East Brixton Station, London
A disappeared station in the heart of south London.
Report by urban75 editor, updated Mar 2013/Photo credits as stated
Opened by the London Brighton & South Coast Railway on the 13th August 1866, East Brixton Station was located on the east side of Barrington Road, 30m north of its junction with Coldharbour Lane, Brixton.
The station was originally known as as Loughborough Park before being renamed Loughborough Park & Brixton in January 1870. It was finally renamed East Brixton on the 1st January, 1894.
The high level wooden station offered services to Battersea Park, Victoria, Peckham and London Bridge.
Surprisingly, the station closed as recently as the 5th January, 1976 with the platforms and buildings being demolished pretty rapidly after the last train had departed.
Although the station has all but vanished, trains still pass the site on their way to Denmark Hill and Peckham Rye, with the street level entrance on Barrington Road remaining.
» East Brixton 'Then and Now' photos
» East Brixton station, 1964
» East Brixton, 1976
» East Brixton now
» Updated feature with larger pics
East Brixton 'Then and Now' photos
c1912 A rare view of the elusive East Brixton railway station, taken from the corner of Coldharbour Lane and Loughborough Park (now Moorlands Road).
The two bridges span Barrington Road. The original print is in very poor condition, but you can still make out the elevated station buildings, twin signals and electrification gantry above the bridge.
The line was the first surface-level railway line to be electrified in 1909, drawing the current from 6,600 volt overhead cables.
(pic: Lambeth Archives)
Dec 2003 East Brixton station closed in 1976 and Brixton remains without access to this useful railway line - despite the promises made by the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone in late 2003 (it was proposed that the disused platforms at Brixton station could be reopened to serve this line) .
1948 A screen grab from the post-war film 'A Date With a Dream' shows soldiers leaving East Brixton station and walking up Barrington Road.
The film tells the tale of a wartime concert party meeting after the war and reforming. Described as 'pretty awful', the film is notable for Norman Wisdom's blink-and-you'll-miss-it debut appearance.
Feb 2004 Closed since 1976, barely a trace remains of the station platforms, stairs or buildings. 'Medusa', a small nightclub operates from under the arches where the booking office used to be.
The Victorian villa in the background has been empty for years and looks in some disrepair.
East Brixton, 1976
Jan 1976 A view of the elevated westbound platform of East Brixton Station on Barrington Road showing the wooden platform buildings above.
To make room for the new viaduct and station, the left hand side of the Victorian villa to the right of the picture was simply demolished when the railway arrived! Note the extended tall chimneys, designed to keep smoke from blowing into the booking office.
(Photos: Nick Catford)
Feb 2004 Since closure in 1976, the platforms and platform buildings have been completely swept away, with only the polychromatic window arches serving as a reminder of the station's 110 year existence.
Jan 1976 A photograph of the Barrington Road entrance to East Brixton station, shortly before its closure on Monday, 5th January 1976.
The sign under the bridge reads, "Southern Electric, East Brixton Station. Trains to Battersea Park, Victoria, Peckham Rye and London Bridge."
(Photo: Nick Catford)
Feb 2004 You can still make out the metal stanchion that used to support the sign under the bridge, but the overhead buildings and all the station signs have vanished - no doubt sold on to collectors (railway signs are now worth an absolute fortune - a small East Brixton 'roundel' enamel sign recently went for £260!).
The station site now hosts a club called Medusa - note the large banner advertising 'Salsa Lessons' and '70s and 80s nights'.
East Brixton, 1964
Looking west towards central Brixton on a misty day, East Brixton looks deserted.
Looking east towards Peckham. Note the wooden floorboards, gas lamp and departing train.
Both photos: © Lambeth Landmark
East Brixton, 1970s
Steps down to ground level.
Platform view, circa 1970.
Winter view near the end, 20 December 1975.
(Photo: Lost Albion)
Looking west towards central Brixton, along the wooden platforms at East Brixton station, Brixton, London, January 1975.
(Photo: Nick Catford)
Station building on the southern (eastbound) platform, East Brixton station, Brixton, London, January 1975.
(Photo: Nick Catford)
Close up of East Brixton station building. Note the small ticket office to the left.
(Photo: Nick Catford Jan 1975)
East Brixton station, Brixton, London, January 1975.
Closure notice.
(Photos: Nick Catford)
East Brixton, 2006
Aug 2005 Modern view of station site, looking north from Southwyck House (aka The Barrier Block.)
Aug 2005 Looking up at the site of the southern platform and station buildings from the junction of Barrington Road and Coldharbour Lane
You can just see a train passing overhead to the right.
Mar 2007 View of the old station building underneath the viaduct. Pic taken from Coldharbour Lane.
1969 East Brixton to Battersea ticket that appeared on eBay.
Mar 2007 Brickwork detail.
MORE PHOTOS:
 Feature with station ticket
 Colour photos (Flickr)
Detailed archive photos
Archive photos 1960 - 1973
Colour photos, 1975
Detailed station feature
Map location
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