Trains at: Orpington, SEML, 06/04/24
128A very wet and windy session spent at Orpington on the South Eastern Mainline where we see plenty of services from Southeastern and Thameslink.
The station was opened by the South Eastern Railway in 1868 when the company opened its line running from Chislehurst and Sevenoaks. Originally trains that were running from London to Tunbridge Wells had to take a much longer circular route which would take the trains via Redhill.
The station stayed the same until 1904 when the line was widened which meant that the station needed to be expanded which resulted in it becoming 6 platforms in total.
Third rail electrification reached the station in 1925 and eventually reached Sevenoaks in 1935. Previously trains running along the route were steam hauled.
The later 2 platforms 7 & 8 were built in the early 1990's to help with the amount of trains serving the southern area of the country and the fact that London is ever expanding. They were built on the former carriage sidings, the old engine shed still stands and can be seen quite clearly but has been modernised into office.
My next station will be Petts Wood.
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