Tuesday, 27 October 2026

Innings, Outings And Stackings (2)

 Two Mysteries Solved

We now know that the Mark 2 station building for LSWR passengers closed in the early 1940s and what remains (the former taxi road) is used for "stacking" buses. 'Stacking' was the term used in Sheffield for parking buses between trips.

Before fbb looks at this 'stack' there are two more entrances to Clapham Junction to examine. 

Or are there?

Here is a simplified plan of the station and its main roads ...
... with an unmarked Falcon Road running roughly north south and below the tracks.

As the eastern end of the station, a main thoroughfare, Falcon Road, plunges under the tracks. Here is the approach from the north ...
... showing the double arrow logo in the gloom on the right.
But it is not an entrance as such as it announces a walkway partially under the tracks, through a colonnade ...
... which takes passengers via a bus 'stacking' area ...
... to the northern entrance to the passenger subway/tunnel on Grant Road.
Disappointed, fbb had hoped that he had discovered a dank and dismal tunnel with a surprise exit on Platform 13!
That would have been exciting!

Then we move to the Southern portal of the Falcon Road Bridge ...
... where there is (or was?) another logo.
The road on the left is named Junction Approach ...
... which leads to a well hidden but small car park ...
... and a real muddle of "back yard" building clutter. Surely there should be an entrance to Clapham Junction station on Junction Approach!

But there isn't: not a sign of British railway signs, not doorways, nor signposts or passenger tunnel entrances. This version of the station map ...
... shows the passenger subway ending in a logo for a lift (DARK BLUE) and a logo for an exit (DARK GREEN) plus a roadway in white but a slab of unexplained grey. So is that the missing entrance off Junction Approach?

fbb could find no entry to the station ...
... just cars and clutter. Perhaps the only entrance to that passenger subway is via the shopping arcade with accessed on St John's Hill?
It is called " shop stop " ...
... and it does lead to the 'proper' station entrance complete with bollards, barriers and departure screens.
But then fbb had a thought; a rarity these days. In a far corner of the car park area on Junction Approach (remember?) the old man spied a tiny white triangle ...
... which, being enlarged, bore the logo of the shopping arcade.
This is or was a side entrance to the shops and thus to the station access tunnel! Someone has snapped the doorway from car park level.
fbb has no idea what happens when the shops are closed whilst access is still required to the station. Are you told to divert via the LBSC station nearby?

And The Bus Route?

Due to pressure of other work, this exciting conclusion will be held over until tomorrow's blog.

Meanwhile ...
... talking of other work ...

... here is Peterville Castle Halt.
The fencing cost more (£12) than the second hand Hornby Station (£8)! 
The railbus hides the fact that part of the fence is incomplete - it declined to stick to the bit of backscene that should be behind the railbus.

It might have stuck in time to star in tomorrow's blog.

The station ramp needs something to hold it up!

 Next Clapham Junction blog : Wed 28 Oct 

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