This is a juicy train question - Slade green loop to crayford

ricky_otto

DaveMehmet said:

iaitch said:

Now you've told eveyone about it, it will look like this next home game.

Southeastern would still have the heating on full temperature 

That’s if the train even turned up.

ricky_otto

LouisMend said:

I'm going to give this a try tomorrow, getting to Charlton from Sidcup via bus always seems to take forever, especially for an evening game with rush hour traffic 

Charlton are playing Crawley though, not Crystal Palace. 

ElfsborgAddick

iaitch said:

Now you've told eveyone about it, it will look like this next home game.

Plaistow?

Airman Brown

LouisMend said:

I'm going to give this a try tomorrow, getting to Charlton from Sidcup via bus always seems to take forever, especially for an evening game with rush hour traffic 

Pretty much nailed on to be the most exciting part of the evening.

seth plum

Let’s hope Louis got there and back without getting lost.

thai malaysia addick

I gather Lavelle has been studying this thread intensely.

Elthamaddick

I'm lost here - so could I in theory get from Bexleyheath station to Charlton and back again on a direct train (ie by going towards Dartford to get to Charlton?)

Lordflashheart

Elthamaddick said:

I'm lost here - so could I in theory get from Bexleyheath station to Charlton and back again on a direct train (ie by going towards Dartford to get to Charlton?)

Yep - before Dartford station there is a loop of track which diverts trains round to Skade Green and up the Woolwich line

valleynick66

Elthamaddick said:

I'm lost here - so could I in theory get from Bexleyheath station to Charlton and back again on a direct train (ie by going towards Dartford to get to Charlton?)

unlikely to be quicker than changing at Blackheath

Swindon_Addick

Elthamaddick said:

I'm lost here - so could I in theory get from Bexleyheath station to Charlton and back again on a direct train (ie by going towards Dartford to get to Charlton?)

It's about 10 min longer than changing at Blackheath. Most rail websites are set up to show the quickest journeys so don't show this option unless there's a box to tick to show only direct trains. 

Elthamaddick

valleynick66 said:

Elthamaddick said:

I'm lost here - so could I in theory get from Bexleyheath station to Charlton and back again on a direct train (ie by going towards Dartford to get to Charlton?)

unlikely to be quicker than changing at Blackheath

much easier with kids to take the direct / slightly longer route - than changing to a busy train at Blackheath

valleynick66

Elthamaddick said:

valleynick66 said:

Elthamaddick said:

I'm lost here - so could I in theory get from Bexleyheath station to Charlton and back again on a direct train (ie by going towards Dartford to get to Charlton?)

unlikely to be quicker than changing at Blackheath

much easier with kids to take the direct / slightly longer route - than changing to a busy train at Blackheath

Agreed. But I assume (I may be wrong) the trains that go round the loop and effectively swap from the Woolwich line to the Bexleyheath line (and vice versa)  are not as frequent.

DA9

valleynick66 said:

Elthamaddick said:

valleynick66 said:

Elthamaddick said:

I'm lost here - so could I in theory get from Bexleyheath station to Charlton and back again on a direct train (ie by going towards Dartford to get to Charlton?)

unlikely to be quicker than changing at Blackheath

much easier with kids to take the direct / slightly longer route - than changing to a busy train at Blackheath

Agreed. But I assume (I may be wrong) the trains that go round the loop and effectively swap from the Woolwich line to the Bexleyheath line (and vice versa)  are not as frequent.

21 & 51 past the hour from crayford on a Saturday 

Elthamaddick

yeah I'm guessing that too - is there anywhere that the times on a Saturday are published?, the SE timetable doesn't say anything

DA9

Lordflashheart said:

Elthamaddick said:

I'm lost here - so could I in theory get from Bexleyheath station to Charlton and back again on a direct train (ie by going towards Dartford to get to Charlton?)

Yep - before Dartford station there is a loop of track which diverts trains round to Skade Green and up the Woolwich line

But it’s only direct on the sidcup line stops, not Bexleyheath line, otherwise he’d  just be changing at Dartford rather than blackheath, no real gain 

DA9

Elthamaddick said:

yeah I'm guessing that too - is there anywhere that the times on a Saturday are published?, the SE timetable doesn't say anything

From bexley, 2 x hour, 15 & 45, direct, only sidcup line 

https://ticket.southeasternrailway.co.uk/journeys-list/BXY/CTN/2021-09-11T13:00/2021-09-11T17:00/1//?departNow=no&realTime=no&searchPreferences=&showAdditionalRoutes=no&showCheapest=no&tocSpecific=no

Elthamaddick

got it cheers - bugger !

seth plum

The change, or rather rush over the bridge to the Charlton platform at Blackheath can be tight, delayed Bexleyheath line trains can mess it up.

fat man on a moped

They do run direct from the Bexleyheath line but only during the week it seems so no good for Saturdays

RaplhMilne

Ok, now the Albany Park direct to Charlton train, is clearly no longer a secret. Whoa betide anyone who takes my seat right at the back which pulls up next to the exit gate at Charlton station. 

LouisMend

seth plum said:

Let’s hope Louis got there and back without getting lost.

Journey there was an absolute delight on the loop train, will certainly make it a habit.

Got a lift back from Pete Burrowes which was a lot less relaxing

Addictedoldgit

I live in Sidcup & discovered the delight's of the Dartford loop line a year ago.
Can't imagine why I'd never used it before.

Still use the car more often than not, but the ULEZ is starting next month I believe which stop's me using my old polluting diesel car.
Boundary is the south circular, means I will break a habit of 55 years and permanently use the Dartford loop line.

Should have made the switch years ago as I get free rail travel!

seth plum

Point Of Order Mr Speaker.
Can you call it the Dartford loop line when it doesn’t go to Dartford?
The Slade Green Circular might be more informative.

killerandflash

seth plum said:

Point Of Order Mr Speaker.
Can you call it the Dartford loop line when it doesn’t go to Dartford?
The Slade Green Circular might be more informative.

The track in question, taking you from Crayford to Slade Green, does go through Dartford though, as it crosses briefly into Kent!

The Crayford Spur is its correct name I think

DA9

https://www.kentrail.org.uk/crayford_spur.htm

AFKABartram

Surprised we’ve got two pages in and no one has mentioned the Slade Green Safari Park on the loop 

killerandflash

DA9 said:

https://www.kentrail.org.uk/crayford_spur.htm

I hadn't realised how relatively recent that spur was

Raith_C_Chattonell

Talking of Slade Green I fairly recently happened across a memorial stone in Brook Street cemetery, which I had to google when I got home. 

The most appalling disaster occurred there on Feb 18 1924 in a munitions factory as 21 young women set to work breaking down Verey light cartridges.  An explosion very early in the morning would leave 12 girls dead plus their foreman.  Most of the girls were from Erith aged just 16 - 23.

Tens of thousands of people lined the streets as the funeral procession took place.



  


Anyway apologies for this, but the mention of Slade Green reminds me of this profound event, that I'd somehow never heard of before. 

Masterbrew

Opens an interesting possibility - Bexley and Crayford stations are just off the A2, so parking there and catching the train to Charlton could avoid both the new clean air charge and also the long delays in getting away by car after the match. 

Addictedoldgit

Interesting thread this, I've learnt it's called the Crayford spur, not the Dartford loop as I supposed.

Good to know the history behind its construction.