You need way more subscribers 200k may be alot but you put insane effort in your videos like finding the lost railways, making a simple but informative diagram, travelling there, editing and giving subtitles. All this makes your videos so good and high quality
thank you Rubina, that's extremely kind - i do indeed put a load of time/effort/work in, and it's nice when noticed! will keep making them as long as i can ... ! :-)
I have been waiting for this one. Uxbridge was my old stomping ground when I was a teen, and for my children after me. Great memories. My parents moved back to Scotland in 2005, so this is still fresh in my memory. The last of the railway markers were removed when the houses were built, dumped into a skip by unknowing builders. Sadly, I don't think they even looked at what they pulling out. And yes, absolutely do an episode on the other Uxbridge stations.
I really enjoyed this video, particularly as I live very close to this line. I'd recommend walking the Uxbridge High Street line as it's possible to walk the full length line pretty much unobstructed, apart from a short detour at the A40, and more evidence of the old railway can be seen. Two bridges and much of the embankment still exists.
You walked right past two of my old houses. I used to play by those garages on Whitehall rd as a child. Didn’t realise it was the old railway cutting until I was much older. Thanks for the trip down memory Lane.
Hi Geoff. I was born in Hillingdon Hospital and we moved to Cowley in 1959. The railway to Uxbridge was at the bottom of our road. My dad used to take us to Vine Street from Cowley station, and we used to play on the railway putting clay figures on the track and watch them get squashed! lol. I can remember the cream & brown railcars tootling up the double track, followed shortly before closure, by dark green DMUs , sometimes 4 cars. There were occaisionally through services from Vine Street to Paddington. It took them a long time to rip up the track after closure in 1965, mostly for housing. Thanks Geoff for your highly informative posts
There was plans to link Uxbridge Vine Street and Uxbridge High Street Stations. Uxbridge High Street Station was built to be later converted into a through station. Had the two lines been linked, who know they may both still by running today!
This is where I grew up and so I know this particular lost railway well, although I haven't lived there for many years! Nice to see those rails are still down there. When I was young there were still remnants of the Vine Street station there, but that new building did eventually obliterate the space left by it. I hope you'll take a look at the other line up from Uxbridge High Street too, though that is stretching "London" a bit! I remember there still being leftover railway bridges in the parkland near Uxbridge Common.
"You took me behind a dis-used railway line And said: "I know a place where we can go where we are not known" And then you gave me something that I won't forget too soon" -always ending up humming this song after the Lost Railways videos. Really enjoying them.
Lived in West Drayton until I was 12 and we used to catch the train from West Drayton station to Uxbridge. In the 1950's it was a steam train but in the early 60's the steam train was replaced with a single coach DMU. Loved going to the station and seeing the Great Western express trains hauled by the fabulous Hall and Castle class locomotives! Attended Brunel University from 1969 to 1973, but didn't take any interest in trains then, I'm sorry to say. Thanks for the video
I've just stumbled onto this video, but I watch quite a few of your video's. I was born in Uxbridge, about 10 mins walk from Vine Street, heading down towards Cowley and moved just up the road, and about 5 mins from Hillingdon station when I was 5, but still had family around the corner from our old house until I was 21. Went past the Hertz building thousands of times, and up and down the high street, as well as travelling along to Cowley and West Drayton (and beyond) and walked along the canal god knows how many times (even went down it on a kayak once) as well as wandering around the grounds of Brunel University. I never knew that the line was there or that the station existed in Vine Street or that the garden was there. I've always just assumed it was Uxbridge Station that was the only one. Thanks for the video, it was fascinating to see it and I'll be wandering along that route next time I'm there as it's been a number of years since I've been back and we're planning trip there soon to go do some genealogy.
You need much more than 200k fans, given that you do some content which is unique in its own right. I'm pretty enjoying this series about lost heritage, like I loved the least used stations' videos. I live in Malta, and we have a lost railway here too, which ran between Valletta and Mdina, and closed in March 1931. And, ironically, I used to live in a street which is called Old Railway Road, because the railway used to be right there.
Not gonna lie Geoff, your my new favourite youtuber! for somebody who loves trains and abandoned places this series has been great for me! Looking forward for more!
The bridge over the Grand Union Canal canal can be seen briefly in the film 'The Bargee' (when Harry H Corbett's character is bring hindered by Eric Sykes), and Vine Street station gets a couple of fleeting glimpses in the film 'The Smallest Show on Earth'.
Oh wow! I was on the last train that ran from West Drayton to Uxbridge! I was only 5 and have no memory of it, but we still have the tickets somewhere. At one time I lived in Cowley and remember (illegally) crossing the line with my mum narrowly avoiding getting squished by a passing train which must have happened in about 1963.
Amazing, I walked the alignment every day for 5 years to brunel. I knew it was an old railway but didn't know the roads were humped for bridges despite living next to one of them, or that I walked through cowley station every day!
There was a line running from West Ruislip south to Uxbridge High Street and some years back there was talk of possibly reopening it, possibly as part of the tube.
