Connecting several major towns across the
counties of Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire was once a railway running from Hertford in
the East, to Leighton Buzzard in the West. And though it closed several decades ago,
its legacy is still marked on the landscape for better... ...and for worse. Though track has been lifted... ...and buildings razed... ...so much of this line has found new life... ...new beginnings... ...and new purpose. Join me then, in discovering what has become of
this line, what has become of all its stations and maybe you can determine if this
line should have closed as we ask whether or not this railway
is now a vital missing link? Located 20 miles north of
Central London is Hertford, the county town of Hertfordshire
at the start of our journey Heading west, we reach Welwyn Garden
City on the East Coast Mainline. Leaving Hertfordshire, we continue
cross-country to the town of Luton (on the Midland Mainline) and Dunstable... ...before concluding our exploration in
Leighton Buzzard on the West Coast Mainline. At just over 30 miles in length, we have
not a moment to lose, so let's proceed! Our journey begins here with a view of Hertford
Cowbridge railway station - it could be a village shop or the like, but no, it was from here that
trains began their journey towards Hatfield. Opened in 1858, it was renamed Hertford
North in 1923 before its closure a year later when the Hertford Loop line opened and the
new station (which we will come to) took its name. The site today, enclosed
by various fortifications, does not betray the presence of the
old characterful building at all. But if we look to the west we find where the
railway once crossed over the River Beane... ...then under Port Hill... ...and under another bridge here on Balfour
Street where the trackbed remains in place... as do the abutment of a over bridge on Port Vale. Perhaps more secluded, the presence of
the raised embankment running parallel to Beane Road now an unofficial footpath of sorts. Crossing the River Beane for the final
time the railway then took a southerly curve continuing on an embankment
through what is now a car park... ...only a portion of the
railway embankment remains, here, and is marked by the presence of this mast. But on the other side of this we see the
present iteration of Hertford North station. Out of shot, beneath us on North Road, one of the
railway bridge's abutments is still to be found Here the platforms of Hertford North were the
line from Cowbridge once connected from the right. The station has two through platforms for
services to Stevenage and Moorgate and one bay platform for terminating services from London. To the south of the station the line
for Hatfield and Welwyn branched off approximately where the siding leads
to the centre of the picture... ...and rather than continue over the
delightful viaduct that carries trains over the plateau of the Lee Valley ,our train
descended crossing the River Mimram, here, then passing beneath the viaduct at this point... ...and over this bridge... ...at which point the railway undertakes
a transformation into the Cole Green Way, a foot and cycle path which more or less
follows the railway's course into Welwyn and, as we will see, has done much to
celebrate the line's heritage. So let us see what the next
six miles has to offer. I hope you're enjoying this film so far
- should this railway have closed Do you think it should reopen? Let me know
your thoughts in the comments below... Here we find relics by the track side... ...and whilst the signal arm here may
not be original, the post certainly. So we journey for another half a mile and if we listen carefully we might
just hear what once was... A little over one and a half miles
since we departed Hertford Cowbridge, we reach the first stop on
our line: Hertingfordbury. Opened in 1858, the station closed
under a century later in 1951. Today the building is a private residence. But you may be interested to know that, according
to the excellent Disused Stations website, the station featured in the 1936 British
musical comedy 'When Knights were Bold'. Upon departure trains would immediately
cross some St. Mary's Lane... ...and journey for a further one and a half miles,
whereupon, hidden in the hedgerow, we find what remains of some buffer stops and a clue that we
are reaching a significant station on the line... So it is that we reach the station that
gives its name to this cycleway: Cole Green. And what a delightful looking place it was, perhaps the sort of country station
one sees in their mind's eye. Hereabouts were two platforms with
canopied waiting rooms and a 30 lever signal box controlling access to the goods yard, which remained open until 1962, 11 years
after the station's closure to passengers. From a similar position several decades
hence... though much is taken much abides. Thanks to those who cleared this site, what
remains of this station is now evident to all. Along the perimeter, characterful
metal fencing can still be found. And not to be outshone by Hertingfordbury,
Cole Green featured in the 1951 film 'The Lady with a Lamp', which tells
the story of Florence Nightingale. Here some stills from the film. Bidding farewell to Cole Green
we journey westward for another one and a half miles where we find one
of two halts that served this railway. Here was once Hatfield Hyde Halt. Along with Attimore Hall Halt, which we'll see
later, Hatfield Hyde Halt was opened by the railway company in an effort to boost passenger
numbers - a venture that ultimately failed. Opening in approximately 1905,
it closed two years later. No trace of the station is to be found here, but the crossing keeper's
house continues to stand guard. Our route now becomes much more urban in character
as we travel half a mile to the next station... Here was once Attimore Hall Halt. Built like its predecessor on the
line to stoke revenue for the railway, it was a venture that was ultimately unsuccessful. The scene today is quite different, but
we stand in approximately the same place. Here was the onward course of the railway... ...which, as we see from the air, is now largely redeveloped in the
intervening years since closure. See here on Tewin Road the bricks which
