Goostrey (GTR)

Goostrey is a stop on the Crewe-Manchester Line in Cheshire between Holmes Chapel and Chelford.

Northern 323 235 departs for Manchester

Information
Type:	National Rail (Crewe-Manchester Line)
Station code:	GTR
Opened:	1891
Platforms:	2

Although the line was built by the Manchester & Birmingham Railway in 1842, the then-owners the London & North Western Railway did not open a station at Goostrey until 1891. The station was a simple two platform affair with a small goods yard, this was closed in 1964 [1]. The line was an early part of the West Coast Main Line electrification and the wires went up in 1959. At Goostrey this meant some rebuilding of the bridge and the main station building to facilitate the electrical equipment.

The station is managed by Northern, who also operate an hourly service in each direction. Access between the platforms is via the road bridge. 

Road bridge

BR era signage

Down the platform

Main station building, no longer in railway use

331 015 arrives with a Crewe bound service

[1] Vic Mitchell & Keith Smith, Crewe to Manchester (Middleton Press, 2014) Map. IX

Great Malvern (GMV)

Great Malvern is a stop on the Cotswold Line in Malvern, Worcestershire between Malvern Link and Colwall. 

West Midlands Railway 196 003 departs for Hereford

Information
Type:	National Rail (Cotswold Line)
Station code:	GMV
Opened:	1860
Platforms:	2

The station was opened by the Worcester & Hereford Railway in 1860. However, the station buildings were not completed until 1862. Malvern was a popular Victorian spa town, the station had dock sidings for the carriages of the gentry [1], there was also a private siding for coal supplies to the adjacent Imperial Hotel. The station had an enclosed private passageway to the hotel known as the Worm though this is no longer open (the hotel is nowadays a school in any case).

The station had an ornate clock tower but it was lost in the post-war period [2]. The station's sidings have also now gone being lifted in the mid-1960s, a signalbox which controlled them was also removed though the splendid platform canopies have been restored. Access between the platforms is via a subway.

The station is served by West Midlands Railway (to and from Birmingham Snow Hill) and Great Western Railway (to and from London Paddington).

Station frontage

Restored canopy supports and a platform clock

Alternative station entrance

View down the platform

A GWR Class 800 stands at Great Malvern

[1] Vic Mitchell & Keith Smith, Worcester to Hereford (Middleton Press, 2004) Map. XIX

[2] Ibid. Fig. 55

Gomshall (GOM)

Gomshall is a stop on the North Downs Line in Surrey between Chilworth and Dorking West.

A GWR service departs heading for Reading

Information
Type:	National Rail (North Downs Line)
Station code:	GOM
Opened:	1849
Platforms:	2

The station was opened by the Reading, Guildford & Reigate Railway in 1849 as Gomshall & Shere Heath. Over the next couple of years the station name was changed to Gomshall & Sheire, then Gomshall & Shere. The name was eventually (in 1980) shortened to just Gomshall. The station was the scene of a major railway accident in 1903 when a troop train derailed, though thankfully there were no fatalities [1].

The station has two staggered platforms connected by a footbridge. However, until 2016 a gated foot crossing was the means for passengers to transfer between the two platforms. The station is managed by Great Western Railway with an hourly service in both directions during peak hours, every two hours off-peak. The original station buildings have now gone (replaced by the usual bus shelters) but the platform based signal box (from 1941) survives though no longer in use.

Platform view from the footbridge

Gomshall signalbox

Preparing to depart

Footbridge, notice the platform stagger

GWR 165 116 arrives with a Redhill bound service

[1] Vic Mitchell & Keith Smith, Guildford to Redhill (Middleton Press, 1988) Fig. 46

Great Portland Street (ZGP)

Great Portland Street is a stop on the London Underground Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan Lines in central London between Baker Street and Euston Square. 

A Metropolitan Line train arrives

Information
Type:	Transport for London (London Underground Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan Lines)
Station code:	ZGP
Opened:	1863
Platforms:	2

The station was opened in 1863 as part of the Metropolitan Railway original route and therefore is one of the oldest London Underground stations. It was opened as Portland Street, gaining the "Great" later on. It was known as Great Portland Street & Regents Park during the 1920s though has had it's current name since 1933.

The station was rebuilt in 1930 [1] and is situated on a traffic island, the platforms retain many of their original features. As the station is on three lines it has an intensive service with at least twenty four trains an hour in each direction.

Preparing to go

Station name

Down to the eastbound platforms

Station building

[1] Jason Cross, London Underground Guide 2017 (Train Crazy, 2017) p. 127

Godalming (GOD)

Godalming is a stop on the Portsmouth Direct Line in Surrey between Farncombe and Milford.

South Western Railway 444 003 arrives at the station

Information
Type:	National Rail (Portsmouth Direct Line)
Station code:	GOD
Opened:	1859
Platforms:	2

Godalming's first station was opened in 1849 by the London & South Western Railway as a single platform terminus. This was replaced by the current station (though the original station remained in use for passenger services until 1897) which was opened in 1859 as the line was continued southwards to Havant.

The original station was retained as a goods yard, the original station building being used as the office. The yard was closed in 1969 [1].

The original LSWR station building still exists and is in a good condition with the original style canopy. However, the shelter on the up platform (platform 1) have been replaced by modern shelters [2]. A modern footbridge with lifts is a recent addition, replacing a subway.

Godalming is managed by South Western Railway, there are usually at least two trains an hour in each direction.

