IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
The Avenue, WHYTELEAFE, CR3 0AQ

The first proposals for a railway along the Caterham Valley came in 1836 with the object of building a new London to Dover line through a mile long tunnel under the North Downs. It proved too costly and the existing line via Redhill was used. Instead Caterham received a branch line, built by Caterham Railway, a private company, and opened in 1856. The original purpose was to provide a convenient method of transporting the valuable building stone from the quarries at Godstone to London. Soon though the original purpose was overtaken by wealthy Victorian commuters using the line as the Caterham Valley developed. There were early frustrations for these commuters, for example, in the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway arranging for the connecting train at Godstone Road (now Purley) station to leave one minute before the Caterham train arrived. The Caterham branch was increased from single to double track by January 1st 1900. Whyteleafe South station opened at the same time as the line but was called Warlingham until 1956. There are three railway stations in the village of Whyteleafe, the others being Whyteleafe, and Upper Warlingham on the Oxted Line. This view looks down the line towards Caterham across Salmons Lane level crossing which is at the southern edge of the station.

This small cottage on the junction of The Avenue and Salmons Lane (unseen on the right), has an unusual timber-log facing.

The roads either side of the Caterham Valley rise up quite steeply. This is Salmons Lane which leads from Godstone Road (A22) across a level crossing on the south side of Whyteleafe South station and then up the side of the valley, as seen here.

Beside the A22 Godstone Road.

Morning sun on the lane as it drops past Portley Wood Road.

EMU 377 613 is about to cross the Salmons Lane level crossing, also shown in Image

Beside Whyteleafe South station on Salmons Lane.