Watford and Edgware Railway
Encyclopedia
The Watford and Edgware Railway (W&ER) was a railway company established in the 1860s that intended to build a railway that would run between Edgware
and Watford
, via Bushey
. Nothing substantial was ever constructed.
(EH&LR) tracks just before Edgware station
and take a northerly route, with stations suggested at various times for Stanmore (London Road), Elstree (for Brockley Hill), Caldecott Hill (for Bushey Heath), Old Bushey, Heathbourne Road, and Watford Market. One of the proposals for the railway over the years had it make a junction with, and then extend, the Watford and Rickmansworth Railway
from Rickmansworth
in the direction of High Wycombe
.
The company's continuing failure to raise the capital needed to construct its line may have been partly due to the competition that it would have offered to existing services had the convenient connections it proposed been made to the existing railways. Opposition came from the London and North Western Railway
to a junction at Watford
and from the Midland Railway
to a junction at Mill Hill Broadway
. Eventually the Great Northern Railway
(purchasers of the EH&LR before its opening) bought out the W&ER and continued to develop proposals although nothing was built.
In 1922 the London Electric Railway (forerunner of most of the London Underground
) purchased the W&ER with the intention of using its right-of-way to continue the extension of the Charing Cross, Euston & Hampstead Railway
(CCE&HR, now part of the Northern Line
) that it was then building north from Golders Green
to Edgware
. Various plans were made but, again, no construction took place due to other projects taking precedence.
Work on the route finally started in 1935 as part of Northern Heights Project through which London Underground was to take over the EH&LR lines (by then part of the London and North Eastern Railway
) and join them with the Northern Line.
This extension adopted much of the W&ER's concept, including the location of the junction with the existing railway between Edgware
and Mill Hill
, the location of the station at Edgware
, and the route from Edgware to Old Bushey. The planned extension was to terminate at Bushey Heath
due to funding limitations, but provision was made in the design of the station for a further extension to Old Bushey. Earthworks were underway and the tunnel near Elstree South
station and the viaduct for Brockley Hill
station had been partly constructed when the start of World War II
caused works to cease.
Work did not restart immediately after the war as there were stronger demands on funds for works elsewhere including the reconstruction of many damaged stations and the extensions of the Central Line
. After the introduction of Metropolitan Green Belt
the Elstree and Bushey areas were protected against development, the need for new stations to serve new residential developments in the area disappeared and the project was cancelled in 1950.
Edgware
Edgware is an area in London, situated north-northwest of Charing Cross. It forms part of both the London Borough of Barnet and the London Borough of Harrow. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
and Watford
Watford
Watford is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England, situated northwest of central London and within the bounds of the M25 motorway. The borough is separated from Greater London to the south by the urbanised parish of Watford Rural in the Three Rivers District.Watford was created as an urban...
, via Bushey
Bushey
Bushey is a town in the Hertsmere borough of Hertfordshire in the East of England. Bushey Heath is situated to the south east of Bushey on the boundary with the London Borough of Harrow.-History:...
. Nothing substantial was ever constructed.
History
The W&ER had several proposed routes and stations during its extended conception but was generally intended to branch from the now closed Edgware, Highgate and London RailwayEdgware, Highgate and London Railway
The Edgware, Highgate and London Railway was a railway in north London. The railway was a precursor of parts of London Underground's Northern Line and was, in the 1930s the core of an ambitious expansion plan for that line which was thwarted by the Second World War...
(EH&LR) tracks just before Edgware station
Edgware railway station
Edgware railway station was a London and North Eastern Railway station in Station Road, Edgware, Greater London. It is not to be confused with the London Underground Northern line Edgware station approximately 200 metres to the north east.-History:...
and take a northerly route, with stations suggested at various times for Stanmore (London Road), Elstree (for Brockley Hill), Caldecott Hill (for Bushey Heath), Old Bushey, Heathbourne Road, and Watford Market. One of the proposals for the railway over the years had it make a junction with, and then extend, the Watford and Rickmansworth Railway
Watford and Rickmansworth Railway
The Watford and Rickmansworth Railway Company was a short-lived company that ran services between Watford and Rickmansworth in Hertfordshire, England...
from Rickmansworth
Rickmansworth
Rickmansworth is a town in the Three Rivers district of Hertfordshire, England, 4¼ miles west of Watford.The town has a population of around 15,000 people and lies on the Grand Union Canal and the River Colne, at the northern end of the Colne Valley regional park.Rickmansworth is a small town in...
in the direction of High Wycombe
High Wycombe
High Wycombe , commonly known as Wycombe and formally called Chepping Wycombe or Chipping Wycombe until 1946,is a large town in Buckinghamshire, England. It is west-north-west of Charing Cross in London; this figure is engraved on the Corn Market building in the centre of the town...
.
