Brasted
Brasted station or Halt as it was known in later days was a small station, situated in the Kent countryside, having been opened on the Westerham branch line on 7th July 1881. The line had originally received Parliamentary approval on 24th July 1876, and was built under the auspices of the nominally independent ‘’Westerham Valley Company’’ (WVC). Leaving the Tonbridge Line at Dunton Green, the branch was single-track from the outset, comprising just two stations: Westerham and Brasted. The SER’s influence during the construction programme was evident, for the buildings erected at these sites conformed to the company’s ‘’economical’’ policy, which endeavoured to produce new station structures at a ‘’modest’’ cost. The station had both facility’s for passengers and goods, with both a ticket office and Parcels office.
Brasted Halt Running in Board
The layout at Brasted was a single-track was served by one platform face, the latter of which was positioned south of the line. No passing loop was provided here, and was worked by a single line token system. To proceed along the branch, the driver had to be in possession of a token, supplied by the signal box at Dunton Green. locomotive run-a-rounds, took place at Westerham, The station building at Brasted was identical to that at Westerham, except for a slightly reduced width: 70-foot in length, it was a single-storey building, built upon a wooden frame, with a slated pitched roof. A platform canopy ran the length of the structure. The Station Master was accommodated in a house, just south of the station building, which still exists as a private house.
A general view of Brasted
The Station also had a goods yard which comprised of three sidings, which were mainly used for coal traffic. A former LB&SCR wooden van body served as a store and office for the Coal merchant up to closure. Entry & exit to the Sidings was controlled by a ground frame.
The former LBSCR wagon body at Brasted. Note the SR warning sign
The SR warning sign that exists as part of the author’s collection
Very little of the Station survives today except for some SR fencing. The building was demolished in 1978. The M25 runs very close to the site but not on the original track bed.
A LBSCR waybill from Streatham Hill to Brasted dated 1906
A map view of Brasted
Brasted Station site as it appears now, just to the left of the photo is the M25
This view would have been the goods yard