Croxley Green Station
History - Source: Croxley Green railway station - Wikipedia
The station was opened in 1912 by the London and North Western Railway as the terminus of the branch line of the Watford-Rickmansworth line. The original wooden station building was burned in the early hours of 10 March 1913 by a group of Suffragettes. A goods yard opened just to the east of the station shortly after, which by 1939 it was expanded and a loop constructed from the southern to the northern siding. The London Midland Region of British Railways, and later Network SouthEast after sectorisation, continued to run services until 1996. Not far from the terminus, a depot was built to maintain BR trains, and for stabling 1938 tube stock Bakerloo line trains which closed in 1985. Seven years before closure, the original platform was removed due to safety concerns in 1989 and a wooden platform was built on the other side of the track. Originally, there were some services direct to Broad Street and Euston. The station and branch line were earmarked for closure by the first Beeching report, but as the proposal was refused, the southern curve of the triangle junction was instead closed, so the shuttle to Watford Junction remained. After attempts of reviving passenger usage on the branch line, services were reduced to a parliamentary train. The last train ran on 22 March 1996 and the line and station were closed, supposedly temporarily; the station furniture, including the lighting and the wooden platform remained in situ. A substitute bus service commenced on 25th March. A section of the embankment just east of the Grand Union Canal bridge was removed to make way for a new Ascot Road to improve traffic flow to the nearby business park. It was considered uneconomical to bridge the road, and so the station remains breached from the rest of the line. The Department of Transport authorised permanent closure in a letter dated November 2002. Both the station and the line were permanently closed on 29 September 2003. In 2005, the wooden platform was in a serious state of decay and was removed.
My Visit
Today there is very little left of the station. The entrance stairs still remain and the track is fully intact as well as the Platform lighting, however the wooden Platform has now fully decayed and there is no sign of the metal frame that would have held it up. From Croxley Green Station i followed the line towards Ascot Road, this took me to the Viaduct that crosses the Grand Union Canal. Further down the line the tracks have been cut off by the Ascot road.
Entrance stairs to the Platform
Original Metal sign in the undergrowth around the station
The Platform would have been located on the bare patch of land to the left of the tracks
Tracks running across the Grand Union Canal Viaduct
Makers Plate on the Viaduct
Watford West Station
History - Soucre: Watford West railway station - Wikipedia
he station opened in 1912 and was temporarily closed in 1996 before being permanently closed on 23 September 2003. Facilities at the station had been downgraded in the years prior to closure. At first the station was temporarily closed so the remaining station furniture, including the lampposts, drivers mirrors and the station and street-level signage, was left in situ. By the time clearance work began at the site in preparation for the Croxley Rail Link both mirrors had collapsed and almost all of the station-level signage had disappeared. The Watford Observer newspaper published an update on 25 January 2017, confirming work had stopped on the Croxley Rail Link because of an ongoing funding issue. In 2004–05, after the station was mothballed, ten passengers purchased tickets for travel to the station.
My Visit
Next along the line was Watford West Station. While i was tempted to climb down and have a look, the Station is totally overgrown and it just wasn't really worth it.
The Platforms hiding away in overgrowth
The Passenger entrance gates
Watford Stadium Station
History - Source: Watford Stadium Halt railway station - Wikipedia
The Watford and Rickmansworth Railway opened its line between Watford Junction and Rickmansworth (Church Street) station via Watford High Street in 1862. The line was soon to be taken over by the London and North Western Railway (LNWR). In 1912, a branch line to Croxley Green was opened, with an intermediate station at Watford West. 70 years later, Watford Stadium station was created to serve Vicarage Road football ground for crowd control. Prior to this, the nearest stations available to football fans were Watford High Street and Watford Junction. A direct transport connection from the stadium would enable football officials to keep fans of "away" teams separate from Watford F.C. supporters and reduce instances of football hooliganism in Watford town centre. The station acquired the nickname of "Hooligan Halt". Development of the station was funded jointly by the Football Trust, which contributed £50,000, Watford Borough Council (£80,000), Watford F.C. (£50,000), with the remaining £200,000 paid by British Rail. It was officially opened on 4 December 1982 by the rock musician and chairman of Watford Football Club, Elton John, and chairman of the Football Trust, Lord Aberdare. The inaugural train rolled into the station five minutes late. The station was only open on match days, with the first crowds passing through the station being Manchester United fans on the opening day. The Croxley Green branch was temporarily closed in 1996 when a local road construction scheme severed the line and it was formally closed in 2003. However, Watford Stadium Halt had not been used for some years prior to this, although it is not known exactly when the halt was last used
My Visit
Last on the line was Watford Stadium Station. This time i was more lucky, while overgrown the station was still pretty easy to access and was not completely hidden away by brambles. I would warn anyone who goes hear though that the way in is littered with a fair few dirty needles, so id probably wear boots.
