London's Lost Railways Ep. 14 - Watford to Croxley
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- Опубліковано 3 лип 2024
- It's Episode 14 of London's Lost Railways, and we venture slightly outside of London to find the stations on the old Watford to Croxley Green branch.
Download the Bingo card here: geofftech.co.uk/downloads/LLR...
The article (essential reading) of why Croxley Link will never happen, is on the excellent London Reconnections site here: www.londonreconnections.com/2...
Many thanks to Diamond Geezer for photo permission, the complete album is here : www.flickr.com/photos/dgeezer...
You have been watching (in order of appearance)
Paul and Rebecca Whitewick : / pwhitewick1
Jay Foreman : / jayforeman51
Tim Traveller : / @thetimtraveller
Runderground Matt : / mathdanielnelson
Half Asleep Chris : / @halfasleepchris
Dan and Dan : / dananddanfilms
Matt Parker : / standupmaths
Many thanks to David Kirwin for additional Illustrations.
ALLOTMENTS
BINGO!
@@geofftech2 clearly.
@@TheTimTraveller Alignment!
(Let's ... not do all the words. Unless you want to??)
03:07 Sad thing is... the view from Watford Stadium station towards Watford West... just to the left of the track there, in front of the red-brick building... there's a large open area where people grow vegetables and stuff... can't remember what they call those places!
Nice cameo Time Traveller
That ending was the crossover I never thought I needed
it was great fun too.
I also watch the Whitewicks and Jay Foreman.
Geoff is a hero, not the hero we deserved but the hero we needed.
It's not just for mid 90's NBC sitcoms anymore!
And they say Avengers is the most ambitious crossover in history
Marvel: Infinity war is the greatest crossover event in history
Geoff: Hold my tea
More like « Hold my Tube Map »
end game was the most ambitious crossover ever. Geoff: Hold my allotment
Geoff, there was something quite heartwarming about that ending, really really well done.
thanks Keith, took a lot of work! totally worth it ...
@@geofftech2 please do more like it.
@@geofftech2 Now I have to go back over the Tim Traveller videos to see if there were any other times he wore a moquette scarf....
@@geofftech2 Definitely worth it. A real day-maker. Up there with Choose Carrour. :-) Choose Allotments!
@@Mortimer50145 and Matt Parker ;)
That ending was the crossover event that was so ambitious it makes Endgame look like a school play!
Cheers to everyone in the GMCE (Geoff Marshall Cinematic Universe)
*GMCU. Or *EUniverse (greetings from the continent)
I remember steam on that line - and Watford Met. also had regular steam shunting as well. The Croxley line was supposed to have been closed back in the 60s, but although services were greatly reduced, the line was kept open in large part because my uncle Ron was very senior management at BR, and couldn't be expected to travel by bus: that timetable showing the early and late trains was drawn up to suit Uncle Ron's expected commuting times, and I was with him on one occasion when they held the train for him because he was late getting to the station!
That word 'never' is so sad. But my one little peeve about the re-opening project (which I was quite excited by) was that Watford Vicarage Road was rather a mouthful. Vicarage Road by itself would have done the job beautifully.
I am loving the cameo appearances 😂
Love love love the ending, Thank you for an out loud laugh
Disney/Marvel: Avengers: Endgame is the most ambitious cross-over ever.
Geoff: Hold my allotments!
ALLOTMENTS!!!! :-D
@@geofftech2 Hold my beer while standing on my allotment! Or was that on the battlements of my castle?
@@geofftech2 As an American, I can't fully appreciate the cultural significance of allotments in the UK, but as a subscriber to almost all of these UA-camrs, I can definitely appreciate these impressive cameos!
That ending was way better than the ending of Line of Duty.
And scary enough I got most of the in jokes too.. LOL at the Matt Parker squares
"We didn't see a single allotment...." HAHAHA
There'll be one in the background somewhere...! :P
Yeah, just off the railway on Vicarage Road :-)
You missed the allotments that are visible from the Ebury way, near the canal towards Rickmansworth, and interestingly the railway on the Ebury way alignment was an electric railway!
"You'd think I'd be good at squares" - I LOLd :-D
I used to work on that line. Where the line used to go under the bridge near Watford High Street there used to be an Ice factory (or at least that's what we called it. There was also a siding off the main line going into a power station, which had metal gates across the rails). After the line closed it was amazing to see just how quickly nature took over with fully grown trees sprouting up in the 4-foot within years.
Tim's bit with the piano was great. Then there's "mine just says castles" 😂
As an apprentice in the late sixties, I had a happy time at Croxley Green Sheds working on the old electrics. Thanks for the memories
Makes me feel old, I remember getting the train from Croxley to west Watford on my way home from Durrants. Really stupid thing is if we missed the train we would walk the tracks. Looking back at the things we did then I am surprised to still be alive. Maybe dangerous but really was good times.
Right by the old Watford Stadium station there are some allotments!!
