London's Lost Railways Ep. 14 - Watford to Croxley

[@TheTimTraveller]

ALLOTMENTS

[@geofftech2]

BINGO!

[@TheTimTraveller]

@@geofftech2 clearly.

[@geofftech2]

@@TheTimTraveller Alignment! (Let's ... not do all the words. Unless you want to??)

[@johna5635]

03:07 Sad thing is... the view from Watford Stadium station towards Watford West... just to the left of the track there, in front of the red-brick building... there's a large open area where people grow vegetables and stuff... can't remember what they call those places!

[@jasongarufi8187]

Nice cameo Time Traveller

[@thelonesculler]

That ending was the crossover I never thought I needed

[@SamSitar]

it was great fun too.

[@polarlicht4758]

I also watch the Whitewicks and Jay Foreman.

[@paulknight5018]

Geoff is a hero, not the hero we deserved but the hero we needed.

[@sie4431]

It's not just for mid 90's NBC sitcoms anymore!

[@VulcanTrekkie45]

And they say Avengers is the most ambitious crossover in history

[@kasparvg]

Marvel: Infinity war is the greatest crossover event in history Geoff: Hold my tea

[@midnight_styx]

More like « Hold my Tube Map »

[@keithkellogg6085]

Geoff, there was something quite heartwarming about that ending, really really well done.

[@geofftech2]

thanks Keith, took a lot of work! totally worth it ...

[@SamSitar]

@@geofftech2 please do more like it.

[@bishwatntl]

@@geofftech2 Now I have to go back over the Tim Traveller videos to see if there were any other times he wore a moquette scarf....

[@timmatthews773]

@@geofftech2 Definitely worth it. A real day-maker. Up there with Choose Carrour. :-) Choose Allotments!

[@RobinHillyard]

@@Mortimer50145 and Matt Parker ;)

[@Pina_Coladas69]

end game was the most ambitious crossover ever. Geoff: Hold my allotment

[@YetAnotherGeorgeth]

That ending was the crossover event that was so ambitious it makes Endgame look like a school play!

[@michaelatkins8003]

I remember steam on that line - and Watford Met. also had regular steam shunting as well. The Croxley line was supposed to have been closed back in the 60s, but although services were greatly reduced, the line was kept open in large part because my uncle Ron was very senior management at BR, and couldn't be expected to travel by bus: that timetable showing the early and late trains was drawn up to suit Uncle Ron's expected commuting times, and I was with him on one occasion when they held the train for him because he was late getting to the station!

[@RatelHBadger]

Maintaining a timetable to suit one person, is power we can only dream of!

[@barttheanorak]

That word 'never' is so sad. But my one little peeve about the re-opening project (which I was quite excited by) was that Watford Vicarage Road was rather a mouthful. Vicarage Road by itself would have done the job beautifully.

[@marthaanderson2656]

Love love love the ending, Thank you for an out loud laugh

[@ldp0567]

Cheers to everyone in the GMCE (Geoff Marshall Cinematic Universe)

[@raphaelnikolaus0486]

*GMCU. Or *EUniverse (greetings from the continent)

[@londongrad52122]

Hi Geoff, Croxley green station , the gate is open to the station 😂 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So you can go into the station and there are tracks!

Great video. I walked past the old Croxley station yesterday. The metal fences have been removed and the shrubs around the stairs have been cut right back, so you can get much closer now

[@MrHovis44]

Geoff is so so good at what he does. From races round the tube to All the Stations. From least used stations to London's lost railways it is all so watchable. And Geoff as a very proud allotment owner....they are not that bad 😁

[@willingshelf]

Allotment!

[@PokhrajRoy.]

I am loving the cameo appearances 😂

[@AndyKing1963]

I used to work on that line. Where the line used to go under the bridge near Watford High Street there used to be an Ice factory (or at least that's what we called it. There was also a siding off the main line going into a power station, which had metal gates across the rails). After the line closed it was amazing to see just how quickly nature took over with fully grown trees sprouting up in the 4-foot within years.

