Clapham Junction disused former Platform 1

[Geoff_K]

Hi, I'm looking for some information on the history of the disused former Platform 1 at Clapham Junction, now I understand re-numbered as 'Platform 0'.

I'd be interested to know what services used it, and why/when it was taken out of use.

Cheers

Geoff

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Are we talking about the so-called one-time "banana arches" (platform) at Clapham Junction? (Apparently so named because Fyffes banana importers once had a storage and ripening business in the arches underneath).

 

[JonathanH]

I'd be interested to know what services used it, and why/when it was taken out of use.

It wasn't restored to use because the arches underneath weren't sufficiently strong to carry trains in their current condition without expensive work, which meant that the staggered platform 1 / 2 was built instead.

Why not reopen platform zero at Clapham Junction

The london overground from clapham to stratford is probably the busiest service in the country operating from a single platform most of the time. There clearly used to be another platform opposite platform 1 at some point which is now just wasted overgrown space. Why doesn't national rail...

www.railforums.co.uk

https://www.londonreconnections.com/2014/study-sussex-part-5-clapham-junction/

Reinstatement of platform 0 would be expensive, which is why London Overground opted for the cheaper option of staggering the original platform 2 to provide two separate short platforms – now numbered 1 and 2. Although expensive though, it would actually be relatively easy to do by replacing the deteriorating ironwork that supports the foundations of the track at that point. Of course, inevitably, Network Rail engineers can’t see a piece of disused trackbed without feeling an overwhelming urge to put some trackside apparatus onto it so there would also be the issue of the relocation of a few trackside cabinets.

 

[Geoff_K]

Are we talking about the so-called one-time "banana arches" (platform) at Clapham Junction? (Apparently so named because Fyffes banana importers once had a storage and ripening business in the arches underneath).

We are.

It wasn't restored to use because the arches underneath weren't sufficiently strong to carry trains in their current condition without expensive work, which meant that the staggered platform 1 / 2 was built instead.

Why not reopen platform zero at Clapham Junction

The london overground from clapham to stratford is probably the busiest service in the country operating from a single platform most of the time. There clearly used to be another platform opposite platform 1 at some point which is now just wasted overgrown space. Why doesn't national rail...

www.railforums.co.uk

https://www.londonreconnections.com/2014/study-sussex-part-5-clapham-junction/

There seems to be a lot of info about why it can't be brought back into use, but nothing I can find about what destinations it served, or when/why it fell out of use.

 

[JonathanH]

There seems to be a lot of info about why it can't be brought back into use, but nothing I can find about what destinations it served, or when/why it fell out of use.

Yes, although the fact that there was only a limited service between Clapham Junction and Kensington Olympia for many years which could be handled by a single platform is apparent.

It is certainly an interesting question as to the intensity of the service on the line in the distant past which required two platforms at Clapham Junction. The maps here https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2019/11/the-west-london-line.html?m=1 don't really give a pointer.

The intensity of service implied both on that link, and in this one https://railscot.co.uk/articles/West_London_Line/ always seems to relate to traffic north of Kensington Olympia rather than further south to Clapham Junction.

 

[Steven Taylor]

We are.


There seems to be a lot of info about why it can't be brought back into use, but nothing I can find about what destinations it served, or when/why it fell out of use.

For clarity, the island platform was originally numbered 1 and 2. They are now numbered 0 (the defunct platform) platform 2 renumbered Platform 1 and the western end of this platform has been extended to the original centre road and is designated Platform 2.

The trackbed for Platform 1 closed (from memory) in 1980. The actual trackbed is not on a brick arch, but iron girders. It was the suspect integrity of the cross beams that caused Platform 1 to be closed. You can walk under these today. The adjacent platform sits on the brick arch.

I live opposite Clapham Junction station for the past 71 years. The shuttle train running between Clapham Junction and Kensington Olympia for postal workers Since at least the 1950s was two trains in the early morning (0800 to 0900) and two in the afternoon (around 1600 to 1700). The service was nicknamed `The Kenny Belle` for reasons unknown.

It was steam hauled until mid-1967, and for many years not published. I used to travel on it as soon as I was 10 years old, just for the ride.

The train used platforms 1 or 17. Until 1967 the 4 carriages used for the service were stabled overnight in Pig Hill sidings adjacent to the West London Extension Railway just north of the tracks serving Platform 16 and 17.

