Trains at Barking (LTSL, GOBLIN, DL, H&SL) - 28/10/2024

The 246th video of my train spotting adventures. ----- This video takes us southeast of Manor Park statin, using the nearby London Overground services to reach the bustling railway station of Barking. A large, 9-platform DfT Category B "Regional interchange" train station, it was first built back in 1854 by the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway (LT&SR), as a small two platform station. Congestion at Stratford and deteriorating relationships between the lessees running the LT&SR and the Eastern Counties Railway (ECR) saw a new route built between Barking and Gas Factory Junction where the new route joined the London & Blackwall Extension Railway (L&BER) opening in 1858. Other than a new junction west of Barking (and west of the River Roding bridge) no changes were made at Barking and the original Forest Gate Junction section was then used by a goods trains and a rump Bishopsgate to Barking service operated by the ECR and after 1862 by the Great Eastern Railway (GER). - Between the River Roding and the station there was a level crossing at Tanner Street and one on East Street at the east end of the station. Around 1860 some coal sidings were laid on the south side of the line west of the station. The new Pitsea direct route opened in stages first to Upminster (1885), East Horndon (1886) and finally joining the existing Southend route at Pitsea in 1888. A new junction was provided 200 yards east of Barking station and this was controlled by a new signal box called Barking East Junction. The former Barking Junction box to the west was renamed Barking West Junction. - This station lasted until the 1880s when increasing passenger and goods traffic as well as issues with the level crossings at Barking (which was expanding) meant something needed to be done. A rebuild occurred in 1899, including an additional through platform on the down side of the station to allow the GE Liverpool Street service to run round away from the through platforms, the two existing platforms being extended to accommodate longer trains, an up bay platform for departing services only, a new station building, and a new cattle dock. No changes were made to level crossing arrangements despite increasing usage, although a number of minor foot crossings were closed in 1900/1901. - The rebuilding was in advance of the arrival in Barking of services from the Tottenham and Forest Gate Railway (T&FGR) which opened in July 1894. Although a joint venture between the LT&SR and Midland Railway the majority of the services were operated by the latter company. Around the turn of the century Barking Town Urban District Council were seriously concerned about the amount of time that East Street Gates were closed to road traffic. In 1902, the LT&SR assisted when it made some minor changes to the signalling arrangements, and these were a prelude to further changes in the area. A new bridge over the River Roding was opened in 1900 and the original river bridge was replaced in 1903. The new scheme saw the Great Eastern/T&FGR trains operating over the northern lines and the LT&SR trains on the southern lines. - Many other changes occurred thereafter, including another rebuild later in the early 1950s, electrified District Line services before this, and other improvements and rolling stock enhancements up until today, where the station hosts c2c services along the LTSL, London Underground and London Overground commuter services. - Please refer to the complete history of Barking station on Wikipedia; it's a little long for this video description! ----- Filmed on the: London, Tilbury and Southend Line Gospel Oak to Barking Line District Line Hammersmith & City Line ----- Services seen: c2c) Services towards West Ham, Limehouse, London Fenchurch Street, Upminster, Purfleet, Grays, Pitsea, Southend Central and Shoeburyness. - LO) Services towards Barking Riverside, Woodgrange Park, Leyton Midland Road, Blackhorse Road, Harringay Green Lanes, and Gospel Oak. - DL) Underground services towards Upminster, West Ham, Whitechapel, Blackfriars, Embankment, and onwards to Central and West London. - H&S) Underground services towards West Ham, Whitechapel, Moorgate, Farringdon, King's Cross St Pancras, and onwards to Central and West London. ----- Trains seen: c2c) Class 357 Electrostar, Class 720 Aventra LO) Class 710 Aventra LU) S7 Stock FL) Class 66 DB) Class 66 GBRf) Class 66 ----- Please leave a like, comment or even subscribe if you enjoy my content. Thanks for watching :)