I lived in West Drayton, too - remember the line well, even in steam days, and latter day diesel multiple units. Remember, too, it all being destroyed, sadly.
Thank you Geoff for (re)making that series. It does indeed go into way more detail than the one you made several years ago, and is much more truthful to your very own editing style. Cheers!
Me: Lives in Peachey Lane for 2 years, goes to Brunel University, walks past 'Cowley Station' every day, knows there's an old railway there... Also me: doesn't see Geoff whilst he's *literally* outside my house. :( Great video though Geoff! I've been trying to work out the exact location of the old station for a while... Didn't realise I'd been walking past it every day!
@@darrenwilson146 ah, well I have a one-up on you there! 😂 I knew it went basically under my house, but didn't know there was an old station only a minute walk 😭
Great vid, Geoff. Lived there mid-80s, right by Peachey Lane as shown about 1:50, and our house on St Helen’s Close was probably right on the old track alignment. I either walked or cycled to school down the old cutting or the parallel road. No rail paraphernalia or track remnants left even by that time, just an empty and overgrown cutting but, as you say, very obvious former bridges at either end over the ghost track. Around 1987/88 the majority of the stretch to Station Road was filled in with houses that each went up in literally a couple of days. Thanks for the memories.
@Geoff Marshall - this is a fascinating series charting Greater London's lost railways, four of which have featured in stories I covered many years ago as a junior newspaper reporter. Thanks for all the research, planning, and filming that makes these so watchable.
Amen for the loss of the broad gauge. High speed travel would have been so much more comfortable and spacious with it. A very enjoyable series and a future refence source. Thanks so putting so much effort into it.
Good to see you in my neck of the woods. The Uxbridge High Street to Denham disused line there is a few things remaining to see - most notably a a footbridge under the old line nearing where the path reaches the A40. I’m enjoying this series!
Brings back some memories. We lived next to the line, both in Peachey Close and Hilliards Road. There were still trains running when we lived in Hilliards Road. We used to play on the disused line next to Peachey Close.
I lived in Uxbridge/Hillingdon for 21 years and wandered around the campus god knows how many times. You're not the only one who didn't know it was there.
The last time I walked that route, possibly 15 years ago, you could go under the A40 on the old embankment which was quite good. Having said that I seem to remember it might have been fenced off and barking dogs being in attendance. Anyway, it would be interesting to see what it is like in 2021. I only live a couple of miles away so could do it myself, but I can’t be fussed, I’ll wait for the video.
I have lived in West Drayton all of my life. I was about seven when the line closed and for years after I watched the railway get eaten up by the houses and roads. I also travelled on the Staines branch line till I was about ten. I believe there is or was a group of people trying to get the line rebuilt but the cost of crossing the M25 put it out of reach.
It feels so summery! Looking at the broad gauge track reminded me: when Clevedon Pier was being built, second hand broad gauge track was used, and is still there as far as I know. The end two sections before the landing platform were always slightly squint and collapsed during a load test about 1971. As far as I know the rail wasn't at fault, but the foundations. They were replaced about 1990. The second highest tidal range on the planet is measured at Clevedon. It's about 45 feet.
Hi Geoff,I enjoy this series,may I suggest the Watford to Croxley Green branch.I had my car serviced at Watford Renault Garage and saw quite a few remains even the old terminus.Also other disused lines in that area.
My nan used to live in Huxley Close before moving to a care home due to dementia. Seeing her flat in this video brought back so many memories, brought tears to my eyes. I never knew it was the site of a train station. Weird this small world. Cheers Geoff, it's something interesting I can tell my family now
I used to work nearby and worked out where Vine Street Station was. But, as you can see in Geoff's video, all traces of the railway were obliterated by redevelopment and the bypass. N.B. before the Metropolitan & Piccadilly Line station was built in the high street (in 1938), the original station was in Belmont Road, where Sainsbury's is now located.
Aw man you really got my inner trainspotter going. Great blend of knowledge and history. Great series. Often watch the ch5 programme I sure you watch. I have a line for you If you fancy a wonder when you can. It’s Grimsby to Louth to I think Boston.👍👍
Judging by the environment that you walked through, had this line survived it would have been one of the world's most scenic. Reminds me of St. Erth to St. Ives. Thanks for showing us the route.
I'm excited to watch this next episode! After watching the West Staines to West Drayton one & then walking part of it earlier this week I sent my dad in Austria the link - he watched the whole series (so far) and really enjoyed it! You have another fan! 😃👏
Thank you Geoff honestly I’ve noticed that there was a railway but never got the time to actually find out. Would be great if you did a video on Uxbridge high street station lost railway.
@@geofftech2 If you go to end of Braybourne Close in Uxbridge you can walk the old track bed of part of the Uxbridge High Street branch under the M40 in Denham Country park
It’s so strange to see you in my home area. Even my end of the grand union opposite my childhood house. Very excited for the rest of the series. As always a bang up job!
I grew up in Uxbridge. During the early 70's, the cutting was still there that ran along the side of Cleveland Road - the drainage ditch was pretty much water filled and my elder brother used to take me down there with little nets and we would catch newts and frogs
I worked in the Hertz House building for several years, never realised it was the old station. I always assumed it was more likely to be the Randall's store further up the road due to the design.
