BROOKWOOD NECROPOLIS RAILWAY
7th December 2006

The London Necropolis Company opened the cemetery at Brookwood in 1854. In partnership with the LSWR they ran funeral trains between London and Brookwood carrying both coffins and mourners. The LSWR main line was used for most of the journey but at both ends of the operation the Necropolis Company had their own lines and stations. The London terminus was on York Street (now Leake Street), adjacent to Waterloo station. When the LSWR required this land for expansion of Waterloo station in 1902 a new Necropolis terminus was constructed on Westminster Bridge Road.
At Brookwood the funeral trains passed through the main line station and reversed onto a line that ran through the cemetery. There were two stations within the burial ground, built to serve the Anglican and Nonconformist areas of the cemetery. The cemetery line fell into disuse during the second world war and was later lifted.
I can recommend J.M. Clarke's excellent book on the railway: The Brookwood Necropolis Railway, The Oakwood Press, ISBN 0-85361-471-7

<-- Index | Showing 1-46 of 46 pictures | Index -->
Westminster Bridge Road. Facade of the Necropolis Company's London terminus. 18th May 2006. OS: TQ310795
Westminster Bridge Road. Facade of the Necropolis Company's London terminus. 18th May 2006. OS: TQ310795
 Westminster Bridge Road. Detail on the station entrance. The station had two platforms, various private waiting rooms, a chapel and mortuaries. 18th May 2006. OS: TQ310795
Westminster Bridge Road. Detail on the station entrance. The station had two platforms, various private waiting rooms, a chapel and mortuaries. 18th May 2006. OS: TQ310795
 Westminster Bridge Road. Offices inside the entrance. The station was extensively damaged by an air raid in 1941 and never reopened. 18th May 2006. OS: TQ310795
Westminster Bridge Road. Offices inside the entrance. The station was extensively damaged by an air raid in 1941 and never reopened. 18th May 2006. OS: TQ310795
 Westminster Bridge Road. Seen from the entrance, the car is parked in the glass-covered driveway that led to the now demolished platforms. 18th May 2006. OS: TQ310795
Westminster Bridge Road. Seen from the entrance, the car is parked in the glass-covered driveway that led to the now demolished platforms. 18th May 2006. OS: TQ310795
Satellite view of the Westminster Bridge Road terminus. Only the frontage and office block remains but the extent of the former building has been marked. (Image courtesy of Google Earth).
Satellite view of the Westminster Bridge Road terminus. Only the frontage and office block remains but the extent of the former building has been marked. (Image courtesy of Google Earth).
 Moving to the Brookwood end of the line, this is the view towards the Necropolis/LSWR junction from the end of the platforms of the LSWR station. Quite why the line was designed with this awkward reversal is not clear. 3rd December 2007. OS: SO950569
Moving to the Brookwood end of the line, this is the view towards the Necropolis/LSWR junction from the end of the platforms of the LSWR station. Quite why the line was designed with this awkward reversal is not clear. 3rd December 2007. OS: SO950569
 The trackbed behind the down main line platform at Brookwood, looking towards the junction. This section was a double track loop. 6th December 2006. OS: SU949568
The trackbed behind the down main line platform at Brookwood, looking towards the junction. This section was a double track loop. 6th December 2006. OS: SU949568
The trackbed looking towards the Necropolis from the same spot behind the main line station. 6th December 2006. OS: SU949568
The trackbed looking towards the Necropolis from the same spot behind the main line station. 6th December 2006. OS: SU949568
The trackbed descends fairly sharply as it passes behind the station. 6th December 2006. OS: SU949568
The trackbed descends fairly sharply as it passes behind the station. 6th December 2006. OS: SU949568
A collection of SR concrete huts near the junction. 6th December 2006. OS: SU949568
A collection of SR concrete huts near the junction. 6th December 2006. OS: SU949568
At it approaches the rear of the down side station building the trackbed reaches natural ground level. 6th December 2006. OS: SU951569
At it approaches the rear of the down side station building the trackbed reaches natural ground level. 6th December 2006. OS: SU951569
 The line passed directly behind the back of the down side platform building - view looking back towards the junction along the former passing loop. 6th December 2006. OS: SU952569
The line passed directly behind the back of the down side platform building - view looking back towards the junction along the former passing loop. 6th December 2006. OS: SU952569
Section of track and plaque behind the main line station. It was nice of Network Rail to donate the track but it is a pity they could not have found some more appropriate bull-head rail. 6th December 2006. OS: SU952569
