A quiet time in Chesham

[Hutch]

I recently acquired an old 1” to the mile OS map of London N.W. - dated 1963 - which has some fascinating details including many rail links now vanished for ever (like the Wembley Stadium Station loop. Not bad for 50p but still considerably more expensive than its cover price of 6/6 net. Younger members may need to Google this!

At the nether reaches of the Met though the station at Chesham is shown as ‘closed to passengers’ (white circle).


Bigger picture available here. 530 KB.

Was the branch closed for a while – for electrification ? Maybe there’s a little history here.

[Deleted]

hutch said:

which has some fascinating details including many rail links now vanished for ever (like the Wembley Stadium Station loop.

That is something I'd be interested to learn more about.

[Deleted]

I reckon that this is more likely an error of cartography - we all know that the Chesham branch has never closed.

What year is the map dated? (this can be found by checking the dates given for north and magnetic north, usually on the bottom of the map. Bottom right, IIRC.

I love collecting those old Ordnance maps. The metric maps which came in during the 1970s didn't have the character of their imperial counterparts.

[Hutch]

Sorry David – I forgot the date after all that. Published 1963 but fully revised 1961 with major road revision in 1962.



Stephen, the station was on the straight part of the single track loop between the northern and central overbridges. It worked in a clockwise direction out of Marylebone.

[Tubeboy]

Wasnt this line closed in the mid 70s? Or is it me? Apparently the curves were quite severe.

[Deleted]

I've been trying to find details of this too, but no luck yet. Those curves even on the OS map look tight to say the least. I know it opened before 1935, as I have the Railway Cleraring House map for that year and it is on there.

[Hutch]

Opened 28/4/23 for the Empire Exhibition, station last used 18/5/1968, closed 1/9/69 demolished 1974. (ISBN 1904474497)

Any thoughts though on the Chesham 'closure' ?

[Deleted]

Cool stuff Hutch, do you know of a link with pics, diagrams and history of this loop?

As for Chesham I don't know of any time when it was closed, so don't know about that. I think Davids theory on a map error may be right, but again, I really don't know.

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hutch said:

Stephen, the station was on the straight part of the single track loop between the northern and central overbridges. It worked in a clockwise direction out of Marylebone.

Thanks. You mentioned the line was single track, but was there just one track in the station itself, and just one platform face?

[Hutch]

stephenk said:

Thanks. You mentioned the line was single track, but was there just one track in the station itself, and just one platform face?

That is correct - one platform on the stadium (out) side of one uni-directional line.

[meteorological]

I'm hoping that the Chesham closure is a prophacy that'll annoy the nobs there

[mandgc]

Wembley Stadium Loop.

The map section is little misleading.
The two open stations are Wembley Park (top left) and Wembley Hill -the present Wembley Stadium (bottom Left)
The double line from the W.Park Line to the W.Hill line is a Goods Line.
The SL Stadium Loop did not join this line but ran separately alongside to join the 'Hill line at Neasden North Signal Box which controlled both the entrance and exit of the loop.
A trailing connection North (above) the Loop station from the Goods Line gave access to the Palace of Engineering and allowed Flying Scotsman, the Met. Electric loco and other items - Oh! including that GWR thing - to be displayed.

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hutch said:

Was the branch closed for a while – for electrification ? Maybe there’s a little history here.

I have done a bit of research. It appears that From 4th November 1964 the whole of route 703 (Rickmansworth and London to Kent) which ran to Chesham was withdrawn because of loss of traffic after the Metropolitan Line electrification, which could indicate that the the line was indeed closed in 1963 for electrification, which would make the map correct.

I did have another thought that maybe the line was closed for a complete relay, with the other road at Chesham being removed, however a picture of Chesham station in December 1971 shows the two platforms. More research found the station was cut down to one platform in December 1975.

So my bet would be that it was closed in 1963 for electrification. I shall ask at work when Im there on wednesday.

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metapprentice said:

I have done a bit of research. It appears that From 4th November 1964 the whole of route 703 (Rickmansworth and London to Kent) which ran to Chesham was withdrawn because of loss of traffic after the Metropolitan Line electrification, which could indicate that the the line was indeed closed in 1963 for electrification, which would make the map correct.

Before electrification the Chesham branch used very old steam hauled rolling stock, so the loss of traffic on the bus might just be because the train became so much more comfortable and quick.

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adw said:

Before electrification the Chesham branch used very old steam hauled rolling stock, so the loss of traffic on the bus might just be because the train became so much more comfortable and quick.

You are right, however the point that was being made was that the line was closed in 1963, and in 1964 the bus route was ended, following the electrification of the met. So its probably quite likely that the line was closed in 63 to allow the juice rails to be installed.

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metapprentice said:

adw said:

Before electrification the Chesham branch used very old steam hauled rolling stock, so the loss of traffic on the bus might just be because the train became so much more comfortable and quick.

You are right, however the point that was being made was that the line was closed in 1963, and in 1964 the bus route was ended, following the electrification of the met. So its probably quite likely that the line was closed in 63 to allow the juice rails to be installed.

I'm not convinced that this follows. Although it is a plausible scenario, I think the very fact of electrification (without any closure) making the train more attractive COULD explain the decline in bus patronidge.

We've yet to hear anything definite on the supposed Chesham closure.

[Oracle]

My info has it that electrification commenced 12th September 1960 although one source says 16th August. On 10th September 1961 the Amersham to Aylesbury service was discontinued. However I am sure that the Chesham through trains were still Met loco-hauled until then whereas there were for that one year still electric/steam changes at Rickmansworth?
I believe now that this was indeed the case...the shuttle was T Stock and through trains with Met locos.

Here is an excellent shot of Chesham in the last days of steam with conductor rails extant:
www.londonrailways.net/chs0504.jpg

I have just reminded myself that on 21st September 1980 on the D Stock Metroliner tour we took a D-Stock train to Chesham and back, and it acted as the service train. Is this the only time?

mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/LUArchive/html/d78_metroliner_tour_9.html

from Solidbond!

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oracle said:

I have just reminded myself that on 21st September 1980 on the D Stock Metroliner tour we took a D-Stock train to Chesham and back, and it acted as the service train. Is this the only time?

I know a D stock has come up to Amersham in recent years, but not so sure about Chesham, so that could have been the one and only time a D stock has made the trip up there.