[@kevinwilliams1602]

As an apprentice in the late sixties, I had a happy time at Croxley Green Sheds working on the old electrics. Thanks for the memories

[@SoiBuakhaoRoutemasterbus]

Another great vid.....But this line did see tube trains run over it! There was a depot at Croxley which serviced the Oerlikon, and then class 501, EMU stock. But London Transport also stabled 38 stock Bakerloo Line trains here as well, it also had a Bakerloo Crew Signing-on point. Until the late 1960s every other train along the DC lines to Watford was a Bakerloo Line working. By the 1970s there were only 4 Down trains in the evening with 4 Up the next moring. Three were Croxley crews while one was a Queens Park Depot crew. I rode the last Bakerloo to Watford back in September 1982 and the driver allowed a few of us enthusiast's to stay on board and ride to Croxley Depot. It was acessed via a head-shunt where the train reversed to get into the car sheds. The only other time i rode the line was on the Farewell Class 501 railtour in 1985. Once the 501s had been withdrawn BR closed Croxley and Bletchley maintained the class 313's used on the DC lines from then on........So i wonder what has been built on the old Depot now?.......Maybe that could be a new series of vids...closed depots & sidings?.......

[@cholten99]

"You'd think I'd be good at squares" - I LOLd :-D

[@russellmardling7156]

Can't stop watching your videos. I have a fascination with lost railways. More please. Love it!!

[@geofftech2]

you're very kind Russell, thank you! Plenty more in the pipeline ...

[@seanmcguigan4103]

Dear Geoff, just came across and love the video. Wanted to let you know that there used to be a spur off the Watford to Rickmanworth Branch Line (now Ebury Way) for supply of coal and salt crossing Brightwells and Oxhey Hall Farms to the Eastbury Pumping Station at Hampermill Lane. It was know as the Colne Valley Water Company Light Railway (1933-1968 approx)

[@robbiefstrains9083]

That’s right, though it was a narrow gauge line. It also had a footbridge that went over the line, which itself was originally located on the “Never Stop Railway” at the Wembley exhibition.

[@realityboost4405]

Incredibly moving for me as my parents bought a house on Winton Drive, at the junction of Winton Approach, in Croxley Green in 1966 and I was born there in 1971, growing up with the sound of the tube trains literally going past down the embankment at the bottom of our garden…And indeed my middle name is Croxley. 😔

[@JR-lb7iw]

Lovely to see this. I travelled on this branch line in the 1980s. West watford station had a ticket booth near the entrance before going down the flights of stairs. The metal barriers have now been removed from Croxley Green station and so it is easily accessible to walkers.

[@josephj9828]

Disney/Marvel: Avengers: Endgame is the most ambitious cross-over ever. Geoff: Hold my allotments!

[@geofftech2]

ALLOTMENTS!!!! :-D

[@techauthor324]

@@geofftech2 Hold my beer while standing on my allotment! Or was that on the battlements of my castle?

[@josephj9828]

@@geofftech2 As an American, I can't fully appreciate the cultural significance of allotments in the UK, but as a subscriber to almost all of these KZbinrs, I can definitely appreciate these impressive cameos!

[@Ad-gn8pl]

That ending was way better than the ending of Line of Duty.

[@ToolkiT73UK]

And scary enough I got most of the in jokes too.. LOL at the Matt Parker squares

[@JeSuisRene]

A neat trick you did there with your friends’ cameos at the end. I liked that (and the rest of the video) - thank you Geoff!

[@transitcaptain]

"We didn't see a single allotment...." HAHAHA

[@AidanMmusic96]

There'll be one in the background somewhere...! :P

[@jillise2942]

Yeah, just off the railway on Vicarage Road :-)

[@ianbuchanan2461]

You missed the allotments that are visible from the Ebury way, near the canal towards Rickmansworth, and interestingly the railway on the Ebury way alignment was an electric railway!

[@mikevince3193]

Geoff. First time I have commented but I really enjoy your outstanding videos, and have done for some time including the outstanding All the Stations. I worked as Sports Editor of the local radio at the time they opened Watford Stadium, with Elton John on the first train- no surprise there- the station was christened, wait for it 'Hooligans Halt' and it had a walkway though the allotments straight into the area by the visiting supporters area. They ran football specials to the Junction and everyone was then put on a shuttle. Some years later the club turned the stadium round and the away end became the one at Vicarage Road and that was the beginning of the end. Keep up the great work.