Section of track and plaque behind the main line station. It was nice of Network Rail to donate the track but it is a pity they could not have found some more appropriate bull-head rail. 6th December 2006. OS: SU952569
 After passing the station building the line started to curve away into the cemetery. 6th December 2006. OS: SU952569
After passing the station building the line started to curve away into the cemetery. 6th December 2006. OS: SU952569
 Looking back along the course of the line towards the passing loop behind the main line station. 6th December 2006. OS: SU952569
Looking back along the course of the line towards the passing loop behind the main line station. 6th December 2006. OS: SU952569
 Looking towards the passing loop from the cemetery entrance. 3rd December 2007. OS: SU952569
Looking towards the passing loop from the cemetery entrance. 3rd December 2007. OS: SU952569
View back towards the junction as the line curves away from the main line alignment. 6th December 2006. OS: SU952569
View back towards the junction as the line curves away from the main line alignment. 6th December 2006. OS: SU952569
 As it curves southward through the cemetery the line passes over a low embankment which is now the most obvious surviving part of the line. 6th December 2006. OS: SU953568
As it curves southward through the cemetery the line passes over a low embankment which is now the most obvious surviving part of the line. 6th December 2006. OS: SU953568
 The foot-high laurel hedges that lined the trackbed now enclose it completely. 3rd December 2007. OS: SU953568
The foot-high laurel hedges that lined the trackbed now enclose it completely. 3rd December 2007. OS: SU953568
 Looking across the line showing the height of the embankment. 6th December 2006OS: SU953568
Looking across the line showing the height of the embankment. 6th December 2006OS: SU953568
View back towards the junction from where Long Avenue crosses the trackbed. 6th December 2006. OS: SU953568
View back towards the junction from where Long Avenue crosses the trackbed. 6th December 2006. OS: SU953568
 North Station. The surviving platform face seen from the north end. 6th December 2006. OS: SU953568
North Station. The surviving platform face seen from the north end. 6th December 2006. OS: SU953568
 North Station. The platform face seen from the south end. 6th December 2006. OS: SU953568
North Station. The platform face seen from the south end. 6th December 2006. OS: SU953568
 North Station. The site of the platform and buildings. The line of small trees marks the platform edge. The station was demolished in the 1960s after an outbreak of dry rot. The site now forms part of the Muslim section of the cemetery. 6th December 2006. OS: SU953568
North Station. The site of the platform and buildings. The line of small trees marks the platform edge. The station was demolished in the 1960s after an outbreak of dry rot. The site now forms part of the Muslim section of the cemetery. 6th December 2006. OS: SU953568
North Station. The distinctive curved southern end of the platform. 3rd December 2007. OS: SU953568
North Station. The distinctive curved southern end of the platform. 3rd December 2007. OS: SU953568
 North Station. The steps at the south end of the platform are still just visible in the undergrowth. 3rd December 2007. OS: SU953568
North Station. The steps at the south end of the platform are still just visible in the undergrowth. 3rd December 2007. OS: SU953568
 The trackbed between the North Station and Cemetery Pales has been made into one of the Necropolis access paths. Its former use has been commemorated however. 6th December 2006. OS: SU953568
The trackbed between the North Station and Cemetery Pales has been made into one of the Necropolis access paths. Its former use has been commemorated however. 6th December 2006. OS: SU953568
 The trackbed running through the Nonconformist section of the cemetery, looking south towards Cemetery Pales. 6th December 2006. OS: SU953568
The trackbed running through the Nonconformist section of the cemetery, looking south towards Cemetery Pales. 6th December 2006. OS: SU953568
Trackbed looking north about half way between North Station and the Cemetery Pales crossing. 6th December 2006. OS: SU954567
Trackbed looking north about half way between North Station and the Cemetery Pales crossing. 6th December 2006. OS: SU954567
 Trackbed looking south from the same point, half way between North Station and Cemetery Pales. 6th December 2006. OS: SU954567
Trackbed looking south from the same point, half way between North Station and Cemetery Pales. 6th December 2006. OS: SU954567
 Looking north from near the Cemetery Pales crossing. 6th December 2006. OS: SU955567
Looking north from near the Cemetery Pales crossing. 6th December 2006. OS: SU955567
