• London and Greenwich Railway (later South Eastern Railway) station opened 14 December 1836.
• London and Croydon Railway (later London, Brighton and South Coast Railway) station opened 5 June 1839.
• Joint station opened July 1844; demolished in 1850.
• New SER and LBSCR stations opened on 3 January 1851.
• LBSCR station demolished and rebuilt in 1853; extended in 1866 (present station).
• Original London and Greenwich platforms demolished and new high-level through platforms opened 11 January 1864.
• Station unified by the Southern Railway 1928.
• Large scale rebuilding by British Rail opened 15 September 1978.
• Terminus Hotel opened 1861; purchased by the LBSCR for offices in 1893; demolished 1941.

Station Design

• 1839 L&CR station wooden-trussed pitched roof, one span 56 ft by 212 ft, designed by J. Gibbs(?)
• 1866 LBSCR station, one span, trussed-arch roof, 88 ft by 655 ft, designed by J. Hawkshaw / F.D. Banister.
• 1978 redevelopment by British Rail Southern Region Regional Architect, N.G.T. Wikeley

When you think about elevated railways you tend to think of the fabled EL in Chicago, but when it comes right down to it much of London's first overground railway between Greenwhich and London Bridge was, and still is, elevated. The brick built Victorian arches are home to myriad small businesses, including:

• Health Clubs
• Art Galleries
• Garages
• Scrap Metal Merchants
• Sandwich Bars

With London Bridge as the hub the lines extend out over Borough Market to Waterloo East and Charing Cross South of the River Thames, and to Blackfriars and Cannon Street over the River. Going south, which really means going east to New Cross and New Cross Gate, before heading south the line is elevated most oif the way.

From Blackfriars the track swings to the east into London Bridge or carries on southwards to Elephant & Castle - all at an elevation, and even entering the Elephant & Castle Shopping Centre at the first floor - and on towards Herne Hill.

London Bridge is the oldest station in London and was opened in 1836.