Geoff is so so good at what he does. From races round the tube to All the Stations. From least used stations to London's lost railways it is all so watchable. And Geoff as a very proud allotment owner....they are not that bad 😁
Allotment!
Great video. I walked past the old Croxley station yesterday. The metal fences have been removed and the shrubs around the stairs have been cut right back, so you can get much closer now
Incredibly moving for me as my parents bought a house on Winton Drive, at the junction of Winton Approach, in Croxley Green in 1966 and I was born there in 1971, growing up with the sound of the tube trains literally going past down the embankment at the bottom of our garden…And indeed my middle name is Croxley. 😔
Dear Geoff, just came across and love the video. Wanted to let you know that there used to be a spur off the Watford to Rickmanworth Branch Line (now Ebury Way) for supply of coal and salt crossing Brightwells and Oxhey Hall Farms to the Eastbury Pumping Station at Hampermill Lane. It was know as the Colne Valley Water Company Light Railway (1933-1968 approx)
Those cameos were priceless.
They where indeed!
Brilliant ending, well done to all those who took part 😂👏👏
Croxley Rail Link forever in our hearts 😢
Brilliant ending! I hope Jay didn't smash his phone in all the excitement haha
As a child in the 1960's I'd regularly travel that line down to Croxley and then walk down to the canal and spend the day fishing, before making the return train journey. Fond memories 😌
Was not expecting Half Asleep Chris!!! (Not that that’s a bad thing)
Nor was I, and Bella.
me neither, welcome surprise
It’s like the huge crossover event was Geoff’s way of making up for the fact that the Metropolitan line extension will not be happening
Man that was such a wholesome ending
The combination of awesome and wholesome. awholesome. No wait...
You didn’t include shopping trolley on the bingo sheet :-). And hello to Tim in Paris - and his piano!
A neat trick you did there with your friends’ cameos at the end. I liked that (and the rest of the video) - thank you Geoff!
Lovely to see this. I travelled on this branch line in the 1980s. West watford station had a ticket booth near the entrance before going down the flights of stairs. The metal barriers have now been removed from Croxley Green station and so it is easily accessible to walkers.
Great video. I live close by over in Ricky and am getting more involved in local council stuff, and there's some potentially interesting things on the horizon regarding that rail line.
Although the met line extension is basically dead in the water now, the idea of a Croxley-Watford rail link is alive and well.
The most likely thing to happen will be a light rail link of some kind going from Croxley to Vicarage Road and Watford General and then up to Watford Junction. But if it can be managed I'm personally hoping for one that starts at Rickmansworth (since there is an unused short platform there), goes past Croxley Green tube, stops at the old closed Croxley station, vicarage road, Watford general, the high street/shopping centre, and then up to Watford junction.
If this can happen, not only would it greatly increase the mobility across from Ricky and Croxley over to Watford (and vice-versa) it could potentially be the start of a Herts rail network that links up Watford with places like St Albans, Hemel Hempstead etc.
So be sure to keep an eye out for developments on that!
That sounds like a fantastic idea, so it probably won’t happen. Rickmansworth-Watford-St Albans-Hemel Hempstead.
If they couldn"t afford the Met link then light rail link to St Albans will never happen.
Great video and also there are pretty easy ways you can on the rails and get a better view of the tracks
Can't stop watching your videos. I have a fascination with lost railways. More please. Love it!!
you're very kind Russell, thank you! Plenty more in the pipeline ...
Perfect ending!
@ Geoff Marshall - Great finish - I laughed like a drain! One of your best! It's sad the Watford connection got derailed: a poignant moment in my decade as a transport press officer, but your piece more than made up for it 😀 Thanks!
I don’t usually comment but kudos to all the cameos at the end, excellent!!!
Brilliant ending! The Watford Stadium station was built to keep away fans separate from the home ones, something far more essential in the dark 1980s than nowadays.
yes, now they just inhabit the O'Neills next to WFJ
Glorious ending, that one! The cameo factor is huge...
that ending was incredible
The Watford to Croxley line also served John Dickinson's Paper Mill at Croxley, fuel oil was transported to the mills on a regular basis until the mills closed in the 1980's.
I grew up in Croxley Green, and would always pass by the old abandoned entrance to the station, walking by you could peer in to where it once was
I have gone behind a 2P to Rickmansworth Church Street but never needed to travel to Croxley. I passed it on my way to school (on RT bus) 1959 to 1967 and used to see the Cl.4 tank engine serving the small scrapyard just belong the Croxley station plus the occasional electrics to Watford Junction. It was even rumoured that long again to join up with the Metropolitan.
As a Watford fan this episode is amazing. Some Watford fans have the Watford stadium platform sign as their profile picture.
I'm dying here! (And probably also gone officially insane, judging from my laughter.) XD
Brilliant stuff Geoff. Really enjoyed the series, thank you.
A fab finale to a brilliant series, sir! Nicely done!