The local passenger service to Kensington Olympia stopped in 21October 1940 owing to severe bomb damage, i.e. most of the wooden Battersea station burnt down.

 

[zwk500]

now I understand re-numbered as 'Platform 0'.

Quick point, I don't think there's been any formal renumbering. It's expected that if it did ever get reinstated it would be Platform 0, but as there's no project to do it no decision has been made. IIRC Platform '0' would be required if either of the Overground lines increased their frequency to Clapham Junction.

The service was nicknamed `The Kenny Belle` for reasons unknown.

Presumably a bit of a joke with the Southern's crack expresses the Brighton and Bournemouth Belles.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

The trackbed for Platform 1 closed (from memory) in 1980.

That sounds about right. The original platform 1 was still in use when I worked there, our authorised walking route to A box being off London end of the island platform (1/2), then across the plat 1 line track to the up side cess and up the stairs to the box.
In later steam days the original plat 1 was for departures to Kenny O, and platform 2 for arrivals from Kenny.

 

[Steven Taylor]

Quick point, I don't think there's been any formal renumbering. It's expected that if it did ever get reinstated it would be Platform 0, but as there's no project to do it no decision has been made. IIRC Platform '0' would be required if either of the Overground lines increased their frequency to Clapham Junction.

Presumably a bit of a joke with the Southern's crack expresses the Brighton and Bournemouth Belles.

Around 2012, when the London Overground commenced the service to Surrey Quays, Dalston Junction etc, I do remember a schematic diagram of Clapham Junction in various parts of the station showing Platform 0. I did raise this with a couple of my railway friends at the station, saying it was absurd to publicise this as it was useless information and may confuse passengers.

There was certainly talk around this time of reinstating Platform 0, so the service to Kensington etc could be increased more easily.
But, as they say, talk is cheap! You need funds to do this.

 

[zwk500]

Around 2012, when the London Overground commenced the service to Surrey Quays, Dalston Junction etc, I do remember a schematic diagram of Clapham Junction in various parts of the station showing Platform 0. I did raise this with a couple of my railway friends at the station, saying it was absurd to publicise this as it was useless information and may confuse passengers.

There was certainly talk around this time of reinstating Platform 0, so the service to Kensington etc could be increased more easily.
But, as they say, talk is cheap! You need funds to do this.

It's certainly been talked about, and I'd personally be surprised if it wasn't platform 0. Renumbering platforms now is very expensive, so is avoided where possible unless you're doing works big enough to justify changing all the drawings anyway.
Including it on diagrams at the station is, as you say, not good for passengers.

 

[Recessio]

Would there the possibility of reinstating this platform if/when Clapham Junction is rebuilt for Crossrail 2?

 

[30907]

Would there the possibility of reinstating this platform if/when Clapham Junction is rebuilt for Crossrail 2?

I can't see why you would do that TBH.

Historically, the WL(E) route pre 1939ish had a regular passenger service (though ISTR it was split with the LBSC using P16/17).
There were also numerous parcels and milk services, both off that route and off the LCDR via Longhedge Jn. I don't recall if there were passenger services before about 1917 on that particular section.

 

[D7666]

Quick point, I don't think there's been any formal renumbering. It's expected that if it did ever get reinstated it would be Platform 0, but as there's no project to do it no decision has been made. IIRC Platform '0' would be required if either of the Overground lines increased their frequency to Clapham Junction.

Presumably a bit of a joke with the Southern's crack expresses the Brighton and Bournemouth Belles.

Belle was a bit more specific => Pullman available........... and before some pedant writes, no this did not mean all SR trains with Pullman were Belle, just that all Belles conveyed Pullman.

Digressing, a joke among some loco haulage bashers was on further to refer to an evening group of Olympia motorail departures as the "Kenny Ball".

 

[30907]

Belle was a bit more specific => Pullman available........... and before some pedant writes, no this did not mean all SR trains with Pullman were Belle, just that all Belles conveyed Pullman.

Pedantically, the Belles were all-Pullman (in BR days anyway).

Possible exception: the winter Thanet/Kentish Belle which only had a couple of Pullmans in an ordinary semi-fast, but I don't think the name was used officially in winter anyway.

 

[frankem51]

I used to travel on the Kenny Belle in the mid 1980s -- so-called because it went to Kensington Olympia.

 

[Geoff_K]

Thanks for your replies.