IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Anne Mews, BARKING, IG11 8GH

This weekend saw the 'Cockney Coaster' steam special shuttling between Fenchurch Street and Shoeburyness by a variety of routes. Here the up train hauled by 45407 (as 45157) has reached Barking via Grays and Upminster to find 76079, used for down trains, had already got there light by the direct route, having left Shoeburyness later. It would follow on behind the up train. The platforms are those normally used by Tilbury line trains, 7 and 8.

View SE by Barking West signal-box (on left). The locomotive is BR Standard 4MT 2-6-4T No. 80078, which was built 2/54 and withdrawn 7/65, but survived to be preserved on the Swanage Railway.

A c2c Class 357 (357211) arrives at Barking under a threatening sky with a Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness service.

Today I was lucky enough to be on a 169 bus which was on diversion because of its usual route along Ilford Lane being closed due to a collision, which gave me the opportunity to get this unusual shot of Barking station from the top deck! Looking southeast.

Barking station was opened on 13th April 1854 by the London Tilbury & Southend Railway (LTSR) on their new line to Tilbury via Dagenham Dock, which split from the Eastern Counties Railway (ECR) at Forest Gate. This is now part of the C2C line from Barking via Dagenham Dock and Rainham to Grays. The London, Tilbury & Southend Railway (LTSR) direct line from Bow to Barking (avoiding Stratford and Forest Gate) was constructed from west to east in 1858. What is now the main C2C line was opened in 1885 by the London, Tilbury & Southend Railway between Barking and Upminster. On 12th September 1932, the District line was extended over new tracks alongside the existing line between Barking and Upminster. The present main C2C line therefore dates from 1885 and the present District line from 1932. They are all pre-dated by the Dagenham Dock branch of the C2C line which opened in 1854. The Hammersmith & City (at that time part of the Metropolitan line) first served the station in 1936. For a more detailed history see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barking_station This photograph from the up C2C line sees a Hammersmith & City line train terminating on the far side. The bridge ahead carries the Northern Relief Road over the lines.

On the right is seen a Class 150 unit approaching the station on a train from Gospel Oak. The bridge carries the Barking Northern Relief Road. The covered stairway at the right is a private staff entrance and is not for use by the general public.