and stations of London's rapid transit railway systems, namely the London Underground , the Docklands Light Railway and London Overground....
s were produced at the start of the 20th century it is unlikely that the route would have been specifically indicated - the Inner Circle itself was never specifically shown on the map and only began to be shown from 1947 as the Circle Line. The section between Willesden Junction and Uxbridge Road
Uxbridge Road tube station
Uxbridge Road was a London Underground station on a branch of the Metropolitan Line. It was located at the eastern end of the Uxbridge Road in Shepherd's Bush, west London, UK, just before the start of Holland Park Avenue, a short distance from Shepherd's Bush station on the Central Line...
did briefly appear on tube maps in 1939 and 1940 to mark the non-Underground connection between those two stations; it was labelled as a Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
and London, Midland and Scottish Railway
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...
route.
Stations
- from 1 September 1867 until 1912
- Broad Street (closed 1986, now demolished)
- ShoreditchShoreditch railway stationShoreditch railway station was a station on the North London Railway in London, United Kingdom. It was situated on a viaduct between Haggerston and Broad Street stations....
(closed 1940) - HaggerstonHaggerston railway stationHaggerston railway station is in the London Borough of Hackney, in London. The station is located on the Kingsland Viaduct in the Haggerston district at the junction of Arbutus Street and Frederick Terrace, near Kingsland Road. The main entrance is in Lee Street...
(closed 1940, reopened 2010 as part of the London OvergroundLondon OvergroundLondon Overground is a suburban rail network in London and Hertfordshire. It has been operated by London Overground Rail Operations since 2007 as part of the National Rail network, under the franchise control and branding of Transport for London...
) - Dalston JunctionDalston Junction railway stationDalston Junction railway station is in the Dalston area of the London Borough of Hackney at the crossroad of Dalston Lane, Kingsland Road and Balls Pond Road...
(closed 1986, reopened 2010 as part of the London OvergroundLondon OvergroundLondon Overground is a suburban rail network in London and Hertfordshire. It has been operated by London Overground Rail Operations since 2007 as part of the National Rail network, under the franchise control and branding of Transport for London...
) - Mildmay ParkMildmay Park railway stationMildmay Park railway station is a former railway station on the North London Line between Canonbury and Dalston Kingsland stations. The station was on Mildmay Park between Newington Green and Balls Pond Road....
(closed 1934) - CanonburyCanonbury railway stationCanonbury railway station serves the district of Canonbury within the London Borough of Islington in north London. It is on London Overground's North London Line and East London Line. The station and all trains serving it are operated by London Overground, and the station is in Travelcard Zone 2...
- HighburyHighbury & Islington stationHighbury & Islington station is a London Underground and National Rail station in the London Borough of Islington in north London. It is served by the Victoria line, London Overground's East and North London Lines and First Capital Connect's Northern City Line....
(opened 1872, now Highbury & Islington) - BarnsburyCaledonian Road & Barnsbury railway stationCaledonian Road & Barnsbury railway station in the London Borough of Islington in North London is on the North London Line and is in Travelcard Zone 2. The station and all trains serving it are operated by London Overground. The station opened in 1870 as "Barnsbury" replacing the 1852 Caledonian...
(now Caledonian Road & Barnsbury) - Maiden LaneMaiden Lane railway stationsThe two Maiden Lane railway stations were in close proximity in the present London Borough of Camden, in north London, England. Maiden Lane itself is now York Way.-Great Northern Railway station:...
(closed 1916) - Camden TownCamden Road railway stationCamden Road railway station is in the London Borough of Camden in North London. The station and all trains serving it are operated by London Overground. It is on the North London Line and in Travelcard Zone 2....
(opened 1870, now Camden Road) - Kentish TownKentish Town West railway stationKentish Town West railway station, on the North London Line, is in Prince of Wales Road in the London Borough of Camden. It is in Travelcard Zone 2. The station and all trains serving it are operated by London Overground. It opened on 1 April 1867 as "Kentish Town", was renamed "Kentish Town West"...
(now Kentish Town West) - Gospel OakGospel Oak railway stationGospel Oak railway station is in the borough of Camden in north London. It is on the North London Line and is also the western passenger terminus of the Gospel Oak to Barking Line...
- Hampstead HeathHampstead Heath railway stationHampstead Heath railway station is in London on the North London Line, between and stations. Since 11 November 2007 it and the service there have been run by London Overground.The typical service at the station in trains per hour is:...
- Finchley RoadFinchley Road & Frognal railway stationFinchley Road & Frognal railway station is on Finchley Road in the London Borough of Camden in North London. It is on the North London Line, and the station and all trains serving it are operated by London Overground. It is in Travelcard Zone 2...
(now Finchley Road & Frognal) - West End LaneWest Hampstead railway stationWest Hampstead interchange is a proposal by Chiltern Railways to connect three existing railway stations and two lines now without platforms, on West End Lane in West Hampstead in the London Borough of Camden in London, England. Although physically separate, they are near each other and the...
(opened 1888, now West Hampstead) - BrondesburyBrondesbury railway stationBrondesbury is on the North London Line, on a viaduct crossing Kilburn High Road in the Brondesbury area of Kilburn in north-west London.It is approximately 200 metres south-east of station and half a mile north-west of station....
- Brondesbury ParkBrondesbury Park railway stationBrondesbury Park railway station is on the North London Line in Travelcard Zone 2, between and . It is close to Queen's Park, and opened in 1908.-History:...
