London Suburban Railways Crystal Palace (High Level) and Catford Loop

These two former LCDR lines were built for entirely different reasons. Crystal Palace was a great recreational centre and the line was initially a success. Insufficient residential traffic resulted in the early closure of the branch, despite electrification. The Catford Loop came late onto the railway map and gave an alternative route to Kent, notably for boat trains. The changing fortunes of these two interesting routes are fully illustrated.