My best mate lives right near that second trolley! Something really interesting I noticed when walking about with him is that the houses on the old line are significantly younger than their surrounding, which are all Victorian and early 20th century, and there's a thin streak of red brick houses completely against the style of the area about 4 houses wide (or one railway line) stretching from Uxbridge to Brunel.
Geoff, thanks a lot for putting a lot of effort into your videos! Also it’s interesting that they’ve still kept the track down there, as other sources says it has been overgrown. Awesome video as always!
The track hasn't been 'kept' - it's to Brunel's broad gauge, which was abolished in 1892 (though converted to standard gauge along here many years before that). Years after the line closed and the track lifted, the short stretch of broad gauge track was put there as a tribute to Brunel as the University is adjacent to what was a line engineered by Brunel himself.
Great content as always Geoff. Another line to consider for this series, aside from the Denham to Uxbridge High Street branch, is the Southall to Brentford Dock branch which still exists as far as Brentford Waste Terminal/A4 road. There are still a few remaining remnants of this old route around Brentford Town.
Yes Leslie that would be good as it would feature the three in one bridge built by Brunel to carry the road canal and train line. This line also goes past the site of the old Aec factory makers of the routemaster where my father worked from the age of 14.
My Auntie lives in Cowley and I remember seeing the cutting under a bridge I think it was near peachey lane or another near backwards towards Drayton _ wis I had taken photos!
When I was at Brunel in the late sixties, when it was just opened, our main access route into Uxbridge was to walk up the disused railway line that ran along the western edge of the campus.
Great details again to fill in some of the myriad historical gaps I would otherwise have 😜 Cheers Geoff. I love how even a two stop seemingly featureless walk is still made interesting and you find things like that stretch of broad gauge which, I agree is a VERY nice touch by the university 👍😎🍻
We have a lost railway in town. It's where goods were taken as a branch off the East Coast Mainline down to the docks which in itself also had a branch off to a goodsyard which the derelict buildings of only got removed last year and you can see where they've been cleared from the train. On Google maps there's scarring in the trees that locally we call the Goody Patchy. I have no idea where it gets it's name from but 1) there's a ghost story and 2) even in daylight it's a tad dark in it. And 3) we tend to avoid it at all costs and would rather take the long way round than the path through it.🛤️👻 Also fun fact, they demolished Berwick Castle to build the station and bridge over the Tweed. The station sits on the Great Hall and the white wall is visible from the platform. And the bridge is 13(?) arches and is part of a 20 plus arched long viaduct. ⚔️🤺
This is fabulous, Geoff. And a big shout out to Brunel University for the broad gauge track. Wouldn't it be marvellous if students had time trials on it in home-made billy carts!
If I'd known there was a former railway line running through Uxbridge I'd have enjoyed my year at Brunel much more. Where were you eleven years ago Geoff?!
Lived down Iver Lane til 72.. Used to be a market held there, right on the station site, just down from Randall's. They filled in the line just a way up to provide access to Brunel Univ. Went to its opening day with mM&D.
Wonder why they laid a bit of Broad Gauge Track between Cowley and Uxbridge, Brilliant Video and please don't leave your trolleys lying around TicoSprinter lol!
I always wondered why there was a large hump in the road at Cleveland Rd. Same at the opposite end with The Greenway. Never even crossed my mind it was due to the railway. Interesting stuff.
I went over that hump in The Greenway god knows how many times as I was born in Uxbridge and lived in Hillingdon until I was 21. Never even crossed my mind why it was there, I just used to drive over it and think nothing of it lol.
Fascinating, a lovely touch by the University to lay that track along the old route. It seems really weird that a relatively insignificant town like Uxbridge could have had THREE separate terminating railways, if they had been built as through lines, maybe more would have survived, as by themselves the branches from West Drayton and Denham aren't very useful, other than for freight. As it is the Metropolitan Line gives an excellent service to Central London, and the Green Belt made it a sensible terminus anyway
Really love your videos, Geoff. Just subbed. Hey, when all this is over, you should come back up to the north east and do lost railways. There are loads of them in northumberland, newcastle, sunderland gateshead and all over.
The plan was to connect the lines to High Street and Vine Street stations and when I was young there was already a viaduct over the High Street. But the link was never made. The embankment which carries the line to the High Street is still accessible where it has become a nature reserve, and there are still remnants of the line along there. I have travelled from West Drayton to both Uxbridge and Staines before the lines closed but my memories have faded now.
Im only about 30 seconds in. But i was at Brunel a few years back and i if you go to the pond opp mill hall. With Mill to your back i.e facing the new design building. To your right and to the right of the pond is a fence and behind that fence is the remnants of the old metropolitan railway. You can even access it from Station road. I feel like TFL should reinstate it, would have made trips into Central London much easier.
