REGISTER OF CLOSED RAILWAYS

OS Map reproduced with permission from the National Library of Scotland

First CL 01/10/1911 along with SER line from a point east of the river to Chatham Central - see Chatham (Central).

Temporarily RO 29/06/1919, along with Rochester Bridge Jct. - Strood Jct. ('Toomer Loop'), due to fire damage on SER bridge. 

ACD Sunday 10/07/1927 - in accordance with Southern Railway Signal Instruction No. 18 (1927) kindly provided by the SRS. This instruction confirms that the new connection, bypassing the former Rochester Bridge station and connecting with the SER line from Strood Junction at the newly created Rochester Bridge Jct., was brought into use from this date and the lines over the LC&D bridge were taken out of use, thus confirming that both bridges were in use from 08/01/1922, when the SER bridge was reopened, until 09/07/1927 inclusive.

*Estimated using measuring tool on NLS website.

The Rochester (SER) bridge was reopened from 08/01/1922, but there is some uncertainty as to exactly what happened subsequently and when. 

Thanks to information kindly supplied by the SRS the situation regarding the '1927 connection' and the status of the bridges between 1922 and 1927 has now been confirmed (see above).

What is still not clear is what happened between 1922 and 1927 with the 'Toomer Loop' and the 1911 connection linking Rochester Bridge station and the LCD line from Swanley Junction to the SER bridge line.

Between 01/10/1911 (with the closure of Chatham Central, the LCD bridge line and the 'Toomer Loop'), and 29/06/1919 (after the fire on the SER bridge and its consequent closure and the reinstatement of the LCD bridge line and the 'Toomer Loop'), the 'Toomer Loop' was out of use and presumably disconnected at the Rochester Bridge (south) end to facilitate the installation of the 1911 connection.

After the fire this was presumably reversed, the 1911 connection being removed or at least disconnected to allow the reinstatement of the 'Toomer Loop'.

It's what happened after 08/01/1922 that is unclear. Was the 'Toomer Loop' left in with the 1911 connection remaining out of use or vice versa? Alternatively, were both in use simultaneously or, indeed, a third option that neither was in use? Not having seen any detailed track plans I cannot say for certain if it was physically possible for both to coexist. I have the impression it was not.   

Any information, corrections, clarifications, valium most welcome!

Page updated: 18/11/2021