Tolworth Coal Concentration Depot

[KingsCrossSuburban]

Between 1982 and 1984 I used to stay close to Tolworth and came across the Charringtons Coal Concentration Depot there. I saw it in operation on a couple of occasions, but didn't have a camera at that time, so wasn't able to record any of the action. I was wondering if anyone has any photos or knows where I can find some, of this facility. I would be interested in any pictures prior to it being converted into stone handling facility. Also, if anyone had any photos of the Coal Concentation depot at Chessington South, they would be of interest as well.

 

Many Thanks.

[Pugsley]

I can't find anything for Tolworth, but there's a couple here from Brian Daniels of Chessington.

 

http://briandaniels.fotopic.net/p22451559.html

http://briandaniels.fotopic.net/p22451529.html

 

There are some others on the Internet as well - I remember seeing them when I was looking for something else. Sadly, I can't remember where I found them, and didn't save a copy.

 

HTH

[Oldddudders]

I can't find anything for Tolworth, but there's a couple here from Brian Daniels of Chessington.

 

http://briandaniels.fotopic.net/p22451559.html

http://briandaniels.fotopic.net/p22451529.html

 

There are some others on the Internet as well - I remember seeing them when I was looking for something else. Sadly, I can't remember where I found them, and didn't save a copy.

And of course those lines on the left of the second shot should have carried on to Leatherhead. Hitler and the Green Belt between them knackered that.

[KingsCrossSuburban]

Martin, Ian,

Thanks for the photos and info. During my time in the area, I never made it further south than Chessington North station, so great to see the yard at Chessington South.

 

Cheers,

[Oldddudders]

The Chessie Branch was a great example of how railways might have gone on, if Hitler hadn't got in the way, leaving them all bankrupt and in v poor condition. Those stations, those massive concrete bridges - such brave new-world use of modern materials! They do not deserve to be on RMWeb's intriguing and estimable Favourite Stations and Favourite Structures threads - going great guns just now - because they were and are a bit extraordinary, but they do merit study. Very glad money has been spent in recent years to bring back their lustre. Love 'em to bits!

[rob D2]

There are also pictures of chessington coal depot in 'freight today' by rhodes and shannon, showing 37199 in RF grey depositing 2 HEAs there.Nice overgrown weedy sidings !

[Fat Controller]

The Chessie Branch was a great example of how railways might have gone on, if Hitler hadn't got in the way, leaving them all bankrupt and in v poor condition. Those stations, those massive concrete bridges - such brave new-world use of modern materials! They do not deserve to be on RMWeb's intriguing and estimable Favourite Stations and Favourite Structures threads - going great guns just now - because they were and are a bit extraordinary, but they do merit study. Very glad money has been spent in recent years to bring back their lustre. Love 'em to bits!

Glad to hear they've been done up- my uncle used to live almost opposite Malden Manor station, and the last time I used it, it was in a pitiful state.

I never went down the branch beyond Malden Manor, so didn't see the other stations and associated coal depots, but I did see the freight going down the branch after the morning peak in the late 1960s. It was an electro-diesel, with perhaps a dozen or more 21t hoppers; some, I remember, had 'Charringtons' painted on the side. These stuck in my mind, as I'd seen them on the branch near my parents' house in Llanelli as well. I think on one occasion the small electro-diesel was replaced by one of its big brothers.

There is a very atmospheric model of a partially-imagined station on the branch, with an imagined MoD facility, which I've seen at a few exhibitions- worth looking out for.