Ludgate Hill Station London 1929-1990

[sandwhich]

This station had a strange afterlife to say the least. It was opened on June 1st 1865 and closed to passengers on March 3rd 1929. it was an island platform sandwiched between Holborn Viaduct & Blackfriars Stations and on completion of the Wimbledon electrification in that year when the new service started to use Holborn Viaduct it was no longer needed and handed over to pw and shunting staff and remained virtually intact until 1959. The tracks throught the platform were in fact electrified as were two tracks across Blackfriars Bridge no doubt as a useful avoiding line for Blackfriars Station.
During the second world war much of the area was heavily bombed including direct hits on both Holborn Viaduct & Blackfriars stations but Ludgate Hill station did not receive a single hit. No doubt the high wall on the east side of the tracks and the large wall of the station entrance on New Bridge Street also protected this station from the ensuing firestorms of the bombing.
The canopies were finally removed in 1959 probably because they were becoming dangerous. The buildings were demolished in 1968 and the platform removed in 1974.
The final stake through the heart came in 1990 when complete redevolepment of the area meant that and hoardings around the old station entrance with some old SE &CR signs still intact was visable for the first time since 1929 but not for long as it was all soon demolished and finally vanished forever.
So after an operating life of 64 years the final demolition took place 61 years after closure.

A liitle spooky I think.

[strang steel]

Ben Brooksbank took some photos in the area, and they can be viewed on the Geograph website,

One such is here http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2362410

[sandwhich]

Thanks Strang Steel, that stop would never had got past H and S these days, just look at the stairs. Another use of the tracks through this station comes to mind and that was prior to the Kent Coast electrification in 1959 there were a number of steam hauled trains that ran into Cannon Street and then ran empty to Herne Hill sidings via Ludgate Hill, the first train arrived around 08 45 and was always double headed, the first engine was detached at the Blackfriars end and worked the empties away and the second engine waited for the next train and so on, there were i think six such trains and the last train was about 10 30 when the engine that brought in these empties then ran into Holborn Viaduct to work a parcels train out around midday, an early afternoon parcels train would arrive at Ludgate Hill around 2 30 run around its train and would propel it into Holborn Viaduct and await the first empties around 3 30 and then work forward with this train into Cannon Street, these movements would then continue until around 6 pm when the engine that brought the last train into Ludgate Hill would repeat the morning proceedure and go into the Viaduct for a parcels train working. These empty stock workings would also run on a Saturday morning with less trains and would go back at lunchtime. After electrification in 1959 there still a number of empty trains but would be emu stock probably going to Stewarts Lane the long way around, if there were still any steam workings they were probably kept over the Cannon Street side. After the completion of the Kent Coast electrification in 1962 these workings ceased altogether as new sidings were then laid out at New Cross. These workings were no doubt carried out with nothing less than military precision any delays into Cannon Street, Charing Cross, Blackfriars & Holborn Viaduct because of these workings would be fround upon from a very high level. Also as an add on these trains would cross the River Thames eight times a day. I lived near Ludgate Hill and spent many a school holiday observing these workings. Happy Days!

[PinzaC55]

Good info here http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/l/lu ... ndex.shtml

[sandwhich]

Thank you Pinza C55 for that info as regards Ludgate Hill Station, its still quite amazing that not a single incendary or bomb fell on this closed station during world war two and yet all around it was virtually flattened. There was another station nearby that closed in 1916, it was Holborn Viaduct Low Level that was situated between Holborn Viaduct and Snow Hill, there was an opening above the platforms and these due to nearby bomb damage could clearly be seen until building work covered the whole area.