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Post by jimbo on Feb 24, 2022 15:24:17 GMT
Whenever I wait for a train at Ruislip, I am struck by how the running lines east of the station align with an overgrown area to the south of the platforms. Trains from the east curve at the last moment to serve the westbound platform. Travelling on an eastbound train approaching the station, it is obvious that the rail land has room for a direct line into this overgrown area. There would appear to be room for another pair of platforms. And yet no public track plans show lines in that area. The former goods yard, now car park, is to the north-east of the station and running line.
Does anyone have evidence of the original intentions for this land? It was the only station provided on the Uxbridge branch when opened in 1904. There is no sign of provision for a junction to another branch. Was it originally envisaged that some trains would terminate in two reversing roads, with a new through westbound line to the south of the site? That seems excessive for the services operated in the early days. Scheduled reversal at Ruislip only commenced after construction of the connecting road to West Ruislip Central Line depot, built for engineering trains to the Fleet Line works.
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Post by Dstock7080 on Feb 24, 2022 16:11:24 GMT
The bridge taking West End Road over the site also has two steel bridge decks, although the current track only goes below one. This 1936 OS map shows the deviation:  ©National Library of Scotland |
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Post by t697 on Feb 24, 2022 17:01:05 GMT
I think there was another thread with speculation about this.
From the map above I wondered whether it could have been provision, never used, for a more extensive goods yard to the south of the running lines, with tracks alongside the station, under the bridge at the west end in the unused space and converging with the running lines. Speculatively for deliveries of building materials for the housing developments foreseen?
In fact, Eastcote had a yard to the south of the station which I understand was used for this sort of purpose until it outlived its usefulness as local housing got completed or it became more economical to use road transport.
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towerman
My status is now now widower
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Post by towerman on Feb 24, 2022 18:21:47 GMT
The original plan was for the Central Line to terminate at Denham.
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Post by MoreToJack on Feb 24, 2022 19:39:36 GMT
The original plan was for the Central Line to terminate at Denham. It was indeed, but I'm not sure what relevance that has to the Metropolitan line...! |
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Post by jimbo on Feb 25, 2022 0:11:28 GMT
This 1983 LURS publication on construction of the Uxbridge branch includes a 1906 Met Rly diagram of the layout, so two years after opening, with the vacant land and goods yard. link Eastcote station was not envisaged at the time, and I suspect Metroland developments were not even a twinkle in the eye of property owners! |
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towerman
My status is now now widower
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Post by towerman on Feb 25, 2022 8:47:27 GMT
The original plan was for the Central Line to terminate at Denham. It was indeed, but I'm not sure what relevance that has to the Metropolitan line...! Sorry,being an old Central Line man when I see Ruislip don’t think of the Met. |
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Post by v52gc on Feb 25, 2022 10:48:41 GMT
I always believed the space was originally intended for construction of passing loops on a straighter alignment.
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Post by t697 on Feb 25, 2022 14:06:21 GMT
I always believed the space was originally intended for construction of passing loops on a straighter alignment. It does seem to be laid out to make that possible but it seems odd that they'd think to skip the stop at Ruislip when the branch only had stops at Ruislip and Uxbridge anyway. The sidings on the north side are impressive, extending all the way to Ruislip Manor.
On the subject of Metroland developments not yet being a twinkle in the eye at line opening, I thought the Met Railway's business model relied on such developments so as to provide sufficient passengers. Build the railway, get housing developed alongside and your customers will come...
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Post by t697 on Feb 25, 2022 15:08:09 GMT
This 1983 LURS publication on construction of the Uxbridge branch includes a 1906 Met Rly diagram of the layout, so two years after opening, with the vacant land and goods yard. link Eastcote station was not envisaged at the time, and I suspect Metroland developments were not even a twinkle in the eye of property owners! Ah, picture 11 in the 1983 LURS publication shows Ruislip station under construction and the temporary track in the foreground appears to be laid in the approximate position of the land behind the WB platform. Possibly this helped the contractors moving materials along the part built route without getting too close to the construction works of Ruislip station itself. Still seems quite something to have the double span bridge to the west of the station to accommodate that though. |
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Post by theblackferret on Mar 2, 2022 10:49:56 GMT
The Uxbridge branch was authorised in 1899 & the ubiquitous Uxbridge & Rickmansworth Railway, which had gone through 11 acts of Parliament from 1863 onwards, wasn't formally & finally abandoned until 1901.
That latter scheme immediately mutated into a number of other proposals married to the 1896 Light Railways Act, so it's not impossible the apparent extra tracks etc at Ruislip may have had something to do with anticipated future developments.
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