Beckenham Junction, Elmers End, Selhurst, Hackbridge, Sutton Common, Worcester Park and Malden Manor - 21.2 miles - Tuesday 14 February 2017

Today's walk took in no less than 9 Railway Stations and 6 Croydon Tram Stops and took me through the London Borough's of Greenwich, Lewisham, Croydon, Sutton and Kingston.

I left home at 11:10 and arrived at Malden Manor at 18:49 - 7 hours and 39 minutes walking. I then continued for a further 2.1 miles to Kingsmeadow for the Football (AFC v Coventry City a 1-1 draw with a stoppage time goal, terrible performance) where I rewarded myself with a pint of Hogs Back TEA, it was pure nectar!

My route followed the same route as I used for my New Malden walk until I got to Hither Green when I turned left down Baring Road, turning left again towards Lewisham Crematorium, crossing the railway near Grove Park Carriage sidings.

Grove Park Carriage sidings

I walked along Railway Children Walk, named after E.E. Nesbitt who lived on a house that backed on to the railway line which  gave her the inspiration for the Railway Children novel.

My first Railway Station was Beckenham Hill,  (5.6 miles / 12:57) not one of my Edge of Zone 4 Stations, but it is in Zone 4. Its served by Thameslink. I remember catching a train here in my early twenties to play football for NWB, it appears the sports ground has been built over.

Beckenham Hill

Across the road is Beckenham Place Park, my route takes me through the park on route to Beckenham Junction. Beckenham Park Place is a fine Palladian style mansion.

Beckenham Park Place

Once through the Park it was a short walk down to Beckenham Junction Railway Station.  (Edge of Zone 4 - 6.8 miles / 13:30). This is served by both Southern and SouthEastern Trains, there is also an interchange with the Croydon Tram link.

Beckenham Junction

I stopped for my lunch at Beckenham Junction. The station has two through platforms and two bay platforms. The tram is across the car park. This was the first time I had ever been to Beckenham Junction Station. Not much going on a few trains, stoppers and non-stoppers.

Formewr Station Building?

Beckenham Junction Tram Stop

The photo on the top, taken from the corner of Rectory Road  looks very much like an old station building. The garage extension is an add on.

Another 1.7 miles brought me to Elmers End Railway Station (Edge of Zone 4 - 8.5 miles / 14:14).

Elmers End Tram Stop

Again this shares its platforms with the Croydon tram link, being a branch from the Beckenham Junction line to Croydon.


From Elmers End I walked towards Birkbeck, I could have captured this station but had to turn left to cross South Norwood Country Park. This runs alongside Beckenham Crematorium and the entrance into the Crematorium was via a crossing across the Croydon Tramlink at Harrington Road.

Harrington Road Tram Stop

There was a horse drawn hearse evident. I did not realise there was a station here, as its not clearly defined in my A-Z! More likley my poor eyesight.

From here I walked into Norwood passing under a railway bridge across Norwood Hill were there is a blue plaque (not a real one) which refers to the Atmospheric Railway. I never realised there had been one in London, I thought the only one was in Devon.

I passed Norwood Junction, which is an  Edge of Zone 4 station, but one I have covered off previously.

Norwood Junction

 I was now walking along Selhurst Road which of course brought me to Selhurst Railway Station (Edge of Zone 4 - 10.9 miles / 15:07).  Selhurst was very busy as it is across the road from the Southern Railway Selhurst Depot and it must have shift change time!

Selhurst

After a further 1.2 miles, some of which was down a small alley alongside the railway I arrived at West Croydon Railway Station (12.1 miles / 15.33). This is in Zone 5 so I did not visit the station as it would have cost me on my Travel Card, save that for another day. West Croydon is also a Croydon Tram stop.

West Croydon

After West Croydon the tram stops came thick and fast as did the trams. As well as West Croydon there was Reeves Corner, which was the site of the big fire during the summer of unrest a few years ago. This was followed by Wandle Park which I actually accessed via Wandle Park.

Wandle Park

To get to Wandle Park I had to cross the railway between West Croydon and Waddon. The tram stop here was quite busy as the schools were out.

Next up was Hackbridge, but before I arrived here I had a lengthy 3 mile walk along the River Wandle, past my friend Mitchell's road. No time to pop in as I was running late then through Beddington Park.

Hackbridge

I last remember going to Hackbridge in 1975, by car with my mother, to buy a hi-fi system from the Comet Warehouse which cost over £125, my mother lent me the money as she did not me to want me buying a motor bike! There used to be a really big industrial estate  here but its all been knocked down now and housing is going up instead. Hackbridge Railway Station (Edge of Zone 4 - 15.1 miles / 16:32) will be very busy in a few years time.

The next station was Sutton Common, I could have taken in Carshalton, but did not bother, too far to walk. I remember  a bus from Raynes Park used to go to Wrythe Green and now 40 years later I've made it here! I had to circumnavigate Sutton to get to Sutton Common and covered some old ground. My Mother used to drive me to school this way, in particular crossing over Angel Hill. Sutton Common Railway Station ( Edge of Zone 4 - 17.5 miles / 17.18) is on the Wimbledon loop and is an island Platform.

Sutton Common

It felt like an age walking to Worcester Park. This is another name from my childhood and again another place I never visited. I was surprised how long the main drag in Worcester Park was stretching from Cheam to the Station. You wouldn't want to visit one shop at one end and another at the other end regularly. It was dark as I arrived at Worcester Park Railway Station (Edge of Zone 4 - 20.3 miles / 18:25).

Worcester Park

I was very flaky by the time I had walked the 0.9 of a mile to Malden Manor Railway Station (Edge of Zone 4 - 21.2 miles / 18:49). I like the design of this station, and its sisters at Tolworth and Chessington North and South. Very 1930's Southern Railway Art Deco. This branch line was going to be extended to Leatherhead but the war put a stop to that. The extension to Chessington was the last London branch line built by the Southern.

Malden Manor

 A video of the walk can be found here: