GCR London Extension stations - Marylebone
An introduction to the Marylebone complex. This will build up gradually with a full-blown write-up to follow:
The sections are:
- General and GCR
- LNER
- 1940s
- BR
- Today
Marylebone
An edited version of the RCH map of 1914 shows how the GCLE approached Marylebone in 1899 via the Metropolitan's route from Aylesbury coming in from the top NW corner and passing through Harrow-on-the-Hill, beyond which the GCR eventually got its own running line adjacent to the Metropolitan.
Also shown is the seven years later, originally unplanned addition of 1906 via the GW&GCJ line which can be seen coming in from Denham via Northolt Junction and South Harrow. More additions were made later and there are in fact three RCH maps showing how things developed. It was neither preordained nor as as simple as many modern writers have misrepresented. RCH map, author's collection.
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This version of the OS 25" map was revised in 1913 and published in 1935 and comes from the National Library of Scotland website, which is why it's not as sharp as in the flesh. However, the overview shows the scale of the enterprise with the line entering from the north and passing the oft-forgotten Goods Depot and even more forgotten Coal Yard before reaching the passenger station. National Library of Scotland.
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An old postcard from the early days soon after opening shows how light and airy the train shed was. Note the train of 6-wheel carriages. Author's collection.
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An artist's impression of an evening express about to depart from platform No 4. The carriages are somewhat whimsical but the loco can be identified as 11B class No 1032, built March 1903 and still carrying the Met's three-lamp headcode for all GCR passenger trains. I do like the way that the artist captured the ambience. Postcard: Author's collection.
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A slightly later view shows a main line arrival of Parker-style bogie stock at platform No1 behind an 11B 4-4-0, apparently carrying the normal express headcode which began to be carried from 1903. Note the empty churns awaiting collection and the horse box parked at the buffers. The petrol-powered London Taxi was about to take over. Postcard: Author's collection.
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LNER
An early 1920s view at No 2 platform shows recently built D11 No 5505 Ypres in transitional hybrid livery - GCR with the GCR crest under the nameplate omitted and LNER lettering on the tender. The cast numberplate was still on the cab side. This was a short-lived scheme that is often misinterpreted as "LNER apple green" and this loco is omitted in John Quick's book "Robinson's Locomotive Liveries on the GCR", Lightmoor Press, 2013. It is awaiting departure with a Manchester express.
In his book John describes how loco crew and passengers at Leicester found the GCR livery a pleasure to see and I have to confess that I am tempted to relivery a Bachmann "Director" to this condition. Photo: author's collection.
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The 10am departure from King's Cross was the "Flying Scotsman": at Marylebone it was the express to Bradford, seen here sometime in the mid-1930s awaiting departure from platform No 4 behind D11 No 5505 Ypres. Which was a Neasden loco and an example of D11s staying in charge from the Marylebone end despite arrival of the short tender B17s.
It was a 5-coach train (6 on Saturdays) with a Gresley BTK leading. Photo: authors collection.
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Neasden had three early ex-GCR D10 Directors (5430/6/7) until 1936 for the less prestigious services and No 5436 Sir Berkeley Sheffield was captured near the carriage shed at Marylebone in the early evening.
Probably prior to working the Saturdays Only 6.25pm Ordinary Passenger to Leicester, which was rostered for an Outer Suburban 4-set which, for this working, was strengthened to 6 carriages by adding two 3rds for Aylesbury.
The carriage behind the loco looks like a 45ft Parker 1st of 1898 (or a Parker-style version of 1906-7), seen from the compartment side. Photo: Colling Turner.
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An LNER ticket between the station at Wembley Stadium and Marylebone. It's a child's ticket and unused. Author's collection.
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An LNER-period ticket between Sudbury Hill and Sudbury & Harrow, part of the GCR's Inner Suburban service (although that term was never used officially). Author's collection.
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A curiosity, perhaps, a bicycle ticket from Marylebone for a distance between 15-30 miles. It's been used but the destination was never filled in. Author's collection.
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1940s
N2 No 9516 was part of a batch sent to Neasden towards the end of WW2, this example between 1.2.45 and 11.11.46, and is seen arriving at Marylebone in the late afternoon with what looks like an outer suburban train headed by several 61'6" Gresley gangwayed carriages, which I cannot explain. Photo: AWV Mace collection.
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This picture is dated 21st April 1947 and captioned as "Metropolitan steam train entering Marylebone station on occasion of accident at Baker St., Loco [A5] No 9811". Photo: R.J. Oakley, LNER Press Relations.
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BR
A view across the platforms in 1948 is interesting because it looks like a display of new liveries and all the rolling stock, loco and carriages, are ex-LMS. Photo: CCQ. author's collection.
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One of Neasden's A5s, No 69804, stands at the NW corner of the station on 22nd August 1949 lettered "BRITISH RAILWAYS". Lights cannot be seen but the bunker is full of coal and the loco could be waiting to take up a Down Outer Suburban duty. Photographer's name illegible, author's collection.
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A memory from the 1960s after the LMR had taken over and begun to provide Neasden with ex-LMS locos. Fairburn 2-6-4T No 42070 is shunting an express formation. Photo: author's collection.
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A simplified return ticket issued by BR(WR) for a day trip between Marylebone and Wembley. Many thousands of these would have been sold. this is quite an early one. Author's collection.
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A BR-period outer suburban ticket between Marylebone and Denham Golf Club Platform - which was opened in 1912 on the GW&GCJ line. A fairly spartan affair which became a halt between the Wars, it survives to this day with its GWR-style pagoda building granted listed status to prevent replacement by a "bus stop" shelter". Author's collection.
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There was a time when not all the LMR "Black Fives" on the GCLE were filthy! In this undated picture at Marylebone No 45267 awaits departure from No 4 platform, probably between 10/64 and 7/65 when it was an Annesley loco. This was now an all-stations Ordinary Passenger service with a handful of coaches masquerading under Express lights: a "semi-fast" service, it was not. Photo: author's collection.
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The scene today
I close for now with a fairly modern scene and the station looking grander than ever. Two Turbo units are at the platforms and the station is busier than ever. Photo: Mick Baker.
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Other locations on the GCLE:
