Trains at: Gatwick Airport, BML, 02/12/23
189A very cold afternoon spent at Gatwick Airport on the Brighton Mainline where we see services from Thameslink, Southern and Gatwick Express.
There's actually a varied history regarding this station which is very surprising. You would have thought that this was purely built for the airport when it was built but this isn't the case.
The original station was built in 1891 and was done so purely for the nearby Gatwick Racecourse, this meant that the station was only used on race days, the station included passing loops and sidings which meant that the trains operating into the station wouldn't impede other traffic like freight and express services heading to the south west of the country.
The station soon fell out of use after the Tinsley Green station was opened less than half a mile away, only after a year the station was renamed Gatwick Airport after completion of the Beehive airport terminal, this boasted a subway linking the terminal to the station.
Like a lot of airports throughout the UK during WW2 the station was acquisitioned by the RAF.
In 1958 the station was expanded because the government made the decision to make this London's second airport after Heathrow. All of the platforms were expanded to accommodate 12 car trains, there was a parcels office built underneath the main station concourse. Three of the old racecourse platforms were raised by 1ft and extended by an additional 30 metres. The signal box was refurbished and kept in use right up until the 1980's when it was eventually closed down and demolished. As far as I am aware there isn't any signs left of its existence.
My next station is Folkestone Central.
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