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Post by undergroundernie on Jan 27, 2008 16:18:24 GMT
I travel on the metropolitan line everyday and I cant help notice that between moor park and croxley where the track curves around there are the remains of a spur line, the cutting is quite clearly visable and the remnants of rotting wooden sleepers still lay in the ground, can anyone throw some light onto where this used to go.
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Post by Tubeboy on Jan 27, 2008 16:26:29 GMT
It was the line to Croxley Tip, where ballast/rubbish used to be brought. I believe[?] LU still own the land?
Southwards... nearer to Moor Park, the branch to Rickmansworth Church Street went under the Met line. The line closed in 1952 AFAIK.
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metman
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Post by metman on Jan 27, 2008 16:28:50 GMT
Yes, this was the spur line to the Croxley Tip! It was closed in the mid 70s I think, and I did exactly what it said on the tin! It was used as a dump for spoil etc. Also it was used to dump bits of Neasden Power station which was the last 33 cycle station in the country. It was demolished in the mid 60s and took the best part of 5ish years to take down/away!
The spur was only accessed from the southbound track which meant that dump trains had to go to Watford and reverse. Initially ex GWR Pannier tanks and latterly Battery locos pulled the trains. I'll try and find some photos...
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metman
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Post by metman on Jan 27, 2008 16:31:02 GMT
You are correct tubeboy, the line (powered by 4 rail electrification!) did close in 1952 but was used for freight until the mid 60s (misus the electric rails) and pulled up then. It is actually a cycle route-a nice one to having been on it several times!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2008 0:46:05 GMT
Someone should mention the fact that Metronet tried to build an infrastructure depot on the site. I don't remember if this topic was covered on the forum...
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metman
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Post by metman on Jan 29, 2008 1:00:42 GMT
Oh yes, the residents went mental! Something about ruining the Croxley meadows or something!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2008 1:08:01 GMT
cani say it hasn't even been that long since the signalling controls have evn been stripped out
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2008 16:49:05 GMT
You are correct tubeboy, the line (powered by 4 rail electrification!) did close in 1952 but was used for freight until the mid 60s (misus the electric rails) and pulled up then. It is actually a cycle route-a nice one to having been on it several times! The line to Rickmansworth Church Street closed to passengers in March 1952, but remained open for goods until January 1967, when it was cut back to the Good Year works just short of the point where it went under the Met north of Moor Park. Here's a very poor shot I took after it had closed (possibly in January 1968 - I haven't got any notes that relate to this shot!) as an LT Pannier passed on the Met line. View is looking towards Rickmansworth.  You can find more info on this site: www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/stations/r/rickmansworth_church_street/index.shtmlThe map on this site also shows the Croxley Tip spur alongside the canal. Cheers, Geoff |
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Post by metropicc on Feb 15, 2008 17:37:48 GMT
It used to be a rubbish tip. A few years ago it was proposed that the site be used by Metronet as a pw depot for the track replacement programme, (that is now up the Midland mail line). Local protests saw the proposal off and I believe part of the area has received official protection.
The site was recently cleared and used as a compound for the replacement of the trackwork at Watford South Junction.
If my memory is anywhere correct I think the London Railway Record carried an article about the tip site some years ago.
Also those with a long memory will remember the tip trains run in the mid day off-peak from Neasden with ex WR panneir tanks and latterly battery locos
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