 Looking south towards the Cemetery Pales level crossing. 3rd December 2007. OS: SU955567
Looking south towards the Cemetery Pales level crossing. 3rd December 2007. OS: SU955567
The site of the Cemetery Pales level crossing looking north. 3rd December 2007. OS: SU956566
The site of the Cemetery Pales level crossing looking north. 3rd December 2007. OS: SU956566
 The site of the Cemetery Pales level crossing looking south. The sign is approximately on the centre line of the trackbed. 3rd December 2007. OS: SU956566
The site of the Cemetery Pales level crossing looking south. The sign is approximately on the centre line of the trackbed. 3rd December 2007. OS: SU956566
 Beyond the Cemetery Pales level crossing the route passes through what is now the Ismaili Cemetery. Some buildings have been constructed on the formation here as can be seen from this view looking south along the trackbed. 3rd December 2007. OS: SU957566
Beyond the Cemetery Pales level crossing the route passes through what is now the Ismaili Cemetery. Some buildings have been constructed on the formation here as can be seen from this view looking south along the trackbed. 3rd December 2007. OS: SU957566
 The trackbed looking north in the Anglican section of the cemetery. The overgrown remains of the left hand laurel hedge remain but the right hand one has been removed. 3rd September 2007. OS: SU958565
The trackbed looking north in the Anglican section of the cemetery. The overgrown remains of the left hand laurel hedge remain but the right hand one has been removed. 3rd September 2007. OS: SU958565
The course of the line looking south in the Anglican section of the cemetery. The trackbed is very slightly raised from the surrounding ground level. 3rd September 2007. OS: SU958565
The course of the line looking south in the Anglican section of the cemetery. The trackbed is very slightly raised from the surrounding ground level. 3rd September 2007. OS: SU958565
 The site of the St Andrew's Avenue crossing with the Keith mausoleum in the background. 3rd September 2007. OS: SU959565
The site of the St Andrew's Avenue crossing with the Keith mausoleum in the background. 3rd September 2007. OS: SU959565
 Looking towards the South Station from the St Anderew's Avenue crossing. 3rd September 2007. OS: SU959565
Looking towards the South Station from the St Anderew's Avenue crossing. 3rd September 2007. OS: SU959565
 South Station. The station site seen from the trackbed. The building was built on the platform in 2007 and will provide accommodation for the St Edward Brotherhood. 3rd September 2007. OS: SU960565
South Station. The station site seen from the trackbed. The building was built on the platform in 2007 and will provide accommodation for the St Edward Brotherhood. 3rd September 2007. OS: SU960565
South Station. Detail of the recently restored platform. 3rd September 2007. OS: SU960565
South Station. Detail of the recently restored platform. 3rd September 2007. OS: SU960565
 South Station. the view from the non-platform side showing the new building. The original building was bady damaged by fire in the early 1970s and was subsequently demolished. 3rd September 2007. OS: SU960565
South Station. the view from the non-platform side showing the new building. The original building was bady damaged by fire in the early 1970s and was subsequently demolished. 3rd September 2007. OS: SU960565
 South Station. Looking towards the platform from the site of the northern wing of the station building. 3rd September 2007. OS: SU960565
South Station. Looking towards the platform from the site of the northern wing of the station building. 3rd September 2007. OS: SU960565
 South Station. One of the two Church of England chapels which now serves as living accommodation for the St Edward Brotherhood. 3rd December 2007. OS: SU960535
South Station. One of the two Church of England chapels which now serves as living accommodation for the St Edward Brotherhood. 3rd December 2007. OS: SU960535
An old map of the line at Brookwood. The LSWR station is marked
An old map of the line at Brookwood. The LSWR station is marked "1", the North Station marked "2" and the South Station marked "3". The Cemetery Pales road runs diagonally across the line. [Image produced from the www.old-maps.co.uk service (see links) with permission of Landmark Information Group Ltd. and Ordnance Survey]
 Extract from the current OS 1:25000 map of the area. The stations are marked 1,2 & 3 as per the previous map.
Extract from the current OS 1:25000 map of the area. The stations are marked 1,2 & 3 as per the previous map.
 
Related Links: [ The Brookwood Cemetery Railway ]
 
Mapping images used on this site produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service. Images reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.
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