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Dairyman Close, LONDON, NW2 1EP

Cricklewood station was opened as Childs Hill and Cricklewood by the Midland Railway in 1868 on its extension to St. Pancras. The station acquired its present name in 1903. This view is from the down platform. The next station in this direction is Hendon. East Midlands Trains InterCity services from Leeds, Sheffield and Leicester to and from St Pancras International run through on the high speed lines, which are to the left here. John Betjeman actually wrote a poem about Cricklewood and its trains: "...Midland, bound for Cricklewood. Puffed its sulphur to the sunset where that Land of Laundries stood." Apart from agriculture, laundering was the chief occupation as the local water was unusually pure and soft. There were also brickworks in this area, but brickmaking was a seasonal occupation, so brickmakers married laundresses who earned money for the family in the idle months of winter.

View NW, towards Bedford and the North: ex-Midland main line from St Pancras, recently (July 1983) electrified as far as Bedford. (Cf. Steam Days 23 years earlier at Image]).

View NW, as LMS 'Jubilee' 6P 4-6-0 No. 45650 'Blake' hurries through on the Up Fast with one of the numerous Specials for the Cup Final which in 1961 Leicester City lost to Tottenham Hotspur. (Precisely where this particular train came from is uncertain as it has a 'W...' headboard).

Class 319, 319013 arrives as the lead unit of an 8 coach service from St.Albans to Sutton via Wimbledon. A look-out man stands on the platform providing warning for a small team of engineers working on the down slow line to the south of the station. 319013 is wearing Southern livery but is operated by First Capital Connect as part of their Thameslink Great Northern franchise. This franchise is due to end in September 2014 and from July 2015 the Southern franchise will be merged with the Thameslink Great Northern one to form the Thameslink Southern & Great Northern franchise. New Siemens Class 700 units will start to enter service on the route in 2016 displacing the current class 319's which may be refurbished and see service elsewhere in the country.

View northward, towards Bedford and the North: ex-Midland Main Line from St Pancras. The 07.25 from Manchester Central is headed by Rebuilt 'Patriot' 7P 4-6-0 No. 45536 'Private W. Wood, V.C.' (built 5/33, rebuilt 11/48, withdrawn 12/62). The major Cricklewood Locomotive Depot and extensive Brent (Empty) Sidings were on the left, the Loaded Sidings and the Carriage Sidings being on the right behind the express. This station and the parallel A5, which passed the Yards on the west side, were favourite spots for train-watching.

Cricklewood station was opened as Childs Hill and Cricklewood by the Midland Railway in 1868 on its extension to St. Pancras. The station acquired its present name in 1903. This view is from the down platform. The next station in this direction is Hendon. East Midlands Trains InterCity services from Leeds, Sheffield and Leicester to and from St Pancras International run through on the high speed lines, which are to the left here. John Betjeman actually wrote a poem about Cricklewood and its trains: "...Midland, bound for Cricklewood. Puffed its sulphur to the sunset where that Land of Laundries stood." Apart from agriculture, laundering was the chief occupation as the local water was unusually pure and soft. There were also brickworks in this area, but brickmaking was a seasonal occupation, so brickmakers married laundresses who earned money for the family in the idle months of winter.

The view from the station at Cricklewood looking north towards Hendon. Empty coaching stock for an evening St Pancras service is leaving the sidings and depot. This was at the time that the Bedford to St Pancras line was being re-signalled and electrified. Today this view is much changed, the old signalling is long gone along with the locomotive hauled stock and the track has been rationalised.