CROXLEY GREEN - WATFORD HIGH STREET (Pt.1)

(1912 - 1996)

You might find contemporary maps that still show this line as temporarily closed
but since when has a temporary closure of a line involved removing some of the track
and demolishing a bridge and all of the station buildings?

An application was submitted to close the line permanently/officially (from June 2001,
despite the fact that no train has run along it since March 1996) and only the plans to
divert the Metropolitan Line's Watford branch along it, would see it re-opened.

For details of the proposed reopening plans, click here.

 


 

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The terminus.

According to the webpage featured in the link above, the Metropolitan line is planned to be diverted from its present Watford terminus to this line (and hence through to Watford Junction). However, it will join onto it at a point between this station and the next one (Watford West), thus causing the permanent abandonment of this station. The red lamposts in the photo to the left of the information sign, indicate the path up to the platform.

(photo: 2001)

 

 

 

 

 

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For a while, passengers wishing to reach this station would have a cab ordered for them (presumably from Watford High Street station). A protest at the line's closure would have been interesting, if the number of people it would take to fill a train, simultaneously demanded tickets to this station!

(photo: 2001)

 

 

 


Signage still in situ in 2010.

©2010 Stephen Golding

 

 

 

 

 

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The platform for this station was originally on the other side of the track but was demolished and replaced further east by this lightweight offering.

For a site with a couple of photos of this station in its original form (quite unrecognisable) click here.

(photo: 2001)

 

 

 

 

 

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As above, facing away from Watford toward the end of the line. The disrepair the platform is in is obvious from this photo.

(photo: 2001)


For further info: www.disused-stations.org.uk

 

 

 

 

 

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Dec 2005 and the makeshift platform has been removed completely.

 

 

 

 

 

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Facing toward Croxley Green station.

(photo: 2001)

 

 

 

 

 

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Bridge over the Grand Union Canal - the line was severed in 1996 by a new slip road beyond the fence just visible at the end of the bridge. The subsequent application to close the line was presumably seen as only a formality, as it was thus physically impossible for a train to reach the Croxley Green terminus.
Is this a dangerous precedent; closing a line before official permission has been granted?

(photo: 2001)


 

Part 2