[@geofftech2]

MIke, wonderful comment ... that is some top local knowledge, thanks! i shall forever call it "Hooligan Halt!" lol

[@OkieOtaku]

Tim's bit with the piano was great. Then there's "mine just says castles" 😂

[@RichardWells1]

@ Geoff Marshall - Great finish - I laughed like a drain! One of your best! It's sad the Watford connection got derailed: a poignant moment in my decade as a transport press officer, but your piece more than made up for it 😀 Thanks!

[@thesmity31]

Great video. I live close by over in Ricky and am getting more involved in local council stuff, and there's some potentially interesting things on the horizon regarding that rail line. Although the met line extension is basically dead in the water now, the idea of a Croxley-Watford rail link is alive and well. The most likely thing to happen will be a light rail link of some kind going from Croxley to Vicarage Road and Watford General and then up to Watford Junction. But if it can be managed I'm personally hoping for one that starts at Rickmansworth (since there is an unused short platform there), goes past Croxley Green tube, stops at the old closed Croxley station, vicarage road, Watford general, the high street/shopping centre, and then up to Watford junction. If this can happen, not only would it greatly increase the mobility across from Ricky and Croxley over to Watford (and vice-versa) it could potentially be the start of a Herts rail network that links up Watford with places like St Albans, Hemel Hempstead etc. So be sure to keep an eye out for developments on that!

[@ZeldaFitz]

That sounds like a fantastic idea, so it probably won’t happen. Rickmansworth-Watford-St Albans-Hemel Hempstead.

[@kevinrayner5812]

If they couldn"t afford the Met link then light rail link to St Albans will never happen.

[@Hmmm76]

Makes me feel old, I remember getting the train from Croxley to west Watford on my way home from Durrants. Really stupid thing is if we missed the train we would walk the tracks. Looking back at the things we did then I am surprised to still be alive. Maybe dangerous but really was good times.

[@lolfulls]

Right by the old Watford Stadium station there are some allotments!!

[@andrewholloway231]

Geoff, thank you for this video. I have walked along the Ebury Way many times. Great cameo appearances too.

[@TehDragonGuy]

Loved this video. I grew up right next to Watford underground and know the area like the back of my hand so this was a nice little throwback. Might have to go visit some of these!

[@onlygwill]

Me too lol I visit them every now and then

[@Robslondon]

Great video Geoff. One of my favorite bits of trivia regarding Croxley Green station is that it a group of suffragettes set fire to it in 1913!

[@alastairwood1745]

Another great video Geoff, when I walked the Ebury Way recently I was lucky enough to get a Met Line train go past on a bridge as I walked past. If the Croxley Line is never to reopen, I really hope they turn it into a public walk and/or cycle way, it is such a waste just to leave it there. Well done on the "Avengers Assemble" ending too!

[@gh1851]

We didn't see a single ALLOTMENT. How did Geoff's famous subscribers get into this video? Minds blown completely! Geoff, that's amazing 😂👍

[@pickled51]

Fantastic hysterical ending Geoff! Thank you all for participating.

[@trainscranesandtrivialtale7262]

Idly logged on to KZbin the second this went live. Great stuff Geoff, love this channel and the cameos at the end! You've inspired me to do something similar here in Northern Ireland. Sadly we have more abandoned railways than active, but it gives me plenty of source material

[@richardjellis9186]

You never know... With the government looking at old, abandoned rail links, and hopefully re-installing and opening quite a few across the network, this one MAY still see the light.!🤞!. LOVE THE VIDEOS🥰. KEEP 'em COMING🥰🥰. RICH 🥰🥰🥰.

[@brooklyntrainspotting8464]

Fantastic video! I love all your videos. I’m so glad I’m not the only person who has an amazing knowledge of trains and likes them to! Keep up the hard work!

[@anomalousoddity]

This vid gave me a lot of joy, I spent so much time in Watford growing up and once went out with someone whose parents had the Abbey Flyer at the bottom of the garden - tbh I'm sure it would've ended before it did if they had not. I especially love the end of this. So much fun. Thanks Geoff!

[@Richardincancale]

You didn’t include shopping trolley on the bingo sheet :-). And hello to Tim in Paris - and his piano!

[@thargoff]

Glorious ending, that one! The cameo factor is huge...

