WEMBLEY STADIUM LOOP (LNER)
15th March 2008

In 1923 the LNER opened a loop off the former GCR Neasden-Northolt line to serve the British Empire Exhibition held at Wembley Hill in 1924 and 1925. A station was opened to serve the exhibition consisting of a single platform adorned with a concrete canopy and buildings of the same style used for most of the exhibition buildings. The station went through several name changes in its first few years of existence including Exhibition Station (Wembley), Wembley Exhibition & Exhibition Grounds Station. Signalling was controlled from Neasden and colour lights were installed from the beginning. Trains ran from Marylebone every eight minutes and traversed the loop in a clockwise direction thus obviating the need for time-consuming reversals. After the closure of the 1925 exhibition the line was retained to serve the Stadium and the station was renamed Wembley Stadium in 1928 (not to be confused with the current Wembley Stadium station which is the former GCR Wembley Hill station).
The line once again saw heavy usage during the 1948 Olympic Games but was otherwise only used on match days. It did not appear in timetables. The last train ran in May 1968 although the official closure did not come until September 1969. The station was demolished in the 1970s.

<-- Index | Showing 1-40 of 40 pictures | Index -->
Seen from the Northolt - Neasden line, the loop curved across the foreground and passed through the bricked-up South Bridge in the distance. The 1924 exhibition's
Seen from the Northolt - Neasden line, the loop curved across the foreground and passed through the bricked-up South Bridge in the distance. The 1924 exhibition's "Road Rail" narrow gauge line would have crossed over the loop line somewhere here. 22nd April 2006. OS: TQ198854
 Looking back from South Bridge towards the junction. Since the previous picture was taken the trackbed has become a tyre store. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ198855
Looking back from South Bridge towards the junction. Since the previous picture was taken the trackbed has become a tyre store. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ198855
 South Bridge seen from road level. It carries South Way over the trackbed. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ198855
South Bridge seen from road level. It carries South Way over the trackbed. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ198855
 Overgrown trackbed immediately north of South Bridge. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ198855
Overgrown trackbed immediately north of South Bridge. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ198855
Looking south from the down end of the platform at Wembley Stadium. The concrete wall on the right is part of the approach ramp for the Old London Bridge which crossed the line at this point. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ197856
Looking south from the down end of the platform at Wembley Stadium. The concrete wall on the right is part of the approach ramp for the Old London Bridge which crossed the line at this point. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ197856
 The site of Wembley Stadium station looking north from the “down” end. The sheds on the left are part of the former Indian Pavilion from the 1924 exhibition. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ197856
The site of Wembley Stadium station looking north from the “down” end. The sheds on the left are part of the former Indian Pavilion from the 1924 exhibition. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ197856
 A similar view of the station taken in 1948. Note the rear of the Indian Pavilion behind the station on the left as seen in the previous picture. (Image courtesy of Nigel Callaghan).
A similar view of the station taken in 1948. Note the rear of the Indian Pavilion behind the station on the left as seen in the previous picture. (Image courtesy of Nigel Callaghan).
 A view of the station from 1948. The viewpoint is similar to the previous picture but higher as it has been taken from Old London Bridge. (Image courtesy of Nigel Callaghan).
A view of the station from 1948. The viewpoint is similar to the previous picture but higher as it has been taken from Old London Bridge. (Image courtesy of Nigel Callaghan).
This building adjacent to the former station entrance formed part of the Old London Bridge approach ramp. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ197856
This building adjacent to the former station entrance formed part of the Old London Bridge approach ramp. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ197856
 The former entrance road to Wembley Stadium station. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ197856
The former entrance road to Wembley Stadium station. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ197856
 The station site is now a refuse processing plant. This large shed straddles the trackbed about half way along the length of the platform. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ197857
The station site is now a refuse processing plant. This large shed straddles the trackbed about half way along the length of the platform. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ197857
 The station site immediately north of the refuse shed looking towards North Bridge. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ198858
The station site immediately north of the refuse shed looking towards North Bridge. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ198858
Looking south towards the station from the site of North Bridge. 5th Way now crosses the trackbed on the level. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ198858
Looking south towards the station from the site of North Bridge. 5th Way now crosses the trackbed on the level. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ198858
 The station seen from North Bridge. The Never-Stop Railway can be seen behind the hoardings on the left. (Image courtesy of Nigel Callaghan).
The station seen from North Bridge. The Never-Stop Railway can be seen behind the hoardings on the left. (Image courtesy of Nigel Callaghan).
 The site of Wembley Stadium station looking south from the “up” end. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ198858
The site of Wembley Stadium station looking south from the “up” end. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ198858
 A train in the station hauled by
A train in the station hauled by "L1" Tank 67782. The windows behind the locomotive can be seen in the previous picture. (Image courtesy of Nigel Callaghan).
An aerial view of the 1924 exhibition site nearing completion. Old London Bridge and the station can be seen on the right with goods wagons in the platform. The Never-Stop Railway can also be seen.
An aerial view of the 1924 exhibition site nearing completion. Old London Bridge and the station can be seen on the right with goods wagons in the platform. The Never-Stop Railway can also be seen.
