Disused Stations: Low Street station

Low Street station looking south-west in August 1966, 10 monthe before closure. Although clean and tidy the station has looked run down for many years. Most of the poster board are devoid of posters and although the middle of summer the planters in front of the station building are devoid of plants.
Copyrigh photo from Stations UK

Two terraces of railway staff cottages were provided at Low Street. One terrace of 4 cottages, seen here, was close to the junction with the up sidings. It was built in the 1880s and was similar to other staff cottages provided by the LT&SR including cottages still in occupation at Purfleet. The cottages stood empty of many years but have recently been gutted by fire and are now a derelict shell. The second and long demolished cottages once stood opposite and to the west of what became the oil storage facility. These cottages are something of a mystery as they predated the laying of the sidings and stood on what was then a fairly isolated patch of land. Certain maps mark them as being railway cottages but only after the sidings were laid, suggesting they were taken over by the railway.
Photo from John Smith collection at Tilbury & Chadwell memories

With the camera facing towards East Tilbury and Pitsea, this view shows the connection to the sidings and oil terminal to the east of Low Street station. The sidings are rather obviously out of use in this undated but probably late 1960s scene. The running lines of the Tilbury Loop are at far left while the track at near left was a single-ended siding from which the sidings in the foreground branched. The single-ended siding had at one time been double-ended, thus forming a loop. From the track layout of later years it would appear locomotives arriving to shunt the oil terminal sidings would have to run round, if arriving from the Pitsea direction, and reverse into the sidings. If arriving from Tilbury a run-round would be necessary in the return direction. Low Street's third siding, which had once crossed the road to serve a gravel pit, branched off to the left of and behind the camera, therefore is out of view. Catenary masts occupy the site of the former Down goods loop, lifted by 1961 presumably because of electrification. Withdrawal of goods facilities at Low Street is usually said to have occurred in September 1964 so one would assume this scene postdates this. Right of centre stands a Standard Vanguard Phase I Estate car, minus at least one rear wheel spat and apparently at least one front wheel. The buildings on the right were railway cottages. Rather austere-looking, they were burned down in the early years of the 21st century and at the time of writing still stood as derelict, roofless shells. There were two sets of railway cottages at Low Street, the second and long demolished cottages once stood opposite and to the west of what became the oil storage facility. These cottages are something of a mystery as they predated the laying of the sidings and stood on what was then a fairly isolated patch of land. Certain maps mark them as being railway cottages but only after the sidings were laid, suggesting they were taken over by the railway.
Photo from John Smith collection at Tilbury & Chadwell memories

The truncated siding in the foreground ran into the oil depot, that on the left ran across Station Road to a gravel pit. All the sidings were out of use by the late 1960s.
Photo from John Smith collection at Tilbury & Chadwell memories

The oil storage facility to the east of Low Street station, looking south probably in the late 1960s. Such facilities once peppered the country and this one was operated by London and Coastal Oil Wharves Ltd., a Canvey Island company incorporated on 16 June 1936 and on 22 September 1994 rebranded as OIKOS Storage Ltd. There was originally one short siding on the east side of Low Street station. This was extended into three sidings serving gravel pits, these sidings not being laid until sometime around the turn of the 20th century. Two ultimately served the oil facility with one siding per side and that seen here was the easternmost. The third and westernmost siding had at one time crossed Low Street (now Station Road) via a level crossing to serve a further gravel pit. No trace now remains of this level crossing; the gravel pit is private property and is a local nature reserve.
Photo from John Smith collection at Tilbury & Chadwell memories

Low Street station seen from Station road shortly before closure in 1967. The Honda 50 motorcycle on the platform which is seen in this and other photos belonged to porter-in-charge Edward Sargeant. Mr Sargeant looked after the staion until closure.

Photo from John Smith collection at Tilbury & Chadwell memories

When closure was announced there was a local campaign to stop the closure. It came to nothing and Low Street station closed from 5 June 1967 with the last train running the previous day.

Photo from John Smith collection at Tilbury & Chadwell memories

Low Street station after closure. Little appears to have changed. Poster boards are devoid of posters, planters are full of weeds. The door to the waiting room stands open.
Photo from John Smith collection at Tilbury & Chadwell memories

Low Street signal box in February 1982. The gates have now been replaced by lifting barriers. This box was built by the Midland Railway and opened in January 1925, replacing the original box.
Photo from John Smith collection at Tilbury & Chadwell memories

Low Street signal box in February 1982. This box was built by the Midland Railway and opened in January 1925, replacing the original box. The box closed 5 April 1996 and was quickly demolished.

Photo from John Smith collection at Tilbury & Chadwell memories

Looking north-east at the site of Low Street station in May 2017. All evidence of the sttaion has been swept away apart from the goods shed which can be seen on the left behind the fence. A number of companies now operate from the former down goods yard. The goods shed is in the Apollo Plant Hire yard. Perhaps someone local can call in and get a photo.
Photo by Martin Clitheroe

1960s

Click on thumbnail to enlarge

[Source: Nick Catford]

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Station Name: LOW STREET