On my visit to London earlier this month, I called into Clapham Junction to visit with my friend Hassard Stacpoole who lives nearby.
Hassard brought me on a tour of the area to highlight the changes south of the Thames since my last visit.
London is a dynamic city. There are cranes and construction sites everywhere you look.
The area around Battersea Park is rapidly being transformed from an old industrial area to a modern residential community.
Using my FujiFilm X-T1 and Lumix LX7, I made these photos from our tour of the area.
![Five car Overland trains now serve Clapham Junction.](https://i0.wp.com/briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Overground_Clapham_DSCF6742.jpg?resize=474%2C316)
My intention is to compare these images with similar views exposed years ago, as well as photos showing further change from my next visit.
![FujiFilm X-T1 digital photograph at Clapham Junction.](https://i0.wp.com/briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Overground_Clapham_DSCF6740.jpg?resize=474%2C711)
![Clapham Junction.](https://i0.wp.com/briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Clapham_Jct_DSCF6743.jpg?resize=474%2C316)
![Wandsworth Road looking toward Battersea Park. Construction now dominates this horizon.](https://i0.wp.com/briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Wandsworth_Road_DSCF6734.jpg?resize=474%2C316)
![The old Battersea Park Generating Station is being repurposed.](https://i0.wp.com/briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Battersea_park_gen_station_DSCF6766.jpg?resize=474%2C316)
![Massive modern apartment blocks have sprung up around Battersea Park like mushrooms after the rain.](https://i0.wp.com/briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Trains_Battersea_park_DSCF6772.jpg?resize=474%2C316)
![Transportation changes are part of the story.](https://i0.wp.com/briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Battersea_sign_DSCF6759.jpg?resize=474%2C316)
![Thames bridge on approach to Victoria. Look at all the new building underway.](https://i0.wp.com/briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Thames_Bridge_near_Victoria_DSCF6786.jpg?resize=474%2C316)
![Looking south from Victoria toward Battersea Park.](https://i0.wp.com/briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Victoria_Station_DSCF6794.jpg?resize=474%2C316)
![In London little remains unchanged for long. Even the train companies play musical chairs with the franchises every few years. How much longer will South West Trains serve Clapham Junction?](https://i0.wp.com/briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Clapham_Jct_DSCF6852.jpg?resize=474%2C316)
![A view south of Clapham Junction Station.](https://i0.wp.com/briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Clapham_Jct_DSCF6652.jpg?resize=474%2C711)
![A South West Trains emu clatters along south of Clapham Junction.](https://i0.wp.com/briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Clapham_Jct_DSCF6660.jpg?resize=474%2C316)
![It's been a long time since the London, Brighton and South Coast was a going concern. This is the old station at Clapham Junction.](https://i0.wp.com/briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Clapham_Junction_station_P1460273.jpg?resize=474%2C356)
I’m pretty sure the passenger vehicles on the London transit networks have been called cars for a very long time, and of course the origins of some of the London Underground system had American involvement. The 5-car units are on the Overground – former national rail lines now subsumed into the Underground ambit.
Hope they reinstall the trademark 4 chimneys at Battersea. IMO the building would look like a plucked chicken without them.
“5 Car Train” – sounds like they’re speaking American. What happened to “5 Carriage Train” – or is “car” short for “carriage?”
Spent a day there back in ’04 watching the last of the slam-door stock in use.