Geoff, great video as always. I think the black and white film, starring Peter Sellers, Lionel Jefferies, Bernard Cribbings, John Le Mesurier etc. in the comedy "The Wrong Arm of the Law" was filmed on this line. I think Peachey Lane at 1 min 55 in your video is where Arthur Mallard drove the Aston Martin over, what was then, a humpback bridge, and they nicked the level crossing wheel to control the level crossing gates, at Cowley. If I am wrong, and I might be, I am sure the helpful chaps on the internet will tell me. (If you watch the film, try and find the street names in the film, on an AZ map.)
Judging by the pictures I've seen of it, the original Metropolitan line Uxbridge Station, Belmont Road, was very similar in design to Ruislip Station. Apparently, this was a deliberate decision so as to allow for the possibility of an extension beyond Belmont Road, converting it into an intermediate station. However, the site today is a supermarket
A great video Geoff. If you look behind the flats at Huxley close (my daughter lived in one) you'd have seen some original metal platform fencing from Cowley station.
Yes, it was a spur off the main line into London Marylebone station. It would have left the main line just after Skip Lane, heading through what is now an aggregate works and passing on the opposite side of the Grand Union Canal to Denham Country Park. There's a gap in between some gravel pits which the line would have run on before passing through Frays Meadows, then under the A40, and through what is now the Alderglade Nature Reserve....before finally entering Uxbridge and finishing at the end of the High Street (alongside where Oxford Road or the A4020 is). There were no other stations between West Ruislip and Uxbridge High Street.
@@Spikeybaby64 I used to volunteer with the London Wildlife Trust, and one of the sites I helped to maintain was Frays Meadows. I often wondered if there had once been a railway through the meadows as there are two bridges. I did some research and sure enough I found out there was once a railway line through the area; which left the main line between West Ruislip and Denham and ended in Uxbridge. As you mentioned, the railway bridges can clearly be identified. One is a lowish metal bridge across Frays River, and there's the remains of another (brick) bridge just abit further along....I guess the route must have snaked abit with a curve between the two bridges. It closed just before WW2 started, but was still used as a goods (mainly aggregate) line until 1964 - when Beeching axed it. I presume the company that used BR to transport their aggregate, transferred to road use.
Geoff cheering us up with a Map Insert is an example of how to treat your fan base lol
You need way more subscribers 200k may be alot but you put insane effort in your videos like finding the lost railways, making a simple but informative diagram, travelling there, editing and giving subtitles. All this makes your videos so good and high quality
I agree Rubina - Geoff is the 'Daddy' of the railway video and deserves a lot, lot more recognition
@@paulkitson390 True his videos are 5 star
thank you Rubina, that's extremely kind - i do indeed put a load of time/effort/work in, and it's nice when noticed! will keep making them as long as i can ... ! :-)
@@geofftech2 I can tell you put alot of effort into these videos! They are really nice!
@@JuliosStuff Yeah, agreed
Nice to see my old university - Brunel University. The Uxbridge Vine Street station was still there when I was a student. Happy days.
And when I was there. You could see the platform walls in the Post Office car park.
Absolutely loving this series so far.
im the the same
Me too!
I cycle that route most days and always suspected it was an old railway route. Thanks for confirming!
Your enthusiasm is addictive
I have been waiting for this one. Uxbridge was my old stomping ground when I was a teen, and for my children after me. Great memories. My parents moved back to Scotland in 2005, so this is still fresh in my memory. The last of the railway markers were removed when the houses were built, dumped into a skip by unknowing builders. Sadly, I don't think they even looked at what they pulling out. And yes, absolutely do an episode on the other Uxbridge stations.
I really enjoyed this video, particularly as I live very close to this line. I'd recommend walking the Uxbridge High Street line as it's possible to walk the full length line pretty much unobstructed, apart from a short detour at the A40, and more evidence of the old railway can be seen. Two bridges and much of the embankment still exists.
Revisited my old uni. Nothing has changed in the sourrings! Great Vid!!
You walked right past two of my old houses. I used to play by those garages on Whitehall rd as a child. Didn’t realise it was the old railway cutting until I was much older. Thanks for the trip down memory Lane.
Hi Geoff. I was born in Hillingdon Hospital and we moved to Cowley in 1959. The railway to Uxbridge was at the bottom of our road. My dad used to take us to Vine Street from Cowley station, and we used to play on the railway putting clay figures on the track and watch them get squashed! lol. I can remember the cream & brown railcars tootling up the double track, followed shortly before closure, by dark green DMUs , sometimes 4 cars. There were occaisionally through services from Vine Street to Paddington. It took them a long time to rip up the track after closure in 1965, mostly for housing. Thanks Geoff for your highly informative posts
There was plans to link Uxbridge Vine Street and Uxbridge High Street Stations. Uxbridge High Street Station was built to be later converted into a through station. Had the two lines been linked, who know they may both still by running today!
May well have still existed today if they had joined both stations together as was planned.
this railway goes through a huge area of the haunts i used to hang about and live in
And mine.
