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123/124 - London Waterloo Station

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123/124 - London Waterloo Station

Replacing the first terminus of the London & Southampton Railway at Nine Elms, Waterloo Station was opened in 1848 by the London & South Western Railway as part of extending the line two miles to be nearer the city. This original station, known as ‘central station’, had six platforms. From its very earliest days the station was popular with race goers travelling to Epsom; the original station opening in 1848 was brought forward a week to enable passengers to travel to the Derby by rail for the first time. Through the remainder of the 19th century, Waterloo was extended in an ad-hoc way to cope with demand. In 1860 the ‘Windsor station’ was opened on the north-west side of the original central platforms. In 1878 Waterloo gained an additional two platforms on the south-east side for mainline suburban trains in an extension known as the ‘south station’. In 1885 the ‘north’ station was opened, adding a further six platforms bringing the total at Waterloo to eighteen. It was however a confusing station for passengers with platforms divided between four different sections of the station, unclear platform numbering, four areas which were classed as concourses and poor information displays. There were significant delays to services as the whole station was served by just four approach lines, and difficult ticketing arrangements with rival railway companies such as the South Eastern Railway did not help. In 1899 London & South Western Railway (as the London & Southampton had become) sought permission to completely rebuild and expand the station. The Company sent its chief engineer J W Jacomb-Hood to America to gather information on termini buildings to assist its redesign. Over twenty years as building work took place, Waterloo became a spacious station with a large open concourse. With 21 platforms under a huge ridge-and-furrow roof it became light and airy compared to the dark maze it once was. Widely praised for its architecture, the new curved building to the front of the station housed the LSWR’s offices and facilities for passengers including a large booking hall and upstairs dining room which were simple and elegant with Georgian style panelling in the dining room and Edwardian decoration in the bars. As the station rebuild was drawing to a close, and as a memorial to their staff that died in the First World War, the LSWR commissioned the Victory Arch; designed by J R Scott, their chief architect and made of Portland stone and bronze it depicts War and Peace, with Britannia holding the torch of liberty above. Leading from Station Approach onto the concourse, the Victory Arch forms the main entrance to Waterloo. Waterloo remained largely unchanged until early 1990s when platforms 20 and 21 were demolished to make way for Waterloo International. Opened in 1994 this was the terminus for Eurostar services running through the new Channel Tunnel. However on completion of the new high speed line in 2007, Eurostar services were taken instead to St Pancras and the international platforms at Waterloo closed. In July 2012 a first-floor balcony opened at Waterloo to help reduce congestion at the station in time for the London Olympic Games. Space has been created for passengers on the concourse by repositioning shops from the middle of the main concourse onto the balcony. With new escalators and lifts Waterloo station now provides step-free access to its neighbouring station, Waterloo East.

Network Rail Corporate Archive

Level of Description: Series

Reference Code: NRCA163119 - NRCA163278

Title: London Waterloo Station

Extent and Medium: 79 drawings

Creator: London and South Western Railway

Date: 1848-1922

Scope and Content: 79 drawings of London Waterloo Station

Contract Number: London Waterloo Station

Drawing Number: n/a

Drawing Office Number: n/a

Keywords (Country): England

Keywords (Structure Name): London Waterloo Station

Keywords (Structure Type): Station

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Title

Description

Date

London and South Western Railway Waterloo Station – Enlargement Half Inch Details of Main Front

Three Drawings on one sheet showing elevation, elevation of corner and section of Waterloo Station main front.

04 May 1909

London and South Western Railway Waterloo Station – Enlargement New Offices (Extension No.3) 1/2 Inch Stone Details

2 drawings on 1 sheet showing plan at first floor, second floor of cornice, elevation of waterloo road front and plan mezzanine floor level and section

[1900-1923]

London and South Western Railway Waterloo Station – Extension No.3 Details of Circular Booking Office South Side

Five drawings on one sheet showing plan of panel and developed plan of bays, developed elevations panel AB and Developed Elevation of three centre bays and Section

[1883-1923]

London and South Western Railway Waterloo Station – Half Inch Detail of Refreshment Room

Five drawings on one sheet showing entrance to the refreshment room interior, niche, entrance to vestibule interior, elevation of piers and section through refreshment room.

1912

Southern Railway Waterloo Station – Proposed Notice for Vehicular Traffic Plans and Elevations

Six drawings on one sheet. Three drawings showing elevations of signs reading 'No Exit for Vehicles' and 'Way out for Vehicles', two drawings of plans of top of noticeboards and site plan.

27 March 1923

London and South Western Railway Waterloo Station – New Offices Half Elevation to Board Room

3 drawings on one sheet showing half elevation of board room, section through centre

08 January 1885

London and South Western Railway Waterloo Station – Enlargement Roofing Contract No.2 Extension of South Screen

Six drawings on one sheet. Four drawings showing sections and elevations of glazing for the south screen and two drawings of plans.

13 May 1908

London and South Western Railway Waterloo Station – Interior of Waterloo Station

Drawing is of [interior of entrance to Waterloo Station]. Drawing shows man outside building next to a cab. Details inside building of lighting, office, doors and columns. Drawing has been signed but signature illegible. [AW Slumper]

January 1923

London and South Western Railway Waterloo Station – Enlargement Half Inch Scale Details of Gentlemen’s Court

Five drawings on one sheet showing wall next lavatory and exit staircase (lavatory and hair dressing), wall on Waterloo Road front, range of WCs backing on lavatory wall, entrance to store room in WC court and exit staircase and attendant's room.

January 1910

London and South Western Railway Waterloo Station – New Offices Extension No.2 Semi-circular Window Over Exit for Vehicles

One drawing on one sheet. An elevation showing details of the semi-circular window over the exit for vehicles including the London and South Western shield.

[1900-1923]

London and South Western Railway Waterloo Station – Enlargement Office Plan

Two drawings on one sheet. First drawing is a plan at first floor level showing various offices including guards room, police clerks and mailmen. Second drawing is a plan at platform level showing various rooms including luggage hall, main line cloak room and booking hall.

06 November 1909

British Railways Board London Waterloo Station – Artists impression of New Concourse

Drawing is an architect impression of Waterloo Station in London by JGL Poulson Architect. The drawing shows an interior of the station with waiting room, telephones and entrances to platforms.

[1964]

London and South Western Railway Waterloo Station – Extension No.2 Half Inch Stone Detail Main Facade

Two drawings on one sheet showing elevation and section of main façade

28 July 1913

London and South Western Railway Waterloo Station – Details of Projection Sign

Two drawings on one sheet showing side elevation and end elevation of projection signs at Waterloo Station. Examples for 'Refreshments' and 'Buffet'.

[1900-1923]

London and South Western Railway Waterloo Station – Enlargement Contract No.10 Proposed Approach from York Road and Diversion of Mepham Street

Six drawings on one sheet. Drawings showing section through crown of Mepham Street (diverted) and Elevation of Approach Road (developed).

12 April 1912

Station Under London and South Western Station at Waterloo – General Plan

General plan of the Waterloo and City Railway station under the London and South Western Railway station at Waterloo

No date, circa 1893 - 1898

London and South Western Railway Waterloo Station – Enlargement Half Inch Details of Telephone Boxes on Concourse (South Side)

Four drawings on one sheet showing back elevation, section, front elevation (including automatic lighting and ventilation) and plan of public telephone boxes at Waterloo Station

22 September 1916

Southern Railway Waterloo Station – Design for Mechanical Trains Arrival Indicator

Elevation to Concourse - this shows the indicator in detail, it is annotated. There is a layout plan between platform 12 and 13. Stamped Eng. Estate Committee Chairman

11 January 1938

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