mark the site of the railway's crossing... ...and on Bessemer Road, a bridge which
trains have not crossed for many a year. Thereafter the railway took a turn south
through what is now a residential development and thus joined the East Coast main line. In fact, hereabouts was a workman's platform known
as Welwyn Junction - let's be clear, at the time of its construction Welwyn was a small nearby
village rather than the large town it is today. There was to be a triangular junction here
so trains from Hertford could run north, but this never materialized. So it was that trains from Hertford
ran south to Hatfield and terminated Upon the opening of the
line to Luton and Dunstable, trains would depart Hatfield and travel north. Welwyn Garden City station opened in 1926. Here it is back in the day. Inevitably,
alterations, extensions and demolitions have occurred over the years the original
ticket hall was a victim of the latter in 1990 and is now incorporated into
the Howard Centre, a shopping complex. Now the trains sneak around the back. The Hertford and Welwyn Junction Railway
closed to passengers in 1957 and goods in 1962. So to the next phase of our
journey and the Dunstable Branch. Having departed Hatfield trains travelled north
and up to 1926 called at Welwyn Garden City Halt. Originally built to serve the men and materials required to construct this new town, it
eventually opened to the general public. When today's Welwyn Garden City station
opened in 1926 a few hundred yards to the south, this halt was surplus to
requirements and swiftly demolished. It was sited about here to
the left of the picture. The branch peeled westwards away from the
main line through what is now a car park... ...just beyond the track bed is still accessible
and here it passed beneath Digswell Road. From the top it is certainly one of
the route's more decorative structures. Proceeding west, the railway curved north before continuing west once more - it is now
the Ayot Greenway foot and cycle path Outside of Welwyn, now, and
urban gives way to rural. Two miles from Welwyn Garden
City station was Ayot. With a goods yard, signal box
and a number of other features, this was not an insubstantial station and,
as can be seen, it was quite attractive. Perhaps more famous for its death rather than its
life, the station (of timber construction) caught fire and burnt down in July 1948 never
to be rebuilt and never to be reopened, though the sidings continued to
serve goods traffic until 1962. Looking West towards Wheathampstead,
we see the situation then... ...and now. Continuing our journey, the railway
crossed Ayot St Peter's Road... ...on the other side of which, railway
fence posts still flank the line. And so the line meandered for
a little under three miles... ...whereupon trains arrived in
the village of Wheathampstead With a single line and a single platform
to its name, the station here continued the trend of being delightfully appointed, with goods
facilities situated to the west across the road. After years of neglect the local community
took it upon themselves to reverse the fortunes of this site and whilst the service
to Wheathampstead may not have been restored, so much has and the result is quite remarkable. In its wilderness years, the
station appeared on the cover of The Magic Lantern's 1969 album 'Shame Shame'. And who have we here? Ah yes, the figure of George
Bernard Shaw who frequented the station in order to travel into the capital. He now presides over the station and
on the track in front of him this Great Western Railway five plank open
wagon, which was placed here in 2013. Maybe we have lingered at this remarkable
station too long and our journey ahead beckons... Having crossed the road via a long since
demolished bridge we can see the railway embankment and hearabouts the site of
the station's good shed and yard... ...and here a mile to the West The
Crossing Keepers house on Leasy Bridge Lane The sounds of steam have not
been heard along here for so many years as the memory of the railway fades... So we arrive at our next station: Harpenden East. This was the first of two stations
to serve the town when the Midland Railway opened a competing station in 1868. We face east, back towards Wheathampstead
in this view as a service pulls in past the signal box towards the right of the picture... ...and here facing west the good shed had a
glimpse of the small but busy yard beyond. Today there is nothing. Housing now stands where track once lay
and it is if the station never existed. Back into the countryside now,
albeit briefly, but what's this now? Here the Midland Mainline crossed
our Railway and continues to run an almost parallel course for the next few miles. Next stop: Luton Hoo. Built close to the eponymous stately home,
the station was originally named New Mill End, the principal village it served and this
was in fact the station's name until 1891. As with other stations on the
line there was a signal box and in this case a small goods yard across the road. Looking in the same direction
today we can see part of the station platform though most of
this is now concealed by fencing. Here's a view of the station
building now a private dwelling... ...and here it is brimming with
character when trains once called. Less salubrious, an extant platelayer's hut to the station's west, now incorporated into
the adjacent waste treatment works. The weather's on the turn now as
the country gives way to town... ...and among the encroaching clouds overhead... ...we must be entering Luton,
from whose airport planes depart. Upon entering Luton, the railway
ran along what is now Gypsy Lane... ...and here through this slight
cutting now degraded by litter... ...before crossing a bridge here on Kempton Road,
where one of the abutments is still to be seen. Road has conquered rail here and
for the next several miles hence, the track bed is now occupied by
the Luton and Dunstable Guided Busway - more on this later - but here
trains pass beneath Crawley Green Road... ...and over the now demolished
bridge on Hitchin Road. So it was that some 15 miles since departing
Hatfield and 12 miles from Welwyn Garden City, trains arrived at the next
station: Luton Bute Street. Luton's first station (opened in 1858)