Damaged passenger shelter next to the entrance
Path up to Platforms from the entrance
View from Platform
Tracks left in situ
History - Source: Croxley Green railway station - Wikipedia
The station was opened in 1912 by the London and North Western Railway as the terminus of the branch line of the Watford-Rickmansworth line. The original wooden station building was burned in the early hours of 10 March 1913 by a group of Suffragettes. A goods yard opened just to the east of the station shortly after, which by 1939 it was expanded and a loop constructed from the southern to the northern siding. The London Midland Region of British Railways, and later Network SouthEast after sectorisation, continued to run services until 1996. Not far from the terminus, a depot was built to maintain BR trains, and for stabling 1938 tube stock Bakerloo line trains which closed in 1985. Seven years before closure, the original platform was removed due to safety concerns in 1989 and a wooden platform was built on the other side of the track. Originally, there were some services direct to Broad Street and Euston. The station and branch line were earmarked for closure by the first Beeching report, but as the proposal was refused, the southern curve of the triangle junction was instead closed, so the shuttle to Watford Junction remained. After attempts of reviving passenger usage on the branch line, services were reduced to a parliamentary train. The last train ran on 22 March 1996 and the line and station were closed, supposedly temporarily; the station furniture, including the lighting and the wooden platform remained in situ. A substitute bus service commenced on 25th March. A section of the embankment just east of the Grand Union Canal bridge was removed to make way for a new Ascot Road to improve traffic flow to the nearby business park. It was considered uneconomical to bridge the road, and so the station remains breached from the rest of the line. The Department of Transport authorised permanent closure in a letter dated November 2002. Both the station and the line were permanently closed on 29 September 2003. In 2005, the wooden platform was in a serious state of decay and was removed.
My Visit
Today there is very little left of the station. The entrance stairs still remain and the track is fully intact as well as the Platform lighting, however the wooden Platform has now fully decayed and there is no sign of the metal frame that would have held it up. From Croxley Green Station i followed the line towards Ascot Road, this took me to the Viaduct that crosses the Grand Union Canal. Further down the line the tracks have been cut off by the Ascot road.
Entrance stairs to the Platform
Original Metal sign in the undergrowth around the station
The Platform would have been located on the bare patch of land to the left of the tracks
Tracks running across the Grand Union Canal Viaduct
Makers Plate on the Viaduct
Watford West Station
History - Soucre: Watford West railway station - Wikipedia
he station opened in 1912 and was temporarily closed in 1996 before being permanently closed on 23 September 2003. Facilities at the station had been downgraded in the years prior to closure. At first the station was temporarily closed so the remaining station furniture, including the lampposts, drivers mirrors and the station and street-level signage, was left in situ. By the time clearance work began at the site in preparation for the Croxley Rail Link both mirrors had collapsed and almost all of the station-level signage had disappeared. The Watford Observer newspaper published an update on 25 January 2017, confirming work had stopped on the Croxley Rail Link because of an ongoing funding issue. In 2004–05, after the station was mothballed, ten passengers purchased tickets for travel to the station.
My Visit
Next along the line was Watford West Station. While i was tempted to climb down and have a look, the Station is totally overgrown and it just wasn't really worth it.
The Platforms hiding away in overgrowth
The Passenger entrance gates
Watford Stadium Station
History - Source: Watford Stadium Halt railway station - Wikipedia
The Watford and Rickmansworth Railway opened its line between Watford Junction and Rickmansworth (Church Street) station via Watford High Street in 1862. The line was soon to be taken over by the London and North Western Railway (LNWR). In 1912, a branch line to Croxley Green was opened, with an intermediate station at Watford West. 70 years later, Watford Stadium station was created to serve Vicarage Road football ground for crowd control. Prior to this, the nearest stations available to football fans were Watford High Street and Watford Junction. A direct transport connection from the stadium would enable football officials to keep fans of "away" teams separate from Watford F.C. supporters and reduce instances of football hooliganism in Watford town centre. The station acquired the nickname of "Hooligan Halt". Development of the station was funded jointly by the Football Trust, which contributed £50,000, Watford Borough Council (£80,000), Watford F.C. (£50,000), with the remaining £200,000 paid by British Rail. It was officially opened on 4 December 1982 by the rock musician and chairman of Watford Football Club, Elton John, and chairman of the Football Trust, Lord Aberdare. The inaugural train rolled into the station five minutes late. The station was only open on match days, with the first crowds passing through the station being Manchester United fans on the opening day. The Croxley Green branch was temporarily closed in 1996 when a local road construction scheme severed the line and it was formally closed in 2003. However, Watford Stadium Halt had not been used for some years prior to this, although it is not known exactly when the halt was last used
My Visit
Last on the line was Watford Stadium Station. This time i was more lucky, while overgrown the station was still pretty easy to access and was not completely hidden away by brambles. I would warn anyone who goes hear though that the way in is littered with a fair few dirty needles, so id probably wear boots.
Damaged passenger shelter next to the entrance
Path up to Platforms from the entrance
View from Platform
Tracks left in situ