[@TheNixie1972]

I'm so happy to not read the comments before reaching the end of this awesome video. The genuine surprise was really nice.

[@nintendopro9666]

Great video and also there are pretty easy ways you can on the rails and get a better view of the tracks

[@paulinacyganek7440]

This video is a much better crossover than MCU, especially that it includes cameos from some of my favourite youtubers. Thanks Geoff, I enjoyed it so much

[@sabinebogensperger1928]

Thank you for another brilliant video and the fabulous cameos by your fellow KZbinrs, love love loved it! 🤩👍

[@agm1]

As a child in the 1960's I'd regularly travel that line down to Croxley and then walk down to the canal and spend the day fishing, before making the return train journey. Fond memories 😌

[@steamsearcher]

LOVED IT even with no sound as WE fall out with another computer today!!! David and Lily having an every Disused Station moment with the Whitewicks!!! THANKS!!!

[@aakos84]

Just subscribed to your channel Geoff lot of things to watch :)) I lived in London between 2012-2018 and during those years I travelled quite a lot, and explored the different areas of London. Amazing experiences. I checked in/out with my Oyster card at all the tube stations expect that branch of the Metropolitan line :)) only because I travelled on Sunday and it was a rare service I didn’t fancy to take it :) Been all the overground stations also, tram and crazy number of bus lines (incl nigh buses) too, I remember the one from Croydon to Heathrow (not sure if that still operates). Keep up the good work, brilliant contents 🤘👌👋

[@stebesplace]

Well thanks Tim for bringing me over, subbed now!

[@JohnJohn83UK]

Cheers for this, I noticed this driving trucks around Watford. You should look into the old line that ran from bishops Stortford to Braintree. Really interesting and walkable that I will do one day. Somewhere by dunmow there is still and old carriage in the over growth and towards braintree a station is still in place and used as a cafe. The line would make a very interesting video, showing old pictures as you go.

[@andydd8879]

As a Watford fan this episode is amazing. Some Watford fans have the Watford stadium platform sign as their profile picture.

[@jgodfrey546]

A fab finale to a brilliant series, sir! Nicely done!

[@michaelx9079]

Fantastic ....... grew up walking and cycling a lot of the spots in this one.....it's certainly changed!

[@Hammondfreak]

Loved this one. Great content and a comedy ending. What more could you want - an ALLOTMENT perhaps.............well I actually have one !!!

[@Willopotomas]

Brilliant ending! I hope Jay didn't smash his phone in all the excitement haha

[@Toledo-vh6rz]

Great video, I remember back in 1974 when I was 11 I visited the Watford Junction signal box, and was allowed to change the points for the Croxley train when it left Watford high street.

[@CoxallK]

Best one yet purely for the end of all the KZbin legends in one video. 👏👏👏

[@colinloc]

Enjoyed this very much Geoff! I think Croxley Green trains were a regular featur4ee when I used to commute into Broad Street on the Watford DC lines in the early 1980s ...

[@Ro99]

Was not expecting Half Asleep Chris!!! (Not that that’s a bad thing)

[@rogerbrown5558]

Nor was I, and Bella.

[@matthieumeewis]

me neither, welcome surprise

[@Scotify25]

You didn't see a single alotment?! You didn't look hard enough mate 😉 Cool video, stumbled accross this. Im a Watford resident. I dont have much memory of the old railway so it was nice to find out some info about it.

[@arthurreeder8451]

I well remember the last of the Bakerloo red trains being stabled in the old depot that was removed just before the railway turns towards High Street. That road was always interesting as you passed under the Rickmansworth branch turn and then drove over the High Street turn.

[@Craig.E]

Loved all the cameos at the end and Tim's piano bit.

[@stephendines1936]

Brilliant absolutely Brilliant, only ever said that journey once, on my only visit to Vicrage Road, in the 1980s.

[@ZacsDashcam]

I've walked this stretch of railway when the fence was down (no, genuinely), so much fun to walk along such a recent bit of track. Thanks for covering this one Geoff!

[@shaunganley]

I seriously LOVED seeing all of your friends you've featured at the end!

[@davegreenlaw5654]

I really need to watch more of these channels from overseas, as I didn't get what you were doing until I saw Jay from MapMen...pretty clever work there.