 Looking north from the station with 5th way in the foreground. The track curved to the right following the line of the factory gables. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ198858
Looking north from the station with 5th way in the foreground. The track curved to the right following the line of the factory gables. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ198858
 A modern building occupies the trackbed where the line crossed 4th Way. Midway between here and the previous picture the line crossed over the Never-Stop Railway on a concrete bridge. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ199859
A modern building occupies the trackbed where the line crossed 4th Way. Midway between here and the previous picture the line crossed over the Never-Stop Railway on a concrete bridge. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ199859
 The point where the line crossed 4th Way. Presumably it crossed on the level. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ199859
The point where the line crossed 4th Way. Presumably it crossed on the level. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ199859
On the opposite side of 4th Way another modern building sits on the trackbed. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ199859
On the opposite side of 4th Way another modern building sits on the trackbed. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ199859
 The boundary wall of the trackbed as it passes through industrial premises. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ200859
The boundary wall of the trackbed as it passes through industrial premises. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ200859
 Part of 4th Way now occupies the trackbed for a short distance. View looking towards Marylebone. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ200859
Part of 4th Way now occupies the trackbed for a short distance. View looking towards Marylebone. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ200859
 4th Way following the course of the loop line looking back towards Wembley Stadium station. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ200859
4th Way following the course of the loop line looking back towards Wembley Stadium station. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ200859
A twin culvert carries a tributary of the River Brent beneath the trackbed near the point where the connection to the Neasden-Harrow line diverged. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ200859
A twin culvert carries a tributary of the River Brent beneath the trackbed near the point where the connection to the Neasden-Harrow line diverged. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ200859
 The junction of 4th Way and Atlas Rd occupies the trackbed where the twin culvert runs beneath. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ200859
The junction of 4th Way and Atlas Rd occupies the trackbed where the twin culvert runs beneath. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ200859
 Beyond the road junction the trackbed becomes a surfaced footpath for a short distance. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ201859
Beyond the road junction the trackbed becomes a surfaced footpath for a short distance. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ201859
 The opposite end of the twin culverts. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ201859
The opposite end of the twin culverts. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ201859
The trackbed now runs next to what was an extensive goods yard. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ201858
The trackbed now runs next to what was an extensive goods yard. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ201858
 Looking towards Marylebone across the bridge that carried the line over the River Brent. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ201857
Looking towards Marylebone across the bridge that carried the line over the River Brent. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ201857
 The River Brent bridge. It is a long structure and it carried the river beneath the loop, an extensive array of sidings the GCR Neasden-Harrow line and the Metropolitan main line. OS: TQ201857
The River Brent bridge. It is a long structure and it carried the river beneath the loop, an extensive array of sidings the GCR Neasden-Harrow line and the Metropolitan main line. OS: TQ201857
 Looking back over the bridge towards Wembley Stadium station. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ201857
Looking back over the bridge towards Wembley Stadium station. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ201857
Just beyond the Brent bridge the footpath diverges from the trackbed to follow the river valley. The line carried on through what is now the perimeter of the Christian Salvesen distribution depot. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ202857
Just beyond the Brent bridge the footpath diverges from the trackbed to follow the river valley. The line carried on through what is now the perimeter of the Christian Salvesen distribution depot. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ202857
 The course of the line looking back towards the Stadium through what is now the Christian Salvesen depot. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ203855
The course of the line looking back towards the Stadium through what is now the Christian Salvesen depot. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ203855
 The final short stretch of the loop has been obliterated by Great Central Way. This is the view looking back towards the Stadium from near the junction. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ203855
The final short stretch of the loop has been obliterated by Great Central Way. This is the view looking back towards the Stadium from near the junction. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ203855
 Great Central Way in the foreground with the GCR Neasden-Northolt line and the site of the junction in the background. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ203855
Great Central Way in the foreground with the GCR Neasden-Northolt line and the site of the junction in the background. 13th March 2008. OS: TQ203855
A Railway Clearing House map of the Wembley/Neasden area from 1935. (Image courtesy of Nigel Callaghan).
A Railway Clearing House map of the Wembley/Neasden area from 1935. (Image courtesy of Nigel Callaghan).
 A map of the 1924 British Empire Exhibition site. The station and most of the loop line can be seen on the right.
A map of the 1924 British Empire Exhibition site. The station and most of the loop line can be seen on the right.
 Satellite image of the Stadium Loop as it appears today. The course of the line has been marked with red dots. The GCR Neasden-Northolt line is marked
Satellite image of the Stadium Loop as it appears today. The course of the line has been marked with red dots. The GCR Neasden-Northolt line is marked "A". South Bridge is marked "B". The site of Wembley Stadium station is outlined in red and marked "C". "D" is the site of North Bridge and "E" is the point where the line crossed 4th Way. Two branches diverged from the loop where it is marked "F"; one to give access for exhibits to the Palace of Engineering and the other linking back to the GCR Neasden - Harrow line. "G" marks the location of the bridge over the River Brent. (Image courtesy of Google Earth).
 A control ticket From Wembley Stadium station for the 1966 World Cup.
A control ticket From Wembley Stadium station for the 1966 World Cup.
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.
© 1998-2009 - All copyrights rest with the Author
[ descript.ion | Index ]