I still live there !! 😀
This is where I grew up and so I know this particular lost railway well, although I haven't lived there for many years! Nice to see those rails are still down there. When I was young there were still remnants of the Vine Street station there, but that new building did eventually obliterate the space left by it. I hope you'll take a look at the other line up from Uxbridge High Street too, though that is stretching "London" a bit! I remember there still being leftover railway bridges in the parkland near Uxbridge Common.
"You took me behind a dis-used railway line
And said: "I know a place where we can go where we are not known"
And then you gave me something that I won't forget too soon" -always ending up humming this song after the Lost Railways videos. Really enjoying them.
Yay, another Geoff Marshall video.
Thanks whoever liked this comment.
@SnakeEater '_' me too
@SnakeEater '_' Than thanks :D
@@SK_3PT1 Thanks too then :D
Like I said, thanks to everyone who liked this comment. Oh and thanks Geoff Marshall for making this video. :D everyone.
Lived in West Drayton until I was 12 and we used to catch the train from West Drayton station to Uxbridge. In the 1950's it was a steam train but in the early 60's the steam train was replaced with a single coach DMU. Loved going to the station and seeing the Great Western express trains hauled by the fabulous Hall and Castle class locomotives! Attended Brunel University from 1969 to 1973, but didn't take any interest in trains then, I'm sorry to say. Thanks for the video
I've just stumbled onto this video, but I watch quite a few of your video's. I was born in Uxbridge, about 10 mins walk from Vine Street, heading down towards Cowley and moved just up the road, and about 5 mins from Hillingdon station when I was 5, but still had family around the corner from our old house until I was 21.
Went past the Hertz building thousands of times, and up and down the high street, as well as travelling along to Cowley and West Drayton (and beyond) and walked along the canal god knows how many times (even went down it on a kayak once) as well as wandering around the grounds of Brunel University.
I never knew that the line was there or that the station existed in Vine Street or that the garden was there. I've always just assumed it was Uxbridge Station that was the only one.
Thanks for the video, it was fascinating to see it and I'll be wandering along that route next time I'm there as it's been a number of years since I've been back and we're planning trip there soon to go do some genealogy.
thanks Chris, a lovely comment! appreciated. :-)
Geoff, you're spoiling us with this series! Another wonderful video!
You need much more than 200k fans, given that you do some content which is unique in its own right.
I'm pretty enjoying this series about lost heritage, like I loved the least used stations' videos.
I live in Malta, and we have a lost railway here too, which ran between Valletta and Mdina, and closed in March 1931. And, ironically, I used to live in a street which is called Old Railway Road, because the railway used to be right there.
Another great walk and a peek into the back alleys and back passages of West London!
Not gonna lie Geoff, your my new favourite youtuber! for somebody who loves trains and abandoned places this series has been great for me! Looking forward for more!
Despite not being a fan of rail travel im fascinated with Geoff's videos.
The bridge over the Grand Union Canal canal can be seen briefly in the film 'The Bargee' (when Harry H Corbett's character is bring hindered by Eric Sykes), and Vine Street station gets a couple of fleeting glimpses in the film 'The Smallest Show on Earth'.
Cowley station also appears in the film Lucky Jim..
Oh wow! I was on the last train that ran from West Drayton to Uxbridge! I was only 5 and have no memory of it, but we still have the tickets somewhere. At one time I lived in Cowley and remember (illegally) crossing the line with my mum narrowly avoiding getting squished by a passing train which must have happened in about 1963.
Amazing, I walked the alignment every day for 5 years to brunel. I knew it was an old railway but didn't know the roads were humped for bridges despite living next to one of them, or that I walked through cowley station every day!
There was a line running from West Ruislip south to Uxbridge High Street and some years back there was talk of possibly reopening it, possibly as part of the tube.
Yes!!! I’ve been waiting for this for so long!!!!!
Me too! :D
I used to live in West Drayton and did not know this old line existed
Used to live down Iver Lane and remember Vine St Stn.
I lived in West Drayton, too - remember the line well, even in steam days, and latter day diesel multiple units. Remember, too, it all being destroyed, sadly.
I too lived in west drayton and remember seeing a steam train that was departing for Staines in the early 60s.
Thank you Geoff for (re)making that series. It does indeed go into way more detail than the one you made several years ago, and is much more truthful to your very own editing style. Cheers!
Me: Lives in Peachey Lane for 2 years, goes to Brunel University, walks past 'Cowley Station' every day, knows there's an old railway there...
Also me: doesn't see Geoff whilst he's *literally* outside my house. :(
Great video though Geoff! I've been trying to work out the exact location of the old station for a while... Didn't realise I'd been walking past it every day!
Also I literally didn't know there was a whole garden with broad guage tracks in it! Very disappointed I missed that :(
Re tape measure - brunel engineering degrees still same then
@@darrenwilson146 ah, well I have a one-up on you there! 😂 I knew it went basically under my house, but didn't know there was an old station only a minute walk 😭
Great vid, Geoff. Lived there mid-80s, right by Peachey Lane as shown about 1:50, and our house on St Helen’s Close was probably right on the old track alignment. I either walked or cycled to school down the old cutting or the parallel road. No rail paraphernalia or track remnants left even by that time, just an empty and overgrown cutting but, as you say, very obvious former bridges at either end over the ghost track. Around 1987/88 the majority of the stretch to Station Road was filled in with houses that each went up in literally a couple of days. Thanks for the memories.
