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Branksome Road, LONDON, SW19 3AW

Shown during construction of Croydon Tramlink and prior to restoration as private residence

Now restored as living accommodation, this station dates from 1870 and enlarged about 1894. Croydon Tramlink now runs past on the route of the West Croydon-Wimbledon railway line.

Seen on the last day of train services with a Class 456 unit.

The Wimbledon to West Croydon Line was opened in 1855. In 1868, the Tooting, Wimbledon & Sutton line was opened, and a branch from Tooting via Merton Abbey to the Wimbledon to West Croydon line at Merton Park was also opened. Initially a station was only provided on the Tooting line called Lower Merton which opened on 1st October 1868. This had a stationmaster's house incorporating a booking office on the down platform. This building still exists, but is now a private house called Station House. A new platform was opened on the Mitcham line on 1st November 1870 and the station which then served both lines was called Merton Park from 1st September 1887. The last passenger train on the Tooting to Merton Park line ran on 2nd March 1929, and after that only steam freight trains and the occasional excursion used the line. The junction at the Tooting end was severed in 1934 so that the line was worked as a long siding from Merton Park. All traffic finally ceased in May 1975 and the tracks between Merton Park and Tooting were removed soon afterwards. Passengers for Merton Park station on the Wimbledon to West Croydon line then had to cross two disused platforms until that line closed in 1997, to be replaced from May 2000 by Tramlink. Part of the old trackbed of the Tooting branch has been preserved. A small section of the down Tooting branch platform survives but whereas ten years ago this could easily be seen it is now almost unrecognisable through brambles. The former station was just to the left of the footpath here. The Mitcham branch platform has been removed and no trace remains - the new Merton Park Tramlink stop is further towards Wimbledon, just before Morden Road. A very full history with photographs can be seen at http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/m/merton_park/index.shtml

The Wimbledon to West Croydon Line was opened in 1855. In 1868, the Tooting, Wimbledon & Sutton line was opened, and a branch from Tooting via Merton Abbey to the Wimbledon to West Croydon line at Merton Park was also opened. Initially a station was only provided on the Tooting line called Lower Merton which opened on 1st October 1868. This had a stationmaster's house incorporating a booking office on the down platform. This building still exists, but is now a private house called Station House. It is the yellow house in the far distance in the centre of the photograph. A new platform was opened on the Mitcham line on 1st November 1870 and the station which then served both lines was called Merton Park from 1st September 1887. The last passenger train on the Tooting to Merton Park line ran on 2nd March 1929, and after that only steam freight trains and the occasional excursion used the line. The junction at the Tooting end was severed in 1934 so that the line was worked as a long siding from Merton Park. All traffic finally ceased in May 1975 and the tracks between Merton Park and Tooting were removed soon afterwards. Passengers for Merton Park station on the Wimbledon to West Croydon line then had to cross two disused platforms until that line closed in 1997, to be replaced from May 2000 by Tramlink. Part of the old trackbed of the Tooting branch has been preserved. A small section of the down Tooting branch platform survives but whereas ten years ago this could easily be seen it is now almost unrecognisable through brambles. The former station was ahead here and the line to Tooting swung round to the right of the photograph. The Mitcham branch platform has been removed and no trace remains - the new Merton Park Tramlink stop is further towards Wimbledon, just before Morden Road. A very full history with photographs can be seen at http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/m/merton_park/index.shtml

The ticket office was demolished and entrances altered when the line was taken over by Tramlink

View SE from A238 towards Mitcham and Croydon etc., formerly West Croydon SR/LB&SCR. The original ex-LB&SCR Wimbledon - West Croydon line (electrified by the SR in 1930) was closed 31/5/97 for conversion to the Tramlink, which opened 30/5/00. The original Merton Park station had been nearer this crossing and had an extra platform on the ex-LSWR & LB&SCR Joint line to Tooting, the Merton Abbey chord. The Loop lost its passenger service from 2/3/29, but freight continued for many years, from the Merton Park end after severance of the line at Tooting Junction on 10/3/34, until 1/5/75.

Out of use for many years, by 1997 the station house had become derelict and heavily vandalised. This shows it from the railway side, where the branch line to Merton Abbey used to curve round away from the line to Mitcham Junction. Eventually the house was refurbished and is now a modernised dwelling house.See also Image

The station overlaps part of the site of the former Merton Park railway station which was served by passenger trains on the West Croydon to Wimbledon Line until 1997.

On Kingston Road approaching the crossing over the Tramlink line.