Okay, went and did some photography today, to get a feel for the area. Sidcup hasn't changed radically since the early 1990s, except for the Office Block to the left of the up line to London, demolished last month, so in essence it still has something of the Network South East about it, particularly its unique station building.

With thanks to Dave, Liz and Phil at Sidcup station for giving me free rein to take photographs (but of course, keeping behind the lines and going only where it was safe and legal to do so).

A view from the bridge (pun intended). Looking towards London, Christopher House is the tall office block on the left. The road going under the railway bridge goes towards Blackfen on the right, and towards Sidcup High Street on the left.

 

 

 

 

I do like the thought of VEPs and Networkers mingling in NSE livery, but the urge to try and make it somewhat "timeless" to have the Networkers in their new colours of Lilac and Navy Blue appeals too. I can only just remember slam door stock on the Sidcup line, I'm fairly sure they had all gone by 1994 (?)

 

 

 

 

 

One of the great things about Sidcup station is that the paintwork on the bridge tells a story. I thought I was going mad when I remembered that the bridge, the benches, the fences, and even the station canopy columns were painted bright red at one time, it seems everything had various coats of yellow, grey, blue, blue, yellow and blue again coated over the top of the red coat (applied during the NSE period?)

Yes, even the barbed tops to the fences are in the plan! These I believe were also originally red, to match the fences.

 

 

 

The photograph above is what I'd like to see, ideally, as an angle from my layout: the office block with the trees in front and St George's park behind.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the road looking towards Blackfen. The sign to the right used to be "The Iron Horse" and it featured the Jupiter, an American 4-4-0 of some fame. Now it features - of all engines - an A4 Pacific (given my LNER bias, you'd expect I'd like that, and you'd be right, I do like the sign! However a Bulleid of some form would have been more accurate).

This was, I think, the old Coal Merchant's kiosk when Sidcup's car park on this side was, instead, the goods sidings for the station.

Some detail of the office block. I really want to get this one in, as it sets the scene as Sidcup and gives it character.

On a side note, whilst browsing online, I found this terrific website with lots of photographs of various potential trains:

Peter Tandy Electrics

Lots to think over!

Source: End to End early 1990s NSE?