The company's continuing failure to raise the capital needed to construct its line may have been partly due to the competition that it would have offered to existing services had the convenient connections it proposed been made to the existing railways. Opposition came from the London and North Western Railway
London and North Western Railway
The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway...
to a junction at Watford
Watford High Street railway station
Watford High Street railway station is a railway station in Watford, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom. It is served by the Watford DC Line on the London Overground network.-Location:...
and from the Midland Railway
Midland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
to a junction at Mill Hill Broadway
Mill Hill Broadway railway station
Mill Hill Broadway railway station is in the London Borough of Barnet in North London.The station lies on the Midland Main Line and is served by First Capital Connect trains as part of the Thameslink Line service. It is in Travelcard Zone 4...
. Eventually the Great Northern Railway
Great Northern Railway (Great Britain)
The Great Northern Railway was a British railway company established by the Great Northern Railway Act of 1846. On 1 January 1923 the company lost its identity as a constituent of the newly formed London and North Eastern Railway....
(purchasers of the EH&LR before its opening) bought out the W&ER and continued to develop proposals although nothing was built.
In 1922 the London Electric Railway (forerunner of most of the London Underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
) purchased the W&ER with the intention of using its right-of-way to continue the extension of the Charing Cross, Euston & Hampstead Railway
Charing Cross, Euston & Hampstead Railway
The Charing Cross, Euston and Hampstead Railway , also known as the Hampstead tube, was a railway company established in 1891 that constructed a deep-level underground "tube" railway in London. Construction of the CCE&HR was delayed for more than a decade whilst funding was sought...
(CCE&HR, now part of the Northern Line
Northern Line
The Northern line is a London Underground line. It is coloured black on the Tube map.For most of its length it is a deep-level tube line. The line carries 206,734,000 passengers per year. This is the highest number of any line on the London Underground system, but the Northern line is unique in...
) that it was then building north from Golders Green
Golders Green tube station
Golders Green tube station is a London Underground station in Golders Green, north London. The station is on the Edgware branch of the Northern Line between Hampstead and Brent Cross...
to Edgware
Edgware tube station
Edgware tube station is a London Underground station in Edgware, in the London Borough of Barnet, in North London. The station is the terminus of the Edgware branch of the Northern Line and the next station towards central London is . Edgware is in Travelcard Zone 5.-Location:The station is in...
. Various plans were made but, again, no construction took place due to other projects taking precedence.
Work on the route finally started in 1935 as part of Northern Heights Project through which London Underground was to take over the EH&LR lines (by then part of the London and North Eastern Railway
London and North Eastern Railway
The London and North Eastern Railway was the second-largest of the "Big Four" railway companies created by the Railways Act 1921 in Britain...
) and join them with the Northern Line.
This extension adopted much of the W&ER's concept, including the location of the junction with the existing railway between Edgware
Edgware railway station
Edgware railway station was a London and North Eastern Railway station in Station Road, Edgware, Greater London. It is not to be confused with the London Underground Northern line Edgware station approximately 200 metres to the north east.-History:...
and Mill Hill
Mill Hill (The Hale) railway station
Mill Hill railway station was a station in Mill Hill, London NW7 on the now-removed railway between Mill Hill East station and Edgware railway station...
, the location of the station at Edgware
Edgware
Edgware is an area in London, situated north-northwest of Charing Cross. It forms part of both the London Borough of Barnet and the London Borough of Harrow. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
, and the route from Edgware to Old Bushey. The planned extension was to terminate at Bushey Heath
Bushey Heath tube station
Bushey Heath tube station was an unbuilt London Underground station in Bushey Heath, Hertfordshire. The planned location of the station was at the junction of the A41 and A411 roads.-History:...
due to funding limitations, but provision was made in the design of the station for a further extension to Old Bushey. Earthworks were underway and the tunnel near Elstree South
Elstree South tube station
Elstree South tube station was an unbuilt London Underground station in Elstree, Hertfordshire. It was designed by Charles Holden...
station and the viaduct for Brockley Hill
Brockley Hill tube station
Brockley Hill tube station is an unbuilt London Underground station in the Brockley Hill area of north London. The planned location was close to Edgwarebury Park and the north side of the junction of the A41 and the A410 roads.-History:...
station had been partly constructed when the start of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
caused works to cease.
Work did not restart immediately after the war as there were stronger demands on funds for works elsewhere including the reconstruction of many damaged stations and the extensions of the Central Line
Central Line
The Central line is a London Underground line, coloured red on the tube map. It is a deep-level "tube" line, running east-west across London, and, at , has the greatest total length of track of any line on the Underground. Of the 49 stations served, 20 are below ground...
. After the introduction of Metropolitan Green Belt
Metropolitan Green Belt
The Metropolitan Green Belt is a statutory green belt around London, England. It includes designated parts of Greater London and the surrounding counties of Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent and Surrey in the South East and East of England regions.-History:The...
the Elstree and Bushey areas were protected against development, the need for new stations to serve new residential developments in the area disappeared and the project was cancelled in 1950.