@Geoff Marshall - this is a fascinating series charting Greater London's lost railways, four of which have featured in stories I covered many years ago as a junior newspaper reporter. Thanks for all the research, planning, and filming that makes these so watchable.
many thanks Richard, kind comment. appreciated!
Amen for the loss of the broad gauge. High speed travel would have been so much more comfortable and spacious with it. A very enjoyable series and a future refence source. Thanks so putting so much effort into it.
Good to see you in my neck of the woods. The Uxbridge High Street to Denham disused line there is a few things remaining to see - most notably a a footbridge under the old line nearing where the path reaches the A40. I’m enjoying this series!
Thanks for the info! i think i might have to go and do it, yes ...
1:40 Are shopping trolleys normally shown on Google Maps? That’s some level of details!!!
Came to say this same thing haha
Well...
Geoff's next video series will be called Abandoned Shopping Trolleys of London!
@@dvdvnr :D:D:D
@@martinthomsonmuse Ditto!
So much to see & do in London. Hello from New Zealand.
Brings back some memories. We lived next to the line, both in Peachey Close and Hilliards Road. There were still trains running when we lived in Hilliards Road. We used to play on the disused line next to Peachey Close.
I literally go to Brunel university and i didn't know about the broad gauge track !!
Me too and me neither!!
I lived in Uxbridge/Hillingdon for 21 years and wandered around the campus god knows how many times. You're not the only one who didn't know it was there.
Regular viewer here. Please do the line from Uxbridge High Street. I used to live on Braybourne Close. The route takes you through a nature reserve.
Noted! thanks MIke. is there actually anything to see though, old bridges/viaducts, railway infrastructure?
@@geofftech2 Two bridges and much of the embankment still exist. I cycled it this morning!
The last time I walked that route, possibly 15 years ago, you could go under the A40 on the old embankment which was quite good. Having said that I seem to remember it might have been fenced off and barking dogs being in attendance. Anyway, it would be interesting to see what it is like in 2021. I only live a couple of miles away so could do it myself, but I can’t be fussed, I’ll wait for the video.
I have lived in West Drayton all of my life. I was about seven when the line closed and for years after I watched the railway get eaten up by the houses and roads. I also travelled on the Staines branch line till I was about ten. I believe there is or was a group of people trying to get the line rebuilt but the cost of crossing the M25 put it out of reach.
It feels so summery!
Looking at the broad gauge track reminded me: when Clevedon Pier was being built, second hand broad gauge track was used, and is still there as far as I know. The end two sections before the landing platform were always slightly squint and collapsed during a load test about 1971. As far as I know the rail wasn't at fault, but the foundations. They were replaced about 1990. The second highest tidal range on the planet is measured at Clevedon. It's about 45 feet.
Hi Geoff,I enjoy this series,may I suggest the Watford to Croxley Green branch.I had my car serviced at Watford Renault Garage and saw quite a few remains even the old terminus.Also other disused lines in that area.
My nan used to live in Huxley Close before moving to a care home due to dementia. Seeing her flat in this video brought back so many memories, brought tears to my eyes. I never knew it was the site of a train station. Weird this small world.
Cheers Geoff, it's something interesting I can tell my family now
I used to work nearby and worked out where Vine Street Station was. But, as you can see in Geoff's video, all traces of the railway were obliterated by redevelopment and the bypass.
N.B. before the Metropolitan & Piccadilly Line station was built in the high street (in 1938), the original station was in Belmont Road, where Sainsbury's is now located.
Aw man you really got my inner trainspotter going. Great blend of knowledge and history. Great series. Often watch the ch5 programme I sure you watch.
I have a line for you If you fancy a wonder when you can.
It’s Grimsby to Louth to I think Boston.👍👍
Judging by the environment that you walked through, had this line survived it would have been one of the world's most scenic. Reminds me of St. Erth to St. Ives. Thanks for showing us the route.
I'm excited to watch this next episode!
After watching the West Staines to West Drayton one & then walking part of it earlier this week I sent my dad in Austria the link - he watched the whole series (so far) and really enjoyed it! You have another fan! 😃👏
Thank you Geoff honestly I’ve noticed that there was a railway but never got the time to actually find out. Would be great if you did a video on Uxbridge high street station lost railway.
Very welcome! i'm not sure how much of the old High Street line is left, that might not be that exciting ... maybe not even any shopping trolleys!
@@geofftech2 If you go to end of Braybourne Close in Uxbridge you can walk the old track bed of part of the Uxbridge High Street branch under the M40 in Denham Country park
It’s so strange to see you in my home area. Even my end of the grand union opposite my childhood house.
Very excited for the rest of the series. As always a bang up job!
I grew up in Uxbridge. During the early 70's, the cutting was still there that ran along the side of Cleveland Road - the drainage ditch was pretty much water filled and my elder brother used to take me down there with little nets and we would catch newts and frogs
I worked in the Hertz House building for several years, never realised it was the old station. I always assumed it was more likely to be the Randall's store further up the road due to the design.
