District Railway Archives – LSPhotography Blog

Barons Court Station

LSPhotography — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 18:00:00 +0000

Barons Court Station

Address: Pallister Rd, London W14 9EA
Opened: 9th October 1905
Station Code: BAC
Fare Zone: 2

London Underground Line(s) Served:

District Line
Piccadilly Line

Service Pattern(s):

District Line
12 trains per hour to Upminster
6 trains per hour to Ealing Broadway
6 trains per hour to Richmond

Piccadilly Line
18 trains per hour to Cockfosters
3 trains per hour to Arnos Grove
6 trains per hour to Heathrow Terminal 5
6 trains per hour to Heathrow Terminal 4
3 trains per hour to Northfields
3 trains per hour to Rayners Lane
3 trains per hour to Uxbridge

Interchange(s)

None

Station History

Although the District Railway laid their new extension from Earl’s Court to Hammersmith in 1874, no station was provided here due to the rural nature of the Baron’s Court area.

The turn of the 20th century saw the situation change with rapid housing development taking place. This change led to the District Railway constructing a station at Barons Court that opened for service on 9th October 1905.

Services through the station were improved fourteen months later, when the Great Northern, Piccadilly and Brompton Railway opened their line from Hammersmith to Finsbury Park on 15th December 1906.

The formation of the London Passenger Transport Board in 1933 saw both the District and GNP&BR Railways absorbed into London Underground, becoming the District and Piccadilly Lines respectively.

Barons Court’s Harry Ford designed station building, which was similar to those provided at Earl’s Court and Hammersmith was granted Grade II Listed status as a building of architectural interest on 14th February 1985.

During the 1990s, the station’s original features inclusing its terracotta tiling and unique platform benches were carefully restored to original condition.

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Whitechapel Station (ZLW)

LSPhotography — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 18:00:00 +0000

Whitechapel Station

Address: Whitechapel Road, London E1 1BY
Opened: 10th April 1876
Station Code: ZLW
Fare Zone: 2

London Overground Line(s) Served:

East London Line

Service Pattern(s):

8 trains per hour to Highbury & Islington
8 trains per hour to Dalston Junction
4 trains per hour to Clapham Junction
4 trains per hour to Crystal Palace
4 trains per hour to West Croydon
4 trains per hour to New Cross

Interchange(s)

District Line
Hammersmith & City Line
Elizabeth Line

The temporary Cross Street entrance used during the construction of the Elizabeth Line

Station History

This article refers to the London Overground Station. History of the London Underground station will be provided in a future article.

The East London Railway Company, a consortium of six other railway companies, opened Whitechapel Station on the extension of their line from Wapping to Liverpool Street on 10th April 1876. From the start, passenger services were operated by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway, one of the consortium members.

Metropolitan Railway and Metropolitan District Railway services began to serve the station and the ELR line on 1st October 1884 thanks to a new connection from their lines via the St Marys curve.

The District Railway constructed a new Whitechapel (Mile End) station adjacent to the ELR as the terminus of their line from Mansion House opening on 6th October 1884, although the stations were not linked.

Following the electrification of their lines, the District Railway ceased its services on the ELR on 31st July 1905, with the Metropolitan Railway suspending their service on 2nd December 1906.

The consortium behind the East London Railway agreed to fund the line’s electrification in 1910, with the first electric service operated by the Metropolitan Railway running on 31st March 1913.

Ownership of the line and its stations passed to the Southern Railway in 1925, although the line was still leased to its operating consortium.

Upon the creation of the London Passenger Transport Board in 1933, the line and its stations came under London Transport control, being operated as the East London Branch of the Metropolitan Line.

Nationalisation of the Railways in 1948 saw goods traffic on the line transfer to British Railways, although London Underground continued to provide the passenger service. Goods traffic continued until April 1966.

Due to the deteriorating state of the Thames Tunnel the line and its stations were closed between 1995 and 1998 to allow remedial works to be carried out.

With the desire to convert the line as part of the new London Overground network, it was closed in its entirety along with its stations on 22nd December 2007.

Following the conversion, the line and its stations were reopened as part of London Overground’s East London Line on 23rd May 2010 with services between Dalston Junction and Crystal Palace, New Cross and West Croydon.

The second phase of the new line, providing services to Clapham Junction was opened on 9th December 2012.

As part of construction for the Elizabeth Line, Whitechapel was found to be in need of a major rebuild to accommodate the new services. As part of these works, the station buildings were closed and a temporary station entrance provided in Court Street.

The rebuilding works were completed, and the original station entrance reopened on 23rd August 2021, with Elizabeth Line services commencing on 24th May 2022.

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Shadwell Station (SDE)

LSPhotography — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 18:00:00 +0000

Shadwell Station

Address: Cable Street, Shadwell, London E1 2QF
Opened: 10th April 1876
Station Code: SDE
Fare Zone: 2

London Overground Line(s) Served:

East London Line

Service Pattern(s):

Interchange(s)

OSI: Docklands Light Railway from Shadwell (65 metres)

Station History

The East London Railway Company, a consortium of six other railway companies, opened Shadwell Station on the extension of their line from Wapping to Liverpool Street on 10th April 1876 . From the start, services were operated by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway, one of the consortium members.

