Parkland Walk - Disused railway line

"Follow the old railway line from Finsbury Park to Alexandra Palace

and see deer, bats, foxes and a variety of birds and butterflies."

www.all4kidsuk.com

"Figures for Summer 2001 reveal a 70 per cent rise in robberies from the previous year

Dramatic increases in anti-social behaviour, including drinking, drug taking and sexual

activity have also contributed to a public perception that the parkland walk  is a no go area,

according to a council report"

Hampstead & Highgate Express

This railway ran from Finsbury Park via Stroud Green and Crouch End to Highgate,

with a branch from Highgate via Cranley Gardens and Muswell Hill to Alexandra Palace.

The trackbed has been converted into the PARKLAND WALK that alternates between running

along the top of an embankment and through deep wooded cuttings of the original railway. It is

London's longest local nature reserve.

In its heyday in the 1870's the line carried 60,000 passengers on one Whit Monday

Leaving Finsbury Pk heading towards Stroud Green

Stroud Green Station stood just the other side of this bridge. It opened in 1881 and was demolished

in 1966.

A fascinating piece of fencing made up of  old doors.

Old bridges, graffiti and dilapidated signs between Stroud Green & Crouch End

Approaching Crouch End Station. This A sculpture of a spriggan by Marilyn Collins  This sculpture

was the inspiration for Stephen King's short story "Crouch End", where a stylised rendition of the

sculpture is described.

   

The platforms of Crouch End station (opened 1867) remain - the platforms were lowered to accommodate tube trains.

The right hand pic is believed to be the remains of a station building.

   

Tunnels leading to Highgate Station

The footpath then leaves the route of the railway line - just past Highgate the line split into two branches,

one to Alexandra Palace and the other to  High Barnet and Edgware (mostly part of the London

Underground Northern Line now). The Alexandra Palace branch curved around  the edge of Highgate Woods,

where it is fenced off and overgrown.

Highgate Station is not part of the Parkland Walk and is inaccessible to the public! Here's some rare pics as I

managed to get in while surveyors were doing some work.

Highgate Station

Highgate High Level was in passenger use until 5th July 1954, and the lines through it were open for empty

stock movements until September 1970.Originally opened in 1867, rebuilt in 1900 and again in 1940 to

enable interchange between this overground station and the Northern Line underground station (which still

exists)

Picking up the path again at Cranleigh Gardens

 

Fence made out of old railway sleepers just past the site of Cranley Gardens Station

Incidently,  the house 23 Cranley Gardens was the home of Denis Nilsen who admitted to at least 15 murders.

The civil servant was arrested in London in 1983  after human remains were found in a blocked drain.

He was sentenced to life imprisonment at his trial

Viaduct between Cranley Gardens and Muswell Hill.

New foot-tunnel towards end of walk approaching Alexandra Palace

Another  non descript bridge approaching Alexandra Palace station but worth noting for its

icicles!

The old Alexandra Palace Station building dwarfed by the Palace itself. The station building is now a community centre.

"And only footsetps in a lane,

and birdsong broke the silence sound

and chuffs of the Great Northern train

for Alexandra Palace bound"

Diary of a Nobody" John Betjeman

The Muswell Hill Metro Group are campaigning for the reopening of the railway line between Finsbury Park and

 Muswell Hill, with a possible extension to Alexander Palace, proposing a  tram or light rail system

http://muswellhillmetrogroup.atspace.com