Given how much railway there is in London, it's remarkable how few 'lost' railways there are and how much we still have in some form.
He is doing 12 in total.
Looking forward to the next episode of Walking London's Lost Shopping Trolleys.
vine Street station wow what a difference from when I worked there and vine Street as well my goodness how things have all.
changed
My best mate lives right near that second trolley! Something really interesting I noticed when walking about with him is that the houses on the old line are significantly younger than their surrounding, which are all Victorian and early 20th century, and there's a thin streak of red brick houses completely against the style of the area about 4 houses wide (or one railway line) stretching from Uxbridge to Brunel.
Geoff, thanks a lot for putting a lot of effort into your videos!
Also it’s interesting that they’ve still kept the track down there, as other sources says it has been overgrown.
Awesome video as always!
The track hasn't been 'kept' - it's to Brunel's broad gauge, which was abolished in 1892 (though converted to standard gauge along here many years before that). Years after the line closed and the track lifted, the short stretch of broad gauge track was put there as a tribute to Brunel as the University is adjacent to what was a line engineered by Brunel himself.
@@CaseyJonesNumber1 Thanks for the information, very helpful, although I was surprised it was still accessible!
Great content as always Geoff. Another line to consider for this series, aside from the Denham to Uxbridge High Street branch, is the Southall to Brentford Dock branch which still exists as far as Brentford Waste Terminal/A4 road. There are still a few remaining remnants of this old route around Brentford Town.
Yes Leslie that would be good as it would feature the three in one bridge built by Brunel to carry the road canal and train line. This line also goes past the site of the old Aec factory makers of the routemaster where my father worked from the age of 14.
Really enjoying these videos. Thank you for sharing them with us.
Love the google maps to see the path!
My Auntie lives in Cowley and I remember seeing the cutting under a bridge I think it was near peachey lane or another near backwards towards Drayton _ wis I had taken photos!
Always look forward to watching these videos
When I was at Brunel in the late sixties, when it was just opened, our main access route into Uxbridge was to walk up the disused railway line that ran along the western edge of the campus.
Great details again to fill in some of the myriad historical gaps I would otherwise have 😜 Cheers Geoff. I love how even a two stop seemingly featureless walk is still made interesting and you find things like that stretch of broad gauge which, I agree is a VERY nice touch by the university 👍😎🍻
its so good to be back to you getting out and about , and what great new content so far!
4.3k view in 37 minutes. Wow those are some appreciative fans! ❤️ Thanks Geoff!
I have no interest whatsoever in railways or trains etc but Geoff somehow makes it interesting so I watch.. nice work! :)
We have a lost railway in town. It's where goods were taken as a branch off the East Coast Mainline down to the docks which in itself also had a branch off to a goodsyard which the derelict buildings of only got removed last year and you can see where they've been cleared from the train.
On Google maps there's scarring in the trees that locally we call the Goody Patchy. I have no idea where it gets it's name from but 1) there's a ghost story and 2) even in daylight it's a tad dark in it. And 3) we tend to avoid it at all costs and would rather take the long way round than the path through it.🛤️👻
Also fun fact, they demolished Berwick Castle to build the station and bridge over the Tweed. The station sits on the Great Hall and the white wall is visible from the platform. And the bridge is 13(?) arches and is part of a 20 plus arched long viaduct. ⚔️🤺
Thanks for the map! ☺️
Geoff, I think you should open a "walking in London's back-alleys" youtube channel. Those that are shown in this series are so relaxing...
...relaxing you say? Looks like the perfect place to get shanked to me.
Especially focusing on abandoned shopping trolleys.
Would you consider doing a video of the line which went from Uxbridge High Street up to the Chiltern mainline?
This is fabulous, Geoff. And a big shout out to Brunel University for the broad gauge track. Wouldn't it be marvellous if students had time trials on it in home-made billy carts!
I got to check out the Brunel sight again, was there on exchange a decade ago, extra reason to visit!
If I'd known there was a former railway line running through Uxbridge I'd have enjoyed my year at Brunel much more. Where were you eleven years ago Geoff?!
Lived down Iver Lane til 72..
Used to be a market held there, right on the station site, just down from Randall's.
They filled in the line just a way up to provide access to Brunel Univ. Went to its opening day with mM&D.
Wonder why they laid a bit of Broad Gauge Track between Cowley and Uxbridge, Brilliant Video and please don't leave your trolleys lying around TicoSprinter lol!
I always wondered why there was a large hump in the road at Cleveland Rd. Same at the opposite end with The Greenway. Never even crossed my mind it was due to the railway. Interesting stuff.
I went over that hump in The Greenway god knows how many times as I was born in Uxbridge and lived in Hillingdon until I was 21. Never even crossed my mind why it was there, I just used to drive over it and think nothing of it lol.
Great video Geoff. Really enjoying this series.
