22 February - One for the train spotters
Southeastern staff told me yesterday that a test train was due into Abbey Wood
station at 04:30 this morning, so it was a bit disappointing to leave the house at 04:10 and see it go by.
In the event it probably didn’t make much difference; I had planned to
photograph it on its approach to the Harrow Manorway flyover but it was so dark
there with no street lights that probably even my f1·4 lens would prove inadequate.
The public was allowed on to the new platform shortly after 5 a.m. Most of it is
roofed which was welcome on such a wet morning but as yet there are no benches.
Only one of the three arrivals indicators was switched on but one was being
worked on and displaying garbage.
All trains, even four coach ones, will stop at the far end of the platform for
the foreseeable future to allow maximum space for work to continue at the rear, eastern, end.
The platform exit is a bit small but it’s the best that could be fitted in the available space.
But the first train arrived a minute early announced by the clatter
generated as it passed by the new concrete wall.
For the real train buffs I should perhaps admit that the train shown leaving the
station in the associated set of pictures is in fact the earlier test train. Even I can see it is different. There was a technical problem with
the camera. I must learn to delete old files from the memory card more often.
In the dark and the rain I managed to walk into a bollard on the unlit flyover,
fortunately I kicked it rather than crash into it totally. Then I misjudged where the bottom step was
on the very dark staircase. Does Bexley Council care?
Obviously not or the lights would not have been
out since November.
A dozen Abbey Wood station photos.
PS: The closure of the northern station entrance has been deferred until April.