Made me chuckle! Great film. Many thanks!
Such a great series Geoff, and love that final minute too
There was a spell when a half hourly service was tried. I went on one of these trains and got off at Croxley Green with about six other people. Nobody left the station and we all got back on again and went to Watford Junction.
ha! what year was that? i bet that didn't last long ...
@@geofftech2 You do ask awkward questions. :-) I can't remember exactly, but it must have been some time in the 1980s. I was told once that the biggest paying flow of passengers was FROM Watford Junction carrying men going to work at Sun Printers (nothing to do with the Sun paper). Until the late 1950s they printed many magazines.
What a great ending, Geoff. Absolutely fantastic!
Another wonderful video in a great series.. and that ending, it made me smile so much.
We didn't see a single ALLOTMENT. How did Geoff's famous subscribers get into this video? Minds blown completely!
Geoff, that's amazing 😂👍
Brillant last section thanks Geoff
Excellent work Geoff
I seriously LOVED seeing all of your friends you've featured at the end!
Love the series. Didn’t see the end coming, but thought it was brilliant. Really enjoyed that.
Thank you for another brilliant video and the fabulous cameos by your fellow UA-camrs, love love loved it! 🤩👍
Brilliant!! Loved the end, so funny.
I absolutely loved that ending!! Bloody marvellous!
I love this vid. Growing up in Watford, I was fascinated by this line, but never travelled on it. Watford West station used to pick up passengers from my Dad's old workplace, Scammell's (the now-bankrupt truck company). One night in 1996, I was making my way back home after a drunken evening and I decided to climb the fence and walk along the tracks from Watford Stadium to Watford High Street. I did so and quite enjoyed it. However, I think I triggered some sort of anti-trespass sensor and when I walked up the platform at Watford High Street after midnight, a workman was coming towards me. I cheerfully said 'Good night' and walked right past him. He didn't say anything. Of course, this was a doubly STUPID thing of me to do. Not only could I have got fined, but I could have been electrocuted on the rails. Apologies to all. I was young and drunk.
This was such a fun episode 😂
Best one yet purely for the end of all the UA-cam legends in one video. 👏👏👏
Brilliant this is very good, thank you Geoff
Fantastic video! I love all your videos. I’m so glad I’m not the only person who has an amazing knowledge of trains and likes them to! Keep up the hard work!
Well thanks Tim for bringing me over, subbed now!
My heart is warmed today with the thought of allotments.
So so good! Such a great series, and a great ending
Fantastic hysterical ending Geoff! Thank you all for participating.
Blessed collaborations
I've enjoyed this whole series, it truly blows my mind! The ending was awesome, btw.
What a wonderful series Geoff, I thoroughly enjoyed it - especially learning about the areas I have lives (Brockley) and currently live in SW16. Thanks so much for taking the time to put it all together so comprehensively.
Thanks for including Ebury way.
Great video and good fun too , thanks for taking us along 👍
Absolutely BRILLIANT! 😂 What a mesmerising series and such a hilarious episode!! Thank you all! 🤗 #Allotment
A grand finale indeed!
Great ending, absolutely delighted to see everyone there!
I remember that line when there was a steam link from Watford High Street to Rickmansworth ; Good Old days !
Thoroughly enjoyable.
Huh.. I didn’t expect to have the ending like that! Nice crossover with other travel based youtubers
I love these videos. Really informative.
That end bit. Fabulous.
I well remember the last of the Bakerloo red trains being stabled in the old depot that was removed just before the railway turns towards High Street. That road was always interesting as you passed under the Rickmansworth branch turn and then drove over the High Street turn.
LOVED IT even with no sound as WE fall out with another computer today!!!
David and Lily having an every Disused Station moment with the Whitewicks!!!
THANKS!!!
Idly logged on to UA-cam the second this went live. Great stuff Geoff, love this channel and the cameos at the end! You've inspired me to do something similar here in Northern Ireland. Sadly we have more abandoned railways than active, but it gives me plenty of source material
Another superb video ! love the cameo appearances !
Brilliant finish! 😍
I'm in the process of walking all the Underground lines and ended up on Ebury Way when going from Croxley to Moor Park. I had no idea it was an old train line. Very cool.
Great vid Geoff, very interesting and love the crossover at the end!
Geoff, thank you for this video. I have walked along the Ebury Way many times. Great cameo appearances too.
Loved all the cameos at the end and Tim's piano bit.
Fab outro..... brilliant series Jeff... really enjoyed it.
I've walked this stretch of railway when the fence was down (no, genuinely), so much fun to walk along such a recent bit of track. Thanks for covering this one Geoff!
that was a right belter at the end. loved all the cameos, nearly every one is a youtuber i like watching content from.. :D
Excellent series!😎✊🏿
Loved the ending of this episode great work
Excellent video! It feels like it was just made for me because i mentioned a possible update about this line in a previous episode.