Two other consortium members, the Metropolitan and Metropolitan and District Railways began to serve the line and its stations on 1st October 1884 thanks to a new connection with their lines at Whitechapel. The station was renamed Shadwell & St. George-in-the-East on 1st July 1900.

Following the electrification of their lines, the District Railway ceased its services on the line on 31st July 1905, with the Metropolitan Railway suspending their service on 2nd December 1906.

The consortium behind the East London Railway agreed to fund the line’s electrification in 1910, with the first electric service operated by the Metropolitan Railway running on 31st March 1913.
The station name reverted to Shadwell in 1918.

Following the 1921 Railways Act, the grouping of the railways saw the Great Eastern absorbed into the London North Eastern Railway, which continued to operate the goods traffic on the line while the Metropolitan Railway continued the passenger service.

Ownership of the line and its stations passed to the Southern Railway in 1925, although the line was still leased to its operating consortium.

Upon the creation of the London Passenger Transport Board in 1933, the line and its stations came under London Transport control, being operated as the East London Branch of the Metropolitan Line.

By the early 1980s, the station’s ticket hall in Watney Street had become beyond economical repair, so the current structure was built on Cable Street, opening in 1983.

Due to the deteriorating state of the Thames Tunnel the line and its stations were closed between 1995 and 1998 to allow remedial works to be carried out.

With the desire to convert the line as part of the new London Overground network, it was closed in its entirety along with its stations on 22nd December 2007.

The second phase of the new line, providing services to Clapham Junction was opened on 9th December 2012.

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Wapping Station (WPE)

LSPhotography — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 17:00:00 +0000

Wapping Station

Address: Wapping High Street, Wapping, London E1W 3PA
Opened: 7th December 1869
Station Code: WPE
Fare Zone: 2

London Overground Line(s) Served:

East London Line

Service Pattern(s):

Interchange(s)

None

Station History

The East London Railway Company, a consortium of six other railway companies, opened Wapping and Shadwell Station as the terminus of their new line to New Cross on 7th December 1869. From the start, services were operated by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway, one of the consortium members.

The station remained as a terminus until the 10th April 1876 when the line was extended to Liverpool Street. At this time, the station was also renamed Wapping as a new station was provided to the north named Shadwell.

Following the electrification of their lines, the District Railway ceased its services on the line on 31st July 1905, with the Metropolitan Railway suspending their service on 2nd December 1906.

The consortium behind the East London Railway agreed to fund the line’s electrification in 1910, with the first electric service operated by the Metropolitan Railway running on 31st March 1913.

Ownership of the line and its stations passed to the Southern Railway in 1925, although the line was still leased to its operating consortium.

Upon the creation of the London Passenger Transport Board in 1933, the line and its stations came under London Transport control, being operated as the East London Branch of the Metropolitan Line.

Due to the deteriorating state of the Thames Tunnel the line and its stations were closed in 1995 to allow remedial works to be carried out. Wapping station was extensively remodelled and refurbished during this time, with the works being completed and the station reopening with the line in 1998.

With the desire to convert the line as part of the new London Overground network, it was closed in its entirety along with its stations on 22nd December 2007.

The second phase of the new line, providing services to Clapham Junction was opened on 9th December 2012.

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Alperton Station

LSPhotography — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 17:00:00 +0000

Alperton Station

Address: Ealing Rd, Wembley, Middlesex HA0 4LL
Opened: 28th June 1903
Station Code: ALP
Fare Zone: 4

London Underground Line(s) Served:

Piccadilly Line

Service Pattern(s):

Off-Peak

6 trains per hour to Cockfosters
3 trains per hour to Rayners Lane
3 trains per hour to Uxbridge

Peak

12 trains per hour to Cockfosters
6 trains per hour to Rayners Lane
6 trains per hour to Uxbridge

OSI:

N/A

Station History

With the desire of the District Railway to extend its network from Ealing to Harrow and Uxbridge, a route was surveyed to Roxeth (South Harrow) in 1892. Two years later, an Act of Parliament, namely the Ealing and South Harrow Railway Act 1894 was passed.

Construction of the new line commenced in 1897 and was completed, along with its stations by the end of 1899 although low traffic prospects meant that it remained unopened.

In fact, it was four years until the line, and ‘Perivale Alperton’ Station opened for traffic on 28th June 1903. From the start, services were provided by electric traction, the first non-deep level service to be operated this way.

On 7th October 1910, the station was renamed to Alperton.

Before the formation of the London Passenger Transport Board in 1933, the decision was taken to withdraw District Railway services from the line and replace them with the Piccadilly Line via an extension from the original terminus at Hammersmith. As part of this extension, the original District Railway station buildings were demolished and a replacement, designed by Charles Holden and Stanley Heaps, was constructed between 1931-2 with Piccadilly Line services commencing on 4 July 1932

The night of 2nd March 1944 saw heavy bombing by the German Luftwaffe across the local area, and severe damage was caused to the line just west of Alperton resulting in services through the station being withdrawn for five days.

