1
A tram approaches Merton Park Tramstop
The Wimbledon to West Croydon Line was opened in 1855 and closed in 1997 so that the route could be taken over by Tramlink. The original line between Wimbledon and West Croydon just ran as a shuttle between those two stations and although it was electrified in 1930, trains on the line never continued elsewhere. In its latter years trains ran about every 45 minutes. Some sections were single line and this continued when Tramlink took over the route which has been running since May 2000.
Just ahead was the site of the former Merton Park station which closed with the Wimbledon to West Croydon line in 1997. The platform has been removed and no trace remains - the new Merton Park Tramlink stop is further towards Wimbledon, just before Morden Road. This view is from the footpath between Melbourne Road and Dorset Road where it crosses the tram tracks.
A very full history of Merton Park station, with photographs, can be seen at http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/m/merton_park/index.shtml
Image: © Marathon
Taken: 20 Feb 2017
0.08 miles
2
Tramlink
View towards the Merton Park stop.
Image: © Peter Trimming
Taken: 16 Nov 2021
0.08 miles
3
Tramlink
Beckenham Junction service having just departed from Merton Park.
Image: © Peter Trimming
Taken: 16 Nov 2021
0.08 miles
4
Tramlink
Elmers End service having just departed from the Merton Park stop.
Image: © Peter Trimming
Taken: 16 Nov 2021
0.09 miles
5
Footpath alongside the site of the former Merton Park station
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
Image: © Marathon
Taken: 20 Feb 2017
0.09 miles
6
Foot crossing over Tramlink
The Wimbledon to West Croydon Line was opened in 1855 and closed in 1997 so that the route could be taken over by Tramlink. The original line between Wimbledon and West Croydon just ran as a shuttle between those two stations and although it was electrified in 1930, trains on the line never continued elsewhere. In its latter years trains ran about every 45 minutes. Some sections were single line and this continued when Tramlink took over the route which has been running since May 2000.
Just to the left here was the site of the former Merton Park station which closed with the Wimbledon to West Croydon line in 1997. The platform has been removed and no trace remains - the new Merton Park Tramlink stop is further towards Wimbledon, just before Morden Road. This view is from the footpath between Dorset Road and Melbourne Road where it crosses the tram tracks.
A very full history of Merton Park station, with photographs, can be seen at http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/m/merton_park/index.shtml
Image: © Marathon
Taken: 20 Feb 2017
0.09 miles
7
Footpath alongside the site of the former Merton Park station
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
Image: © Marathon
Taken: 20 Feb 2017
0.09 miles
8
Station house, Merton Park station
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
Image: © Dr Neil Clifton
Taken: 28 May 1997
0.09 miles
9
Croydon Tramlink: Kingston Road level-crossing and Merton Park tram-stop, 2000
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.
Image: © Ben Brooksbank
Taken: 22 Sep 2000
0.09 miles
10
Tramlink
Wimbledon service approaching Merton Park.
Image: © Peter Trimming
Taken: 16 Nov 2021
0.10 miles