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.

(photo: Apr 2006)

 

 

 

The site of Highgate Road Low Level station looking west.

(photo: 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.

(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.

(photo: Apr 2006)

 

 

 

The former entrance to the High Level station.

(photo: 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.

(photo: Apr 2006)

 

 

 

Westward view of the High Level platform area. The wall (recently painted) is the orignal rear wall for the platform.
Just beyond the signal is the bridge over Highgate Road (the road itself).

(photo: Apr 2007)

 

 

 

The High Level platform area. This view precedes the repainted view seen above.

(photo: Apr 2006)

 

 

 

Westward view of the High Level platform area. The section of bridge that supported the platform over the road has been removed, leaving just this elevated walkway for track staff.
There is a nice view from here down toward the location where the low level Highgate Road station was.

(photo: Apr 2007)

 

 

 

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

(photo: 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.

(photo: 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.

(photo: Apr 2006)

 

 

 

The Tufnell Park Goods, Coal & Cattle station 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.

(photo: Apr 2006)

 

 

Facing the other way, toward the bridge over Hornsey Road that the photo above this one was taken from.
Toward the bridge, there are still some railings present (as of June 2013) following the route of the staircase down to the platform area.

(photo: Apr 2007)

 

 

continues on next page...

 


Gospel Oak - Barking part.2