At the end of the Festival of Britain in September 1951, one of the wooden escalators from the Dome of Discovery was dismantled, relocated and installed at the station from the ticket hall up to the Eastbound platform, opening in 1955.

After the King’s Cross fire in 1987, several recommendations were made to improve safety and fire protection. As a result of these recommendations, the escalator at Alperton was taken out of use in 1988. However, due to the costs associated, and the amount of work required, the escalator remains in place to this day, although it was bricked in and is only accessible via locked doors at either end.

More information about the station and its escalator can be found in the excellent Hidden London Hangouts video below.

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Aldgate East Station

LSPhotography — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 17:00:00 +0000

Aldgate East Station

Address: Whitechapel High St,
London E1 7PT
Opened: 31st October 1938
Station Code: ALE
Fare Zone: 1

London Underground Line(s) Served:

District Line, Hammersmith & City Line

Service Pattern(s):

District Line –

12 trains per hour to Upminster
3 trains per hour to Barking
6 trains per hour to Ealing Broadway
6 trains per hour to Richmond
3 trains per hour to Wimbledon

Hammersmith & City Line –

6 trains per hour to Barking
6 trains per hour to Hammersmith

OSI:

Aldgate (280 Metres) for Circle and Metropolitan Lines

London Underground Aldgate East Station

Station History

The original Aldgate East Station was opened jointly by the Metropolitan Railway and the District Railway on the new eastern extension of the latter on 6th October 1884.

Little of note occurred at the station in the following decades until the London Passenger Transport Board was formed in 1933.

The new entity conceived the 1935-1940 New Works Programme which detailed a large number of projects aimed at extending and improving the services it provided on the Underground.

One of these projects was to remedy an issue that had existed since the opening of the new District Line extension, that of the extremely tight track curve between it and the Metropolitan Railway.

To necessitate the enlargement of the curve, and to provide sufficient space for trains to be held on any leg of the triangle without fouling points or signals, it was determined that Aldgate East Station needed to be relocated.

In advance of construction being started, the next station along the line, St Mary’s (Whitechapel Road), was closed on 30th April 1938. The new Aldgate East was deemed close enough to make St Mary’s surplus to requirement.

The new station was designed to be completely underground, allowing for the construction of a much-needed pedestrian underpass below the local roads. To allow room for this, the tracks below needed to be lowered by 2 metres. For this to happen while keeping services running, the ground below the track was excavated and was placed on temporary wooden trestles.

Upon completion of the new station platforms and the associated infrastructure, over 900 workmen were assembled on the site and they completed the lowering of the entire track to the new level overnight.

The original station saw its last passenger service on the evening of 30th October 1938 and it was closed, with the new station, located 150 metres to the east, commencing operation at the start of service on 31st October.

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Acton Town Station

LSPhotography — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 17:00:00 +0000

Acton Town Station

Address: Gunnersbury Lane, London W3 8HN
Opened: July 1879
Station Code: ACT
Fare Zone: 3

London Underground Line(s) Served:

District Line – Ealing Broadway Branch
Piccadilly Line – Heathrow & Uxbridge Branches

Service Pattern(s):

District Line – 6 trains per hour to Ealing Broadway or Upminster
Piccadilly Line –

6 trains per hour Cockfosters – Heathrow Terminal 5 (via Terminals 1, 2, 3)
6 trains per hour Cockfosters – Heathrow Terminal 4
3 trains per hour Cockfosters – Uxbridge
3 trains per hour Cockfosters – Rayners Lane
6 trains per hour Arnos Grove – Northfields

Former Platform 5 was used for the South Acton shuttle.

Station History

Mill Hill Park station was opened on July 1st 1879 by the District Railway, providing a temporary terminus for their new extension from Turnham Green towards Ealing Broadway.

The terminus lasted for four years until, on May 1st 1883 the District opened a new branch from the station to Hounslow Town, followed by another new line to Park Royal & Twyford Abbey on 23rd June 1903.

Further changes to the station and its services came on June 13th 1905, when a short platform was opened just to the North of the existing eastbound island platform and the lines were electrified simultaneously. A single-car service was originally operated from this platform to Hounslow West and Uxbridge, but this was later curtailed to South Acton on February 15th 1932.

The original brick station building, designed by John Wolfe_Barry, was reconstructed in February 1910 before the following month saw renaming to Acton Town Station. Between mid 1931 and 1932, the station building was demolished, before being replaced by the current Charles Holden structure of brick, reinforced concrete and glass.

July 4th 1932 saw the Piccadilly Line extended from its current terminus at Hammersmith, sharing the District Railway tracks as far as Ealing Common. At this time, the Piccadilly Line replaced the existing service to South Harrow, leaving the District to serve Hounslow West or Ealing Broadway.

Piccadilly Line services were again altered on 9th January 1933 when they began sharing the District Line tracks as far as Northfields, before extending to Hounslow West on 13th March of that year. With this change, District Line services along the Hounslow branch ceased on 10th October 1964.

Also during this period, the South Acton shuttle service ceased due to lack of patronage, with the final service running on February 28th 1959.

The station’s design by Charles Holden has been recognized for its architectural significance and was granted Grade II Listed Building status on May 17, 1994.

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