West End of London and Crystal Palace Railway
Encyclopedia
The West End of London and Crystal Palace Railway (WELCPR) was an early railway company in south London
between Crystal Palace station
and Wandsworth
, which was opened in 1856. The line was extended in 1858 to a station at Battersea Wharf which was misleadingly named Pimlico
. Throughout its brief existence the railway was operated by the London Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR) to which it was leased in 1858 and sold in 1859. This relatively short line was of considerable importance to the history of railways of south London as it was the first line to create a corridor from the south and east towards Westminster
and led to the development of London Victoria railway station.
at Sydenham Hill on 10 June 1854, the LB&SCR opened a short spur line linking a new Crystal Palace station
to its Sydenham station on the Brighton main line
from London Bridge. The WELCPR was an independent company which aimed to create an additional line from Wandsworth
to the LB&SCR station at Crystal Palace and thence to Norwood Junction railway station
where it would have running powers over the LB&SCR to East Croydon railway station. The new line would also continue in an easterly direction towards Beckenham
and Bromley
. The intention was also to link the northern end of the railway to the London and South Western Railway
at a point south east of Clapham Junction railway station
, where trains would continue to Waterloo railway station.
The first part of the line from New Wandsworth to Crystal Palace opened 1 December 1856 and the extension to Norwood in 1857. The original stations on the line were
However, the planned connection to the L&SWR never happened. Instead the railway continued its line running parallel to the L&SWR line and then turned north to a station close to the River Thames
at Battersea Wharf misleadingly called Pimlico
which opened on 29 March 1858. From the beginning the railway was operated by the LB&SCR in return for 42.5% of the gross receipts, less an annual fee of £8,000 to allow the LB&SCR to run its own trains over the line. Soon afterwards this line was leased to the LB&SCR.
(then called Bromley) to Bromley Junction near Norwood Junction via Beckenham Junction station
and a short-lived station at Penge (on the site of the present Beckenham Road tram stop). This line connected with the East Kent Railway
, which then obtained running powers over the WEL&CPR line, providing it with an entry into London. In 1860, the East Kent changed its name to be become the London, Chatham and Dover Railway
[LC&DR]. Passenger services between Shortlands and Crystal Palace were provided by the WELCPR with a locomotive and stock bought from the LBSCR from May 1858 to December 1860 and thereafter by the LCDR.
The original WELCPR line from Pimlico to Norwood Junction via Crystal Palace was sold to the LB&SCR in 1859, and the line from Bromley Junction to Shortlands to the LC&DR but were operated by the WELCPR until the opening of the LCDR line to Beckenham in 1860. The remainder of the Farnborough Extension was never constructed.
In 1860 the former WELCPR line at Battersea Wharf was connected to the Victoria Station and Pimlico Railway
, thereby giving both the LB&SCR and the LC&DR access to the new Victoria terminus. For a few years, until 1863 this short section of line was a part of both the Brighton main line, and also the Chatham Main Line
to Dover
.
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...
between Crystal Palace station
Crystal Palace railway station
Crystal Palace railway station is in the London Borough of Bromley in south London. It is located in the Anerley area between the town centres of Crystal Palace and Penge...
and Wandsworth
Wandsworth
Wandsworth is a district of south London, England, in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated southwest of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-Toponymy:...
, which was opened in 1856. The line was extended in 1858 to a station at Battersea Wharf which was misleadingly named Pimlico
Pimlico
Pimlico is a small area of central London in the City of Westminster. Like Belgravia, to which it was built as a southern extension, Pimlico is known for its grand garden squares and impressive Regency architecture....
. Throughout its brief existence the railway was operated by the London Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR) to which it was leased in 1858 and sold in 1859. This relatively short line was of considerable importance to the history of railways of south London as it was the first line to create a corridor from the south and east towards Westminster
Westminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
and led to the development of London Victoria railway station.
History
To coincide with the reopening of the Crystal PalaceThe Crystal Palace
The Crystal Palace was a cast-iron and glass building originally erected in Hyde Park, London, England, to house the Great Exhibition of 1851. More than 14,000 exhibitors from around the world gathered in the Palace's of exhibition space to display examples of the latest technology developed in...
at Sydenham Hill on 10 June 1854, the LB&SCR opened a short spur line linking a new Crystal Palace station
Crystal Palace railway station
Crystal Palace railway station is in the London Borough of Bromley in south London. It is located in the Anerley area between the town centres of Crystal Palace and Penge...
to its Sydenham station on the Brighton main line
Brighton Main Line
The Brighton Main Line is a British railway line from London Victoria and London Bridge to Brighton. It is about 50 miles long, and is electrified throughout. Trains are operated by Southern, First Capital Connect, and Gatwick Express, now part of Southern.-Original proposals:There were no fewer...
from London Bridge. The WELCPR was an independent company which aimed to create an additional line from Wandsworth
Wandsworth
Wandsworth is a district of south London, England, in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated southwest of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-Toponymy:...
to the LB&SCR station at Crystal Palace and thence to Norwood Junction railway station
Norwood Junction railway station
Norwood Junction railway station is in South Norwood in the London Borough of Croydon in south London, in Travelcard Zone 4.The station is managed by London Overground and trains operated by Southern and London Overground .-History:...
where it would have running powers over the LB&SCR to East Croydon railway station. The new line would also continue in an easterly direction towards Beckenham
Beckenham Junction station
Beckenham Junction is a railway station and a tram terminus in Beckenham, south east London. It is in the London Borough of Bromley and Travelcard Zone 4, 8.6 miles from London Victoria....
and Bromley
Bromley South railway station
Bromley South railway station is a major interchange and station in Bromley town centre within the London Borough of Bromley in southeast London. It is in Travelcard Zone 5, and the station and all trains are operated by Southeastern...
