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Amber Close, EPSOM, KT17 3BG

c1930s housing in Fir Tree Road, although the road itself significantly predates any development, being shown on the 1871 1:10,000 map.

Pretty typical of the many residential streets in this outer suburban area - though this links the A240 at Drift Bridge with Epsom Downs, and thus carries a certain amount of through traffic. The view is NNE from a point not many yards north of Mimosa Close (newly built, and not yet plotted by the OS at the time of writing).

c1930s housing in Fir Tree Road, although the road itself significantly predates any development, being shown on the 1871 1:10,000 map.

Beyond the fence is the platform of Epsom Downs station.

The first railway company to make the climb up towards Epsom race-course was the London, Brighton & South Coast, which arrived in 1865. Local opposition meant that its terminus was built more than half a mile from the nearest point on the course. Plainly that didn't deter race-goers: to handle race-day crowds the station had nine tracks. Some 36 years later a rival railway company built a line up to the race-course. The South Eastern & Chatham's terminus was at Tattenham Corner, and just a minute or so's walk from the course. The SE&CR's route from London was less direct - going 'all round the houses' via Purley and Tadworth - but its terminus was far more convenient for race-goers, so the Brighton line's terminus inevitably declined. The site of the old station was finally sold for residential development in 1989, so that the line now terminates at the site seen in the photo - several hundred yards further north-east (and further from the races). Just a single platform, just a single track. Someone I spoke to nearby told me that during Derby week passengers still flood in by the thousand.

Epsom Downs station is just a shadow of what it once was. Opened in 1865, it had nine platform faces, most of which were only used on race days. Tattenham Corner station is more convenient as it is much closer to the racecourse at Epsom Downs and consequently, as race traffic declined, there was no need for all the platforms at Epsom Downs station. Eventually only one island platform remained and then in 1989 the station was demolished to make way for a new housing estate and a new single platform station was built some 300 yards to the north-east. For more information and photographs see http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/e/epsom_downs/index.shtml During the day now there is an hourly service along the single track branch to Sutton and then onwards via West Croydon to Victoria.

Epsom Downs station is just a shadow of what it once was. Opened in 1865, it had nine platform faces, most of which were only used on race days. Tattenham Corner station is more convenient as it is much closer to the racecourse at Epsom Downs and consequently, as race traffic declined, there was no need for all the platforms at Epsom Downs station. Eventually only one island platform remained and then in 1989 the station was demolished to make way for a new housing estate and a new single platform station was built some 300 yards to the north-east. For more information and photographs see http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/e/epsom_downs/index.shtml During the day now there is an hourly service along the single track branch to Sutton and then onwards via West Croydon to Victoria. The height reached by the railway at Epsom Downs can be gauged by the view seen here with The Gherkin and The Shard visible towards the right and the British Telecom Tower to the left. St Paul's Cathedral could be seen in between.

Pathfinders Tours' Buffer Puffer 11.1 charter which used Direct Rail Services' Class 20/3 diesel locomotives numbers 20303 and 20304 (top and tailed) prepares to return to Sutton (Surrey) with Mark 1 coach number W4998 in the image.

Originally opened in 1865. At one time, the station had nine platforms; now there is just one, with Tattenham Corner station being closer to the race course.

Epsom Downs station is just a shadow of what it once was. Opened in 1865, it had nine platform faces, most of which were only used on race days. Tattenham Corner station is more convenient as it is much closer to the racecourse at Epsom Downs and consequently, as race traffic declined, there was no need for all the platforms at Epsom Downs station. Eventually only one island platform remained and then in 1989 the station was demolished to make way for a new housing estate and a new single platform station was built some 300 yards to the north-east. For more information and photographs see http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/e/epsom_downs/index.shtml During the day now there is an hourly service along the single track branch from Sutton. Here a Southern train awaits departure for Victoria via West Croydon.