Awesome video Geoff! Very interesting! You put a lot of effort into it and the editing was great 👍🏻
Good to have you back Geoff, been enjoying these
Fascinating, a lovely touch by the University to lay that track along the old route. It seems really weird that a relatively insignificant town like Uxbridge could have had THREE separate terminating railways, if they had been built as through lines, maybe more would have survived, as by themselves the branches from West Drayton and Denham aren't very useful, other than for freight.
As it is the Metropolitan Line gives an excellent service to Central London, and the Green Belt made it a sensible terminus anyway
Really love your videos, Geoff. Just subbed. Hey, when all this is over, you should come back up to the north east and do lost railways. There are loads of them in northumberland, newcastle, sunderland gateshead and all over.
Great videos. Love from the USA.
Thx Geoff for the episodes of the railways in my places
The plan was to connect the lines to High Street and Vine Street stations and when I was young there was already a viaduct over the High Street. But the link was never made. The embankment which carries the line to the High Street is still accessible where it has become a nature reserve, and there are still remnants of the line along there. I have travelled from West Drayton to both Uxbridge and Staines before the lines closed but my memories have faded now.
Ty Geoff. Happy weekend
I really appreciate your videos. I don’t miss it.
I go to Brunel, never knew there was a railway that ran down those paths. Cheers Geoff 👌🚆
Im only about 30 seconds in. But i was at Brunel a few years back and i if you go to the pond opp mill hall. With Mill to your back i.e facing the new design building. To your right and to the right of the pond is a fence and behind that fence is the remnants of the old metropolitan railway. You can even access it from Station road. I feel like TFL should reinstate it, would have made trips into Central London much easier.
@@196hasnain Never the Met, but the former GWR.
The cutting and track bed is beneath the ornamental pond at the university main entrance.
Couldnt wait for this as uxbridge is where i work and no well.
Geoff, great video as always. I think the black and white film, starring Peter Sellers, Lionel Jefferies, Bernard Cribbings, John Le Mesurier etc. in the comedy "The Wrong Arm of the Law" was filmed on this line. I think Peachey Lane at 1 min 55 in your video is where Arthur Mallard drove the Aston Martin over, what was then, a humpback bridge, and they nicked the level crossing wheel to control the level crossing gates, at Cowley. If I am wrong, and I might be, I am sure the helpful chaps on the internet will tell me. (If you watch the film, try and find the street names in the film, on an AZ map.)
Surprisingly this is one of the best ones, as your research is excellent due to there being nothing left. On to Ep7
Judging by the pictures I've seen of it, the original Metropolitan line Uxbridge Station, Belmont Road, was very similar in design to Ruislip Station. Apparently, this was a deliberate decision so as to allow for the possibility of an extension beyond Belmont Road, converting it into an intermediate station. However, the site today is a supermarket
A great video Geoff. If you look behind the flats at Huxley close (my daughter lived in one) you'd have seen some original metal platform fencing from Cowley station.
Some of the track is also used as fence posts beside the footpath on the opposite side of the road.
You need to do the Uxbridge High Street line that ran through Denham Country Park
Yes, it was a spur off the main line into London Marylebone station. It would have left the main line just after Skip Lane, heading through what is now an aggregate works and passing on the opposite side of the Grand Union Canal to Denham Country Park.
There's a gap in between some gravel pits which the line would have run on before passing through Frays Meadows, then under the A40, and through what is now the Alderglade Nature Reserve....before finally entering Uxbridge and finishing at the end of the High Street (alongside where Oxford Road or the A4020 is). There were no other stations between West Ruislip and Uxbridge High Street.
@@robtyman4281 I walked some of this morning and crossed the old single track bridge at Frays Meadow
@@Spikeybaby64 I used to volunteer with the London Wildlife Trust, and one of the sites I helped to maintain was Frays Meadows.
I often wondered if there had once been a railway through the meadows as there are two bridges. I did some research and sure enough I found out there was once a railway line through the area; which left the main line between West Ruislip and Denham and ended in Uxbridge.
As you mentioned, the railway bridges can clearly be identified. One is a lowish metal bridge across Frays River, and there's the remains of another (brick) bridge just abit further along....I guess the route must have snaked abit with a curve between the two bridges. It closed just before WW2 started, but was still used as a goods (mainly aggregate) line until 1964 - when Beeching axed it. I presume the company that used BR to transport their aggregate, transferred to road use.
@@robtyman4281 Yes, the railway ran over the brick bridge you mention
Geoff. This is a fantastic series 👍🏻
thank you Stevie! appreicated.
I always wanted to know what this branch was! I found it on a video but i wanted to know where it went and what was left of it!
Another great video, but I shouldn't be surprised, they are always good. Would love to do these walks at some point.
Best content, So interesting and just so well made. Love the maps. Could watch you walk anywhere.
"the rear entrance of West Drayton" - snurk giggle, don't-you-start-madam
Not the 70s bawdy innuendo comedy I was expecting
Who is West Drayton anyway - one of these modern rap singers??
@@eadweard. yiewsley u-bend
9 Elmz (feat. Warren Street).
As a Chiltern line user I'd be interested to hear about Uxbridge High Street in a future video!