(opened 1904) - Kensal Green & HarlesdenKensal Rise railway stationKensal Rise railway station is on the North London Line on Chamberlayne Road, Kensal Rise in north west London. The station is in Travelcard Zone 2....
(opened 1873, now Kensal Rise) - Willesden JunctionWillesden Junction stationWillesden Junction station is a Network Rail station in Harlesden, northwest London, UK. It is served by both London Overground and the Bakerloo line of the London Underground.-History:The station developed on three contiguous sites:...
- Wormwood Scrubs (later St. Quintin Park, closed 1940)
- Uxbridge RoadUxbridge Road tube stationUxbridge Road was a London Underground station on a branch of the Metropolitan Line. It was located at the eastern end of the Uxbridge Road in Shepherd's Bush, west London, UK, just before the start of Holland Park Avenue, a short distance from Shepherd's Bush station on the Central Line...
(closed 1940) - Kensington/Addison Road (now Kensington Olympia station)
- from 2 January 1869 until 31 January 1872
- West BromptonWest Brompton stationWest Brompton is a Network Rail West London Line and London Underground District Line station in west London. It is located on Old Brompton Road immediately south of Earls Court Exhibition Centre and to the west of Brompton Cemetery....
- Chelsea & FulhamChelsea and Fulham railway stationChelsea and Fulham railway station on the West London Line was opened in 1863 by the West London Extension Railway. It was between the King's Road and the Fulham Road. It closed in 1940 after Second World War bomb damage and never reopened...
(closed 1940) - BatterseaBattersea railway stationBattersea railway station was a station on the West London Extension Railway on Battersea High Street. It opened on 1 Oct 1863 and closed on 21 October 1940 after air raid damage. It was south of Battersea railway bridge, at the end of the now pedestrianised area of Battersea High Street by the...
(closed 1940) - Battersea ParkBattersea Park railway stationBattersea Park is a suburban railway station in the London Borough of Wandsworth, formerly known as York Road. It is situated at the junction of the South London Line and the Brighton Main Line between Victoria and...
- Grosvenor RoadGrosvenor Road railway stationGrosvenor Road station was a London railway station located at the north end of Grosvenor Bridge on the approach tracks to Victoria station.Victoria station was originally operated as two separate parts served by the London, Chatham and Dover Railway and the London, Brighton and South Coast...
(closed 1911) - Victoria
- West Brompton
- from 1 February 1872 until 1912
- Earl's CourtEarl's Court tube stationEarl's Court tube station is a London Underground station in Earls Court. The station is located between Earls Court Road and Warwick Road . It is on the boundary of Travelcard Zone 1 and 2 and is in both zones....
- Earl's Court
- from 1 February 1872 until 31 December 1908
- Brompton (Gloucester Road)Gloucester Road tube station-Deep-level station:By the beginning of the 20th century, the MDR had been extended to Richmond, Ealing Broadway, Hounslow West and Wimbledon in the west and to New Cross Gate in the east...
(now Gloucester Road) - South KensingtonSouth Kensington tube stationSouth Kensington is a London Underground station in Kensington, west London. It is served by the District, Circle and Piccadilly lines. On the District and Circle lines, the station is between Gloucester Road and Sloane Square, and on the Piccadilly Line, it is between Gloucester Road and...
- Sloane SquareSloane Square tube stationSloane Square is a London Underground station in Sloane Square, in the Chelsea district of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is served by the District and Circle Lines and is between South Kensington and Victoria. It is in Travelcard Zone 1....
- VictoriaVictoria station (London)Victoria station, also known as London Victoria, is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex. It is named after nearby Victoria Street and not Queen Victoria. It is the second busiest railway terminus in London after Waterloo, and includes an air terminal for passengers...
- St. James's ParkSt. James's Park tube stationSt James's Park is a London Underground station near St James's Park in the City of Westminster. It is served by the District and Circle Lines and is between Victoria and Westminster stations. It is in Travelcard Zone 1....
- Westminster BridgeWestminster tube stationWestminster is a London Underground station in the City of Westminster. It is served by the Circle, District and Jubilee lines. On the Circle and District lines, the station is between St. James's Park and Embankment and, on the Jubilee line it is between Green Park and Waterloo. It is in...
(now Westminster) - Charing CrossEmbankment tube stationEmbankment is a London Underground station in the City of Westminster, known by various names during its history. It is served by the Circle, District, Northern and Bakerloo lines. On the Northern and Bakerloo lines, the station is between Waterloo and Charing Cross stations; on the Circle and...
(now Embankment) - TempleTemple tube stationTemple is a London Underground station in the City of Westminster, between Victoria Embankment and Temple Place. It is on the Circle and District lines between Embankment and Blackfriars and is in Travelcard Zone 1. The station entrance is from Victoria Embankment...
- BlackfriarsBlackfriars stationBlackfriars station, also known as London Blackfriars, is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex in the City of London, England. Its platforms will eventually span the River Thames a short distance downstream from Blackfriars Bridge. The current entrance is located on the...
- Mansion HouseMansion House tube stationMansion House is a London Underground station in the City of London, near Mansion House . It is a sub-surface station served by trains on the Circle and District Lines. It is between Blackfriars and Cannon Street stations. The station is located at the junction of Queen Victoria Street and Cannon...
- Brompton (Gloucester Road)