Major alterations to the site were undertaken by the Southern Railway, as part of the company’s earliest electrification scheme of Eastern Section suburban lines. Whilst both the LB&SCR and LSWR had already electrified parts of their networks, SE&CR electrification had never passed the planning stage, ultimately due to a lack of capital. The first wave of modernisation, begun in 1924, involved the installation of third rail along the following routes:
At Brixton, the Herne Hill platforms were extended to 520-feet, which saw the erection of steel framework alongside the viaduct walls to support the lengthened surfaces – an underbridge was also rebuilt. The northern pair of platforms on the Crystal Palace/Catford Loop spur were taken out of use at this time, and two thirds of the large triangular canopy of the main building was dismantled; this just left the section of canopy protecting the "down" Herne Hill platform. The original canopy on the "up" Herne Hill platform was also demolished, and was replaced by a simpler upward-sloping design with a plain timber valance and steel framework. The diamond-shaped platform gas lamps gave way to the SR’s distinctive swan-neck variant, and regular electric working on the aforementioned routes commenced on 12th July 1925. On 9th July 1934, "Brixton & South Stockwell" became plain "Brixton".
The British Railways era brought its own wave of changes, commencing with signalling modernisation. As part of "Phase 1" of the Kent Coast Electrification Scheme, the impressive semaphore signals at Brixton succumbed to four-aspect colour lights, controlled from a new "power box" located at Shepherds Lane. The latter comprised a miniature power lever frame, and controlled three junctions in the area:
The new "power box" came into use on 8th March 1959, marking the end for the distinctive "Brixton Tower" signal cabin. Nevertheless, the latter’s sister at Loughborough Junction continued to be in use until 29th November 1981. It was also on this date that Shepherds Lane "power box" was itself abolished, its functions being taken over by the Victoria Panel located at Clapham Junction.
In June 1986, the platforms at Brixton became host to a trio of bronze sculptures. British Rail commissioned artist Kevin Atherton to produce the life-size casts, which were collectively named "Platform Pieces". The sculptures were based on three regular users of the station who volunteered to be cast, and both the Herne Hill platforms and the disused "up" Catford Loop platform were recipients of them. This formed part of a million-pound improvement programme for Brixton station, a joint venture between British Rail and Lambeth Council. Further visual changes occurred later on in the same decade: during 1989, the lattice girder bridge carrying the South London Line over Brixton’s platforms was dismantled. It was replaced by a stronger steel structure, of about 250-foot span, in anticipation of Chunnel freight services using this portion of the South London Line to reach the Catford Loop. This involved the laying of further crossovers between South London and Catford Loop Lines in the Shepherds Lane Junction area during March 1991.
A Victoria-bound Bulleid-designed 2-SAP is seen coming off the lattice girder bridge which carried the South London Lines over platform Nos. 1 and 2, and "Atlantic Road". This bridge span was replaced in 1989 by a stronger steel variant, to accommodate heavy Channel Tunnel freight traffic. © David Glasspool Collection
A Victoria to Sevenoaks via Bat & Ball service is seen venturing towards the Catford Loop. Dominating the background is the former department store of Bon Marche, which had closed in the previous year. The junction here is subject to a 20 MPH speed limit. © David Glasspool Collection
An eastward view of the Herne Hill platforms shows the remaining section of the LC&DR platform canopy on the left. This formerly extended over the area now ringed by palisade fencing. On the right is the SR canopy erected at the time of the 1925 electrification. In the background is the 1989 steel bridge carrying the South London Line over the Herne Hill route, whilst in the foreground is one of three bronze sculptures. © David Glasspool
Panning to the left of the previous view, we are afforded a look at the still extant, but long disused, "up" platform for the Catford Loop tracks. Also in view is a second bronze sculpture, whilst in the background is the viaduct of the South London Line. © David Glasspool
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