On Thu, 13 Mar 2008 01:14:10 -0000, "John Rowland"
wrote:


Thanks. Prior to visiting Verbena Close I had a quick look at the arches
carrying Manor Rd at the Stephenson St junction, and they didn't look like
they ever had a diagonal line under them, which is why I was confused....
but in this recent-ish photo
http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=...5580&encType=1
the passage of the track is quite clear. The conversion of the arches to a
self-storage site since that photo was taken must have obscured the evidence
at ground level, although the parapets presumably still give the game away.
(If anyone can guess exactly why I checked the arches for a diagonal railway
line *prior* to the sign at Verbena Close alerting me to the existence of
the yard, I'll be impressed.)

I think Pretoria Rd is a crazy place to have the street entrance to a goods
yard, though.

Guess - it started as a siding for bringing in building materials for
the housing estate and the railway then decided to retain it supply
the inhabitants with coal etc. Anyone know the dates?

Incidentally, it seems to have been "Plaistow and West Ham depot" and
to have been an early closure - my 1960 street map shows schools on
the site.


--
Peter Lawrence