The railway south of Garrison Lane

Image: © Marathon Taken: 4 Sep 2013

Construction of the Chessington line from Motspur Park began in 1936 and opened as far as Chessington South in 1939. Intermediate stations were opened and although there was a little house building near Chessington North before the Second World War, the majority of building stimulated by the line came after 1945. This was largely to the north and west of the line and today the area to the south and east along the valley of the Hogsmill River and Bonesgate Stream remains relatively undeveloped. Powers had been obtained to continue the line to Leatherhead but work halted following financial problems and the onset of war. When abandoned the line had reached a goods yard just south of Chessington but in 1941-2 Royal Engineers on a training exercise carried the embankment on from Chalky Lane where work had stopped as far as Chessington Wood, only 400 metres north of the next intended station at Malden Rushett. This work can still be seen today. Following the war most of the undulating wood and common land south of Chessington became part of the Green Belt and the proposed extension was abandoned. This view looks south from the bridge on Garrison Lane. Looking in the other direction one would see Chessington South station. At Chessington South this area to the south of the station was originally the goods yard. The tracks end just ahead and this area is used for storage of rail maintenance vehicles. Under the original plan trains would have continued on in this direction to Leatherhead.

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