. The intention was also to link the northern end of the railway to 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...
at a point south east of Clapham Junction railway station
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....
, where trains would continue to Waterloo railway station.
The first part of the line from New Wandsworth to Crystal Palace opened 1 December 1856 and the extension to Norwood in 1857. The original stations on the line were
- Crystal Palace Low Level
- Gipsy HillGipsy Hill railway stationGipsy Hill railway station is in the London Borough of Lambeth in south London. It is situated on the outer route of the South London Line. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by Southern, and it is in Travelcard Zone 3....
- West NorwoodWest Norwood railway stationWest Norwood railway station is in the London Borough of Lambeth in West Norwood, south London. The station, and all trains serving it, is operated by Southern, and it is in Travelcard Zone 3. Services from Platform 1 go to London Victoria and London Bridge via Tulse Hill...
- Streatham HillStreatham Hill railway stationStreatham Hill railway station is one of three stations serving the suburb of Streatham, in the London Borough of Lambeth. The wooden station building at street level faces the busy Streatham High Road at the junction with Leigham Court Road...
- the 1856 wooden station booking hall remains unchanged - Balham
- New WandsworthWandsworth Common railway stationWandsworth Common railway station is in the London Borough of Wandsworth in south London. The station and all trains serving it are operated by Southern, and it is in Travelcard Zone 3.-History:...
However, the planned connection to the L&SWR never happened. Instead the railway continued its line running parallel to the L&SWR line and then turned north to a station close to 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,...
at Battersea Wharf misleadingly called Pimlico
Pimlico
Pimlico is a small area of central London in the City of Westminster. Like Belgravia, to which it was built as a southern extension, Pimlico is known for its grand garden squares and impressive Regency architecture....
which opened on 29 March 1858. From the beginning the railway was operated by the LB&SCR in return for 42.5% of the gross receipts, less an annual fee of £8,000 to allow the LB&SCR to run its own trains over the line. Soon afterwards this line was leased to the LB&SCR.
Farnborough Extension
On 3 May 1858 the company opened the first stage of its projected Farnborough Extension from Shortlands railway stationShortlands railway station
Shortlands railway station is in Shortlands, in the London Borough of Bromley in south London. It serves the southwest part of Bromley, and is 10 miles from London Victoria....
(then called Bromley) to Bromley Junction near Norwood Junction via Beckenham Junction station
Beckenham Junction station
Beckenham Junction is a railway station and a tram terminus in Beckenham, south east London. It is in the London Borough of Bromley and Travelcard Zone 4, 8.6 miles from London Victoria....
and a short-lived station at Penge (on the site of the present Beckenham Road tram stop). This line connected with the East Kent Railway
East Kent Railway
The East Kent Railway was an early railway operating between Strood and the town of Faversham in Kent England, during 1858 and 1859. In the latter year it changed its name to the London, Chatham and Dover Railway to reflect its ambitions to build a rival line from London to Dover via Chatham and...
, which then obtained running powers over the WEL&CPR line, providing it with an entry into London. In 1860, the East Kent changed its name to be become the London, Chatham and Dover Railway
London, Chatham and Dover Railway
The London, Chatham and Dover Railway was a railway company in south-eastern England from 1859 until the 1923 grouping which united it with other companies to form the Southern Railway. Its lines ran through London and northern and eastern Kent to form a significant part of the Greater London...
[LC&DR]. Passenger services between Shortlands and Crystal Palace were provided by the WELCPR with a locomotive and stock bought from the LBSCR from May 1858 to December 1860 and thereafter by the LCDR.
The original WELCPR line from Pimlico to Norwood Junction via Crystal Palace was sold to the LB&SCR in 1859, and the line from Bromley Junction to Shortlands to the LC&DR but were operated by the WELCPR until the opening of the LCDR line to Beckenham in 1860. The remainder of the Farnborough Extension was never constructed.
In 1860 the former WELCPR line at Battersea Wharf was connected to the Victoria Station and Pimlico Railway
Victoria Station and Pimlico Railway
The Victoria Station and Pimlico Railway was an early British railway company which was incorporated by Act of Parliament 23rd July 1858. to build a railway line connecting the existing London Brighton and South Coast Railway terminus in Battersea to a new terminal at London Victoria station in...
, thereby giving both the LB&SCR and the LC&DR access to the new Victoria terminus. For a few years, until 1863 this short section of line was a part of both the Brighton main line, and also the Chatham Main Line
Chatham Main Line
The Chatham Main Line is a British railway line that runs from either London Victoria to Dover Priory / Ramsgate or London St Pancras to Faversham, with both services travelling via Medway...
to Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
.