| Synopsis: |
It is many years since the "Past and Present" series visited London's suburbs, and the privatization era as seen many developments 'south of the river'. Since the Grouping of 1923 there have been many changes of ownership and livery, and a constant updating of rolling stock, although some examples lasted and continue to last well beyond their 'sell-by date'. Some settings appear to have hardly changed over the years while others are completely unrecognizable. This wide-ranging pictorial survey covers: the ex-LSWR main line from Guildford by way of Weybridge, Surbiton and Wimbledon to Clapham Junction and Waterloo; lines to Kingston and Richmond via Wimbledon; Croydon and the former LB&SCR main lines from the coast to London Bridge and Victoria; Coulsdon, the Selhurst triangle, Addiscombe (trams for trains), and Crystal Palace; Beckenham and the former SER main lines to the Kent Coast; and, Bromley, Sidcup, Dartford, Charlton, Greenwich, New Cross and Clapham Junction to the London termini. This is a part of our rail network where there have been very few closures and which is generally booming and expanding.The Croydon Tramlink is featured as well as the new Overground system, still under construction, which takes the former East London Thames Tunnel underground network on from New Cross Gate to Croydon. |