IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Stafford Road, CATERHAM, CR3 6JG

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 a private company 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. In this photograph a Southern train awaits the start of its journey from the terminus at Caterham to London Bridge. The wooded nature of the Caterham Valley can be clearly seen beyond the platform.

Retirement apartments in Stafford Road, Caterham Valley

An electric multiple unit (EMU) leaving Caterham station. Caterham is the terminus at the end of a branch line. The railway is electrified using the third rail system.

Seen from its south end. This mile-long road parallels the railway on the west side and reaches a T-junction with Burntwood Lane very near the Wapses Lodge roundabout.

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 a private company 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. In this photograph a Southern train awaits the start of its journey from the terminus at Caterham to London Bridge.

Waller Lane leads steeply uphill along the side of Caterham Valley from lower Caterham near the station and East Surrey Museum to upper Caterham at the High Street. In the whole time I walked up it not a single car passed, although the roads at the bottom and top were busy.

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 a private company 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. In this photograph a Southern train awaits the start of its journey from the terminus at Caterham to London Bridge, whilst in the distance another train has just left.

Waller Lane leads steeply uphill along the side of Caterham Valley from lower Caterham near the station and East Surrey Museum to upper Caterham at the High Street. In the whole time I walked up it not a single car passed, although the roads at the bottom and top were busy.