Margate West

Existing as a modern SE&CR/SR rebuild of the original LC&DR layout, little changed at Margate for the remains of its Southern Railway ownership after 1926. Indeed, after the 1948 formation of British Railways, the SR ‘’Target’’ name signs were replaced with ‘’Flying Sausage’’ Totems, but the first major structural alterations did not occur until a decade after Nationalisation. The year 1958 marked the completion of a telephone exchange building at the Ramsgate end of the southern-most platform surface. This was a single-storey brown-brick structure with a pitched-roof, and it laid immediately adjacent to the end of the platform canopy. During the same year, conductor rails were laid along all platform lines, and construction of a relay room for ‘’A’’ Box, to be attached to this structure’s eastern elevation, commenced. Naturally, the latter modifications were related to the impending Kent Coast Electrification Scheme, and re-signalling of the layout was formally deemed complete on 19th July 1959. These works involved the decommissioning of the SR-built ‘’B’’ Box at the junction with the goods yard; its functions were assumed by the modernised SE&CR ‘’A’’ Box, which hereafter operated three-aspect colour lights in place of semaphores. This had been preceded by the commencement of the full accelerated electric timetable along the ‘’Chatham’’ main line on 15th June of the same year. Steam did not totally vanish from the site, however, especially since the ex-SER main line via Tonbridge continued to feature such haulage on coastal workings until June 1962. The steam stabling point at Margate, sandwiched in-between the platforms and carriage sidings, remained in use throughout 1961, catering for visiting engines – Ramsgate’s engine shed had completely closed at the end of the previous year.

Throughout the 1960s, the isolated goods yard continued to be a hive of activity, and up until its closure on 1st November 1972, it handled trains laden with imported motor vehicles. By this time, the former site of the SER’s Margate Sands terminus, which had been acting as an open-air car park, had been completely redeveloped into a hideous tower block of flats. It was also during the 1970s that the delightful platform canopies witnessed drastic cutback and simplification. The ‘’down’’ canopy was truncated at its eastern end by 180-foot, so it now just fronted the western end of the station building and the centrally-located booking hall. The island canopy was reduced in length at its western end by 150-foot, and a plain end-on valance attached, whilst the ‘’up’’ side canopy was cutback at its western end by 170-foot, and at its eastern end by 90-feet. The latter truncation left the ‘’up’’ side waiting room devoid of any canopy protection.

Margate’s train crew depot closed in May 1984, and staff transferred to Ramsgate. Layout rationalisation swiftly followed: the ‘’up’’ side bay platform was decommissioned, and platform 4 (which shared the same surface as the bay) became a terminating affair, when the track it served was disconnected from the main running lines at the western end of the layout. Thereafter, only trains approaching from the Ramsgate direction could access this platform. All sidings to south of the layout were cleared, and the land sold off for housing development. During 1989, the first JCB moved onto the land formerly occupied by the sidings and locomotive stabling facilities, to commence redevelopment. Much to the surprise of the JCB driver, his vehicle sank some 10-feet into the ground when he drove directly onto the former turntable site! When the 59-foot 9-inch turntable was removed after 1961, the carriage cleaners used to tip all the rubbish from trains into the redundant pit, and subsequently burn it off. Thus, the result was a very soft and unstable surface, filled with paper ashes, bottles, and tin cans. During the rationalisation works, the ‘’down’’ side parcels depot retained its single-track connection with the ‘’up’’ running line.

August 1993

 

A general easterly view across the site shows redevelopment of the former carriage sidings site in full swing. The track in the immediate foreground is that which leads to the parcels depot (which rests on the former approaches to the LC&DR engine shed). Simplified canopy valances are in evidence, as a result of truncation during the 1970s. © John Horton

<< Previous  Next >>

Return to the Kent Rail Homepage or alternatively, check for Updates.

Website & Copyright information - Links - Contact the Webmaster

All content is copyright © David Glasspool unless otherwise stated