GOSPEL OAK - BARKING

 

An amalgamation of two lines, the Tottenham & Hampstead Junction Railway and the Tottenham & Forest Gate Railway, its history has been a difficult one and for a while, its continued passenger existence was far from guaranteed. Current transport policy is favourable toward this and London's
other radial lines and some improvements to the line have seen a surprising rise in the number of passengers (surprising that is to the politicians, who never seem to comprehend the correlation between good service and high passenger numbers).

Originally running from Kentish Town, its western terminus is now Gospel Oak station, where it interchanges with the North London Line. The eastern terminus is Barking. Despite crossing the routes of the Northern, Piccadilly and Central tube lines, and mainlines from Kings Cross and Liverpool Street, direct connection is only provided with the Victoria line at Blackhorse Road.

Full details about the line are here: www.barking-gospeloak.org.uk

 

 

 

HIGHGATE ROAD

(High Level: 1868 - 1915)
(Low Level: 1900 - 1918)

 

1930s map showing the loop from Kentish Town, the former terminus, to the Gospel Oak to Barking line.

Seen here are Highgate Road and Junction Road stations. Highgate Road had two stations; High Level and a Low Level. The one seen on the map here is the High Level one.

 

 

 

Westward view from Kentish Town showing the missing track area on the right that led to Highgate Road Low Level station. There are no signs on the left of the bridge that spanned the tracks here and led to Highgate Road High Level station.

(Apr 2006)

 

 

 

The site of Highgate Road Low Level station looking west.

(Apr 2006 )

 

 

 

Highgate Road Low Level station looking east with the viaduct for the High Level station visible at the top right of the photo.

(Apr 2006)

 

 

 

The station building area for the low level station was situated just to the left of the photo, the high level station's entrance was through the arch beneath the bridge.

(Apr 2006)

 

 

 

The former entrance to the High Level station.

(Apr 2006)

 

 

 

View of the High Level and its entrance underneath the bridge. The phone box on the left of the photo indicates the approximate position of the low level station building.

(Apr 2006)

 

 

 

The High Level platform area.

(Apr 2006)

 

 

 

Looking east at the junction of the high level and the low level tracks, just short of the old Junction Road station.

(Apr 2006)

 

 

JUNCTION ROAD

(1872 - 1943)

The site of Junction Road station, a short distance from the Northern Line's Tufnell Park station. There are calls for a station to be reopened here.

(Apr 2006)

 

 

 

Looking west at the Junction Road station site. A point just to the right of this photo would show a block of flats in which the author lived during his infant years. According to his parents, the goods yards that used to exist here was the source of much nocturnal activity and caused many disturbed nights sleep.

(Apr 2006)

 

 

 

The Tufnell Park goods yard closed in 1968. It has been an industrial estate for at least 20 years but its railway origins are still apparent, as seen by this goods platform, still intact in July 2010.

 

 

HORNSEY ROAD

(1872 - 1943)

The site of Hornsey Road station looking west. The station building was demolished shortly after closure.

(Apr 2006)

 

 

ST ANN'S ROAD

(1882 - 1942)

The station building still standing in July 2006. It was demolished in September 2012.

 

 

 

The station building in 2011, a year before its demolition.

Photo by Philip Lindhurst. ©2012

 

 

 

The station building, looking nothing like a station building, in 2011, a year before its demolition.

Photo by Philip Lindhurst. ©2012

 

 

 

Westward view of the westbound track and platform area. The road visible on the left hand side of the photo is Seven Sisters Road, which runs all the way from Seven Sisters station to Holloway Road.

(July 2006)

 

BLACKHORSE ROAD

(1894 - 1981)

The original station building and platforms were on the east side of Blackhorse Road but were belatedly replaced for easier
interchange with the Victoria line.


The location of the original station building at Blackhorse Road.

(Oct 2006)

 

 

 


East view of the platform area. This photo was taken from the bridge on Blackhorse Road - the new platforms are on the other side of the bridge.

(Oct 2006)

 

 

 

Westward view of the westbound track and the mound of earth that represents all that is left of the original platforms at Blackhorse Road.

(July 2006)

 


North London Railway: Camden Road - Victoria Park