Belmont railway station, Harrow
Encyclopedia
Belmont was a station in Belmont
, north-west London
. It was opened on 12 September 1932 by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
as the only intermediate station on a short branch line (opened in 1890) running north from Harrow & Wealdstone to Stanmore, in anticipation of the Metropolitan Railway
(MR) opening its own branch line to a new Stanmore
station (now served by the Jubilee Line
) the same year. Belmont station was rebuilt with a central island platform and a passing loop
. The rebuilt station opened on 5 July 1937. The station was located on the north side of Kenton Lane to the west of Belmont Circle.
The connection of the branch line to the main line at Harrow & Wealdstone station was south of the station but heading north-west away from central London so the branch line could not take direct commuter services from the city, limiting its operation to a shuttle service.
The direct service provided by the MR offered strong competition to the L&NWR station at Stanmore and passenger services beyond Belmont were ended on 15 September 1952, though a daily freight train served the goods yard at Stanmore. The passing loop was removed in 1955. The line to Stanmore was closed completely on 6 July 1964, as part of the railway cuts implemented under the Beeching Axe
, Passenger services from Belmont to Harrow were withdrawn on 5 October 1964
The track was lifted in 1966 and the station site is now occupied by a car park.
Belmont, Harrow
Belmont is an area of the London Borough of Harrow.The area is named after the mound, constructed in the early 18th century by Henry James Brydges - Earl of Carnarvon and first Duke of Chandos. He had a summer house built atop the mound for the wonderful view...
, north-west London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. It was opened on 12 September 1932 by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...
as the only intermediate station on a short branch line (opened in 1890) running north from Harrow & Wealdstone to Stanmore, in anticipation of the Metropolitan Railway
Metropolitan Line
The Metropolitan line is part of the London Underground. It is coloured in Transport for London's Corporate Magenta on the Tube map and in other branding. It was the first underground railway in the world, opening as the Metropolitan Railway on 10 January 1863...
(MR) opening its own branch line to a new Stanmore
Stanmore tube station
Stanmore tube station is a London Underground station at Stanmore. It is the northern terminus of the Jubilee Line; the previous station is Canons Park. It is in Travelcard Zone 5...
station (now served by the Jubilee Line
Jubilee Line
The Jubilee line is a line on the London Underground , in the United Kingdom. It was built in two major sections—initially to Charing Cross, in central London, and later extended, in 1999, to Stratford, in east London. The later stations are larger and have special safety features, both aspects...
) the same year. Belmont station was rebuilt with a central island platform and a passing loop
Passing loop
A passing loop is a place on a single line railway or tramway, often located at a station, where trains or trams in opposing directions can pass each other. Trains/trams in the same direction can also overtake, providing that the signalling arrangement allows it...
. The rebuilt station opened on 5 July 1937. The station was located on the north side of Kenton Lane to the west of Belmont Circle.
The direct service provided by the MR offered strong competition to the L&NWR station at Stanmore and passenger services beyond Belmont were ended on 15 September 1952, though a daily freight train served the goods yard at Stanmore. The passing loop was removed in 1955. The line to Stanmore was closed completely on 6 July 1964, as part of the railway cuts implemented under the Beeching Axe
Beeching Axe
The Beeching Axe or the Beeching Cuts are informal names for the British Government's attempt in the 1960s to reduce the cost of running British Railways, the nationalised railway system in the United Kingdom. The name is that of the main author of The Reshaping of British Railways, Dr Richard...
, Passenger services from Belmont to Harrow were withdrawn on 5 October 1964
The track was lifted in 1966 and the station site is now occupied by a car park.