Station building

SWR 444 014 departs south

Standing at the station

View down the platforms

Heading off towards London

[1] Vic Mitchell & Keith Smith, Woking to Portsmouth (Middleton Press, 1985) Fig. 38
[2] Ibid. Fig. 43

Garswood (GSW)

Garswood is a stop on the Liverpool to Wigan Line on Merseyside between St Helens Central and Bryn.

A Northern 319 stands at Garswood

Information
Type:	National Rail (Liverpool-Wigan Line)
Station code:	GSW
Opened:	1869
Platforms:	2

The station was opened in 1869 by the Liverpool Union Railway on their route from Liverpool to Blackburn. Later it was operated by the London & North Western Railway, the London Midland Scottish and finally British Railways.

The station is located on the boundary of the Merseytravel and Transport for Greater Manchester areas. The line is electrified and Northern have operated electric multiple units on the route since since 2015. The station has a staffed ticket office. Access between the platforms is via a footbridge.

Station sign

Main station building

Goodge Street (ZGS)

Goodge Street is a stop on the London Underground's Northern Line (Charing Cross Branch) in Central London between Tottenham Court Road and Warren Street. 

A Northern Line train heads off North

Information
Type:	Transport for London (Northern Line Charing Cross Branch)
Station code:	ZGS
Opened:	1907
Platforms:	2

The station was opened in 1907 by the Charing Cross, Euston & Hampstead Railway as Tottenham Court Road [1]. The name was changed the following year after the opening of an interchange at the other Tottenham Court Road station. The station retains it's Leslie Green designed surface building. The station also retains lifts and not an escalator to facilitate travel between surface and platform level. There is also a 165 step staircase.

The station is now part of the Northern Line. In the 1960s the station appeared in a song by Donovon ("Sunny Goodge Street").

Stairs down to platform level

Platform view and tunnel

Corridore between the platforms

The station uses green tiles throughout

A train prepares to depart

[1] Jason Cross, London Underground Guide 2017 (Train Crazy, 2017) p. 126

Guildford (GLD)

Guildford in Surrey is a junction of the London Waterloo-Portsmouth Direct Line, the North Downs Line (between Reading and Redhill) and the New Guildford Line to London Waterloo via Epson.

A SWR 455 arrives at Guildford, the main building is behind the unit

Information
Type:	National Rail (Portsmouth Direct, North Down & New Guildford Lines)
Station code:	GLD
Opened:	1845
Platforms:	8 (7 in use)

The station was opened in 1845 by the London & South Western Railway. Southern Railway electrified the line to Guildford in 1925 [1] (though it had been part of LSWR plans before grouping). The station was enlarged and rebuilt in 1880 with another rebuilding by British Rail in 1980.


The station has eight platforms though Platform 7 is not in use. Access between the platforms is either via a footbridge or a subway. Guildford is a busy station used by over eight million passengers a year. Most services are by South Western Railway with Great Western Railway, Southern and Cross Country also calling at the station.

SWT 450 088 stands at the station under the footbridge

Platform canopies

Station sign still showing now defunct Redstar parcel service logo

SWR 450 038 stands on platform 6, behind is the disused platform 7

[1] David Brown, Southern Electric Vol 1 (Capital Transport, 2010) p. 42

Golders Green (ZGG)

Golders Green is a station on the Edgware Branch of the Northern Line in North London between Brent Cross and Hampstead. The station is a transport hub with an adjacent bus and coach station. 

51600 at Golders Green

Information
Type:	Transport for London (Northern Line)
Station code:	ZGG
Opened:	1907
Platforms:	5

The station was originally opened in 1907 by the Charing Cross, Euston & Hampstead Railway as a terminus.

The line was extended North in 1923. An incompleted station is in between Golders Green and Hampstead, this was North End which was abandoned in 1906, though what was completed still remains and is used for storage [1]. Golders Green is the first station on this branch of the Northern Line to be in the open air after leaving London.

Golders Green was also home to a depot for the Northern Line and is where most overhaul and maintenance work takes place on the line [2]. The station has five platforms (one is unused) and three through roads.

51715 departs the station

Platform view, the platforms retain these fine canopies

Side view of the cab of 51626

A Northern Line train approaches

51721 stands at the station

[1] Ben Pedroche, Do Not Alight Here (Capital History, 2011) p. 134
[2] John Glover, ABC London Underground (Ian Allan, 1997) p. 41

Gospel Oak (GPO)

Gospel Oak is a stop on the London Overground North London Line between Hampstead Heath and Kentish Town West. It is also the Western terminus of the Gospel Oak to Barking Line (known as the GOBLIN).

LO 378 258 arrives

Information
Type:	Transport for London (London Overground)
Station code:	GPO
Opened:	1860
Platforms:	3

The station was opened in 1860 by the Hampstead Junction Railway as Kentish Town [1]. It was renamed Gospel Oak in 1867. Between 1926 and 1981 there was no interchange with the line to Barking, though the platform was used for excursions from to time during the 1930s. A new platform was built for the resumption of services [2].

The North London Line was electrified by the LNWR in 1916, it was converted to 25kV AC overhead in 1996. The line to Barking was electrified in 2018. The station is above street level with stairs and lifts down to the street.

Platform buildings

LO 378 202 departs along the NLL

LO 378 216 at Gospel Oak

Waiting at the station

Also waiting

[1] Vic Mitchell & Keith Smith, North London Line (Middleton Press, 1997) Fig. 72

[2] Ibid. Fig. 75