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Queensland Road, LONDON, N7 7FH

Prior to its takeover by British Rail in 1976, the Great Northern & City Railway was a self contained operation; I believe its train depot was here, on the west side of Drayton Park station. It is somewhat surprising that the land has not been built on.

Extensive housing development built to the designs of architects CZWG.

Overshadowed now by the enormous Emirates Stadium of Arsenal Football Club, this shows the tracks at the north end of Drayton Park station, looking towards Finsbury Park. Until 1975, the tracks entered tunnels here to reach underground platforms at Finsbury Park. The line was at that time part of London Transport's Northern Line, and plans had been made for the tracks to surface here and be extended via Finsbury Park to East Finchley, Alexandra Palace, Edgware, and Bushey Heath. World War II intervened to prevent this plan ever being carried out, but in 1976 the line between Finsbury Park and Moorgate, the southern terminus, was transferred to British Railways, being served by full-size rolling stock from such places as Hertford North and New Barnet. These services still remain, now worked by First Capital Connect.

Looking north along platform 2 (one side of a narrow island platform) towards Finsbury Park. The white bridge over the station provides access to the Emirates Stadium (home of Arsenal Football Club), which can just be seen between the station canopy and the new block of flats on the left. The greenery next to the railway is, I believe, on the site of the train depot which closed when this line became part of British Rail in 1976. Drayton Park station is the changeover point between the 750V DC third rail and 25kV 50Hz AC overhead electrification systems, hence the presence of the infrastructure for both.

Looking north from the north end of platform 2, towards the junction with the East Coast Main Line at Finsbury Park. The large "6" sign indicates that six car trains (which presumably only just fit into the platform) must stop there, hence the mirror to enable drivers to see the train doors. On the left, the Emirates Stadium (home of Arsenal Football Club) towers over the railway.

Arsenal's name straddles the approach to the Emirates Stadium from Drayton Park.

Apartment block adjacent to Arsenal's Emirates Stadium built to the designs of architects CZWG. More at this http://www.czwg.com/works/queensland-road.

This seems to be the only railway-related building, except for those which are actually part of the station, to have survived at Drayton Park. What its initial use was, and what it is used for now, I would be interested to know. It seems to have had access by two roads of rail tracks from the north end, but a 1939 photograph shows that rail access was no longer possible by that date.

Opened in 1904 by the Great Northern & City Railway on the line from London Moorgate to Finsbury Park. View south towards Highbury & Islington and Moorgate.