provided the town with a direct link to London, but its dominance would last but a decade,
for in 1868 the Midland Railway opened its competing station on the Midland
Mainline to London Saint Pancras. The station comprised three platforms and there
were extensive sidings and facilities for goods. From here the railways helps the hat
making industry (for which the town was famous) continue to flourish as they
were delivered by rail across the country. All gone now, all gone. Bute Street Station lived alongside
its younger cousin until 1965, when it closed to passengers
and was swiftly demolished. Here's Luton's surviving station just next door. So to the Busway, which opened in 2013, and occupies the railway's course
all the way into Dunstable. The roads between these two
towns suffered greatly from congestion - the busway is meant
to go somewhere to alleviate them. And so this innocuous looking bridge marks the
presence of our next station: Chaul End Halt. Living only in ephemeral life, it opened in 1915 and was built to serve
a munitions factory and its workers... ...closed and demolished
four years after it opened, over a century later there is nothing
to suggest the station was ever here. Indeed there's not much to suggest
a railway was ever here, either, as we travel the two and a half miles
into the next station Dunstable Town. Opened in May 1858 as Dunstable Church Street, it was nearly 70 years before the station's
name was changed to Dunstable town and early on in that history the station was
redeveloped to a higher standard, though it was largely constructed of timber,
including its platform as can be seen here. The goods yard closed in 1964 and the
station to passengers a year later. The buildings were swiftly demolished
and the site passed through several hands over the years languishing in a poor state. But from the same position today we see that order has been restored even if
trains track and station have not Here's the view west with a
DMU idling in the platform... "No up and no down from Formby
Four Crosses to Dunstable Town" Beyond the station now and the concrete beams that
now guide buses are true to the railway's course. Where those buses now proceed right was
once the railway's route to a cement works, but ahead through the trees and bushes,
was the way deeper into Dunstable. Here trains crossed Watling Street
via a now demolished bridge, which delivered trains into the
next station: Dunstable North The bridge across the road was
to the left of the picture here, which presents the low profile of
Dunstable North station in glorious colour. Comprising three platforms, of
which one was a bay platform, there was also a large goods yard behind
the main building - this closed in 1967. Two years after good's traffic, demolition of the
station occurred in 1968 along with track lifting. Now bereft of any station at all Dunstable
has the ignominy of being one of the largest towns in the south-east without
any connection to the railway. On the station site it's now, council offices. So the final phase of our journey begins
and once more urban gives way to rural in the form of Sewell Cutting. Now a
nature reserve it is surely one of the more striking features of the railway
we have seen on our journey thus far. Just beyond this bridge carries the Sewell Greenway which follows the
railway's course onwards... ...onwards and downwards the camera
conceals the extent of the descent. And so delivered trains into our
penultimate station, Stanbridgeford. Trains stopped here from 1849.
The station was especially popular with visitors from Leighton Buzzard. Alongside the delightful station
building was a small goods yard. Today the station boarding remains
in use as a private residence To the rear the way office also stands. And continuing the theme of
film and television appearances, in October 1968 the station featured
in The Avengers episode "Noon Doomsday" For some distance yet the railway's
alignment is now occupied by the A505, then into Leighton Buzzard though as we can see
here the route has been lost to redevelopment. But here, looking back towards Stanbridgeford,
the railway once travelled towards us... ..then crossed both the River Ouzle and the
Grand Union Canal by means of this fine bridge. I wonder if the residents of
Mentmore Gardens know that a railway once passed through
where their houses now stand? ...and along here on Cedar's Way? Adjacent to which we find the old crossing house,
out of place with such characterful architecture. And so trains approached the final
station where trees now grow... ...and where a car park now stands. 10 miles from Luton by rail
we arrive at Leighton Buzzard. Located on the West Coast Mainline we see several
shots of the station from over the years wherein it has been demolished rebuilt and extended to
accommodate the changing nature of rail travel. The platforms to Dunstable opened in 1848 and survived until 1989 when the
station was utterly redeveloped. It has been suggested that the car park side of
the fence might represent a surviving edge of the platform to Dunstable Luton and beyond,
but this has been challenging to confirm. If the station continued to be
a junction to these places I wonder if there would be sufficient
passenger traffic to sustain it? So is this railway now a vital missing link? For those living and working along
this East-West Corridor this line would undoubtedly benefit connections between the major towns and may have gone some way to
mitigate the traffic congestion therein. The links to north-south express routes
such as the East Coast, West Coast and Midland Mainlines would also see communities
once more connected to the national network. A missing link then? Yes to be sure. But 'vital'? Here we enter the realm of the subjective
- no doubt the case can be made either way. Even though the return of rails along
this line is unlikely ever to occur, what is certain is that through ingenuity... ...imagination... ...preservation... ...and reconfiguration, the spirit of connecting towns and villages big and
small undoubtedly endures. I hope you enjoyed this film please like
share leave a comment and subscribe so you can join me once again in
Rediscovering Lost Railways
