Just to get things straight at the start, I am not talking about the current Alexandra Palace Station which is active and well-used, no, this story is about that insignificant little building around the back of the Palace which today goes by the name of CUFOS.
I had heard people talk about CUFOS in the past and had often wondered what it was – sounds like a science lab. In fact it is a straight forward and homely acronym standing for, Community Use for the Old Station! All sorts goes on there and you can even hire it for both children’s and adult parties. It looks clean and pretty spanking new now but the station, opened at the same time as the Palace in 1873, has had a chequered history, riding the ups and downs in fortune of Alexandra Palace itself until it was finally closed in 1954.
Here it is in 1948 – the platform and rails are no longer extant.
And this really interesting diagram shows the route the line took form Highgate in 1953 – shortly before it was closed down.
I am going to hand you over to http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/a/alexandra_palace/ where author Nick Catford patiently explains every toot of the whistle and chug of the engine – it is worth a read.
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