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Location notes
The station is in a large residential area on the southern edge of Croydon, approx 3 minutes south of East Croydon on the Brighton line.
Railway type and traffic
Mostly the trains are Southern and Gatwick Express EMUs, with a few First Capital Connect and SouthEastern trains services. There are also DMUs on Uckfield services. Trains are fairly regular at this point, arguably one of the busiest points on the Brighton line.
Freight is infrequent with workings to Purley, Ardingly, Crawley and Kent via. Redhill.
Freight is infrequent with workings to Purley, Ardingly, Crawley and Kent via. Redhill.
Environment
The station is fairly shabby and uncared for. There is a small booking office and waiting room on platform 1 but the station is often unmanned, especially outside peak hours. The far side of the station is against a cutting side then the backs of houses. There are two bridges at either end of the station, one over (London end) and one under (country end) indicating the slope of the embankments either side. The residential area is best avoided at night but is fine during the day.
Road directions
From the M25, Junction 7:
Take the A23 north through Coulsdon and Purley. Turn right at Denning Avenue just before West Croydon station, then Warham road from where the station is signposted.
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South Croydon map co-ordinates
Take the A23 north through Coulsdon and Purley. Turn right at Denning Avenue just before West Croydon station, then Warham road from where the station is signposted.
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South Croydon map co-ordinates
Parking
You can leave your car in local roads if it is not restricted at all, or the small station car park where there is a pay and display facility.
Public transport
The station is served by suburban trains from London Victoria, London Bridge, Clapham Junction, Norwood Junction, East Croydon and Charing Cross. From the south it is is easiest to go to East Croydon and double back on yourself.
There are also buses every 20 minutes from central Croydon.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
There are also buses every 20 minutes from central Croydon.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Amenities
There are toilets on the station, but no other amenities either on the station or near the station. There are a few coffee shops on East Croydon station a few minutes train ride away.
Sun Compass
Sun Compass using Suncalc by brought to you by Vladimir Agafonkin:
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
South Croydon
Streetmap links
South Croydon general view map
South Croydon close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
South Croydon
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
South Croydon
Googly map
South Croydon general view map
South Croydon close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
South Croydon
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Photographic notes
The line is fairly straight either side, with a trailing junction just south of the station for East Grinstead and Uckfield. The light is good through out the day for most of the year, although late afternoon and early morning in winter can be tricky due to the high cuttings and North Downs.
General views - All photographs © Christopher Ward unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking south
There is a good view of trains coming off the junction from all platforms except platform 1.
Fig 2 - Looking south
For trains on the suburban platforms, the same applies, with scope for photo from 1 and 3 as well, although trains on platform 5 should be photographed from platform 5 as there are several buildings in the way.
Fig 3 - Looking south
Fig 4 - Looking south
Fig 5 - Looking south
Platform 5
Disclaimer
All information contained within this is site is © Trainspots. The images used on this site remain the property of the original photographer, as credited at the top of the page, and are used with their kind permission.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
