The front of Cheam station as it is today, photographed on 26th April 2009. The Network Rail van seems to be requiring some attention!

photograph by Gregory Beecroft

The origins of the line that serves Cheam station has its roots firmly in the financial disaster called the atmospheric railway! In 1844 the then London & Croydon Railway promoted a line from Croydon to Epsom that was to be worked using the Clegg and Samuda atmospheric principle, utilizing a 15" pipe, with plans to go on to Portsmouth. It never happened as the first short test line was a total disaster allowing Cheam to be graced with a conventional line when the LB&SCR opened the route from Croydon to Epsom on 10th May 1847. Cheam station expanded over the years and was rebuilt prior to the the installation of equipment for the ac overhead electric services, at which time it was supposed to have intermediate platforms. However, the onset of the First World War caused them not to be built, and when peace finally arrived the station stayed in the same state!

This photograph of Cheam station's down platform buildings was taken from the window of a departing up train. The date is not known but it was before 1938 as this is part of a larger photo in which there's no sign of the third rail on the main line tracks.

photograph: Mike Morant collection

Looking from Cheam station towards Sutton before the station was reconstructed in 1907.

photograph reproduced by arrangement with Honeywood Heritage Centre, Carshalton, courtesy of Tony Price

D1 class locomotiveNº256 Stanford leaving Cheam station in 1906 with an up service for London Bridge via Peckham Rye.

photograph reproduced by arrangement with Honeywood Heritage Centre, Carshalton, courtesy of Tony Price

Cheam Station between 1907 (when it was rebuilt) and when the AC overhead electric system was installed. Note the vast gap between the platforms which was intended to accomodate an intermediate platform.

photograph reproduced by arrangement with Honeywood Heritage Centre, Carshalton, courtesy of Tony Price

Many years later and the AC overhead has come and gone in favour of DC third rail. Two 4 Cor unitsapproach Cheam with a Bognor Regis - Victoria service during July 1938, though the rear section is quite probably from Portsmouth Harbour.

photograph reproduced by arrangement with Honeywood Heritage Centre, Carshalton, courtesy of Tony Price

In July 1936 a 3 car suburban unit, believed to beNº1680, was derailed in an incident at Cheam. Unfortunately we do not have any other information concerning this event.

photograph reproduced by arrangement with Honeywood Heritage Centre, Carshalton, courtesy of Tony Price

Another view of the stricken unit. If you have any information concerning this incident then both the SEmG and the Honeywood Heritage Centre would like to hear from you.

photograph reproduced by arrangement with Honeywood Heritage Centre, Carshalton, courtesy of Tony Price

We are fortunate to be able to reproduce the photographs from the Honeywood Heritage Centre but information on many of them is quite scant. If you can add anything, no matter how small, that would enhance the captions then please .