The Problem of Merton Park - kind of expecting Poirot to put in an appearance...

19th Century Railway Political Drama: (exists)
Jago the Journalist: “Please, tell me more.”

To quote a line form the Merton Parkas - "A man ain't a man with a ticket in his hand - you need wheels!"  Sums up much of the 1980's thinking on public transport.

As a boy in the late 1960’s, early 1970’s I lived in the houses next to the Merton Park level crossing
It had four gates, two on each side
The man in the signal box turned a huge wheel ( similar to a ship’s wheel) to open and close them
No lifting barriers back then!
These were wooden strong gates with a red disc in the centre of each
The footbridge you mentioned was what we used to cross the railway when the gates were closed
As a child I used that bridge countless times
Either to get a hair cut at the traditional barbers 💈 where I sat on plank across the arms of the barbers chair or to walk into Wimbledon
I also walked across the abandoned platforms to get a train to London
The footbridge, all nicely painted is now at Corfe station and I’ve walked across it again with my children

So how did William Shears get by? With a little help from his friends, I should imagine...

I have a feeling that Paul Merton took his stage name from the area too.

William "Billy" Shears, is a Paul McCartney look-a-like who joined the Beatles in 1966 after McCartney was killed in a car crash. I love a good conspiracy theory and this one has been running for years. McCartney / Shears denies the whole thing, but then of course he would, wouldn't he? 😁

As a local, I can already guestimate that 15 mins of runtime will be inadequate to the task of explaining the problems of Merton Park. Perhaps an 134 part series...... With charts.

Fun fact:

John Innes also sponsored a 'research farm' on the Merton Park estate, which researched agricultural improvements. Hence, 'John Innes No. 3' compost.

And just as I was getting ready to complain that the Merton Parkas didn't get a mention, you went and dropped it in right at the last knockings! Such a tease. 😊

A tram stop and abandoned station in one episode! You do spoil us young Hazzard.🤣

Billy Shears. Well played Mr Hazard, Well played. I did indeed enjoy the show/video.

Great to hear the verb 'filch' being used. An under appreciated word.

Looking forward to Jago's 750 page book, "The Unannotated Listing of All These Goddamned Railway Company Names, Victorian Era to the Present Day".

I'm very impressed that you managed to make an entertaining and interesting 15 and a half minute long video (and make enough B-roll footage) about a tram stop. Next level Jago!

Bravo for the Billy Shears comment.

Anyone else remember The Merton Parkas? Useful band.

Ten upvotes for "Merton Park yourself right there"

Merton park was only ever a single line on the Croydon side (platform 3) until the trams doubled it so there was only one line that could be electrified. It was only the tooting track that was double here. You used to have to cross the Tooting line at track level to get to the Croydon platform - very exciting! - but when the track was finally lifted they installed an earth bank at platform level to serve as a more accessible walkway to get to Plat 3.

Fun fact, part of Platform 2 can still be found if you choose to root about in the undergrowth at the end of the new houses beside the old station.

That station was so useful to me in the years when I lived on the fringe of Wimbledon and worked in Croydon, admittedly a long time ago now.