[@petermc7098]

Hello There, an interesting video and it's sad to see some of that line rusting away with the Metropolitan Line never being extended, thank you for sharing this, it's much appreciated. Kind regards Peter :)

[@DC4260Productions]

Those cameos were priceless.

[@teecefamilykent]

They where indeed!

[@alanrobertson9790]

Wonderful video. When I heard about the reopening which never happened I visited Watford to see how things were. Its quite a long walk from Watford BR/Overground station to the Underground station which is set in a beautiful residential area. Be a shame to close that.

[@PlanetoftheDeaf]

Brilliant ending! The Watford Stadium station was built to keep away fans separate from the home ones, something far more essential in the dark 1980s than nowadays.

[@ianburnip]

yes, now they just inhabit the O'Neills next to WFJ

[@w.obrien8044]

The Watford to Croxley line also served John Dickinson's Paper Mill at Croxley, fuel oil was transported to the mills on a regular basis until the mills closed in the 1980's.

[@bwaw1972]

Love the series. Didn’t see the end coming, but thought it was brilliant. Really enjoyed that.

[@briancjohnson]

Okay, bravo on the ending good sir, and applause for the community that agreed to play along!

[@tommybirchall1625]

Absolutely BRILLIANT! 😂 What a mesmerising series and such a hilarious episode!! Thank you all! 🤗 #Allotment

[@barryjenkins4742]

Hi Geoff all the way from new Zealand, I really enjoy your entertaining videos great to see what's happening in London excellent

[@quintuscrinis]

Never realised the ebury way was an old railway - I remember it running basically along the route of the Grand Union?

[@Trolligarch]

Blessed collaborations

[@imarobotking]

that was a right belter at the end. loved all the cameos, nearly every one is a youtuber i like watching content from.. :D

[@UnderwurldChris]

Another wonderful video in a great series.. and that ending, it made me smile so much.

[@thisiswhereweare9006]

I love this vid. Growing up in Watford, I was fascinated by this line, but never travelled on it. Watford West station used to pick up passengers from my Dad's old workplace, Scammell's (the now-bankrupt truck company). One night in 1996, I was making my way back home after a drunken evening and I decided to climb the fence and walk along the tracks from Watford Stadium to Watford High Street. I did so and quite enjoyed it. However, I think I triggered some sort of anti-trespass sensor and when I walked up the platform at Watford High Street after midnight, a workman was coming towards me. I cheerfully said 'Good night' and walked right past him. He didn't say anything. Of course, this was a doubly STUPID thing of me to do. Not only could I have got fined, but I could have been electrocuted on the rails. Apologies to all. I was young and drunk.

[@RideWatford]

Good video, as a local (I can see the line & allotments from my window) I hope we'll get trains back on the line one day or how about linking it up to the Abbey Line to St Alban's?

[@jeantremlett174]

Thanks for including Ebury way.

[@raphaelnikolaus0486]

I'm dying here! (And probably also gone officially insane, judging from my laughter.) XD

[@timsully8958]

Excellent stuff. I did wonder what had happened to the Metropolitan project. Shame it is stillborn as it seemed to be a sensible addition, but it seems it is not to be. The problem was always the fact Watford station is not really near Watford 🤷🏻‍♂️ I believe this was because the Cashiobury land owners refused to allow access across their plot and why the station building is...well, a bit naff. Looks like someone from LUL just commandeered your rich Aunt Maud’s house and shoved a booking hall through her kitchen and dining room 🙄 I may be wrong, but I thing the Moon Under Water pub occupies the building intended as the station which they had already built, having not foreseen the Cashiobury folk saying “s*d off” 😂 Fantastic ending. Just made me laugh and laugh. Like a “who’s who” of splendid railway what if/what was discovery documentary types 😎🍾 I love that you got them all to join in like that 🍻 Thanks again Geoff, always a great watch 👍🍀

[@tardismole]

LOL Absolutely excellent crossover at the end. Too many laughs to count. Brilliant editing, to boot.

[@peterpool8723]

I grew up in Croxley and used the line quite often, either into town or occasionally to get to my Aunt's in St Alban's, changing at the Junction. What you didn't mention Geoff was that back when the Bakerloo came out as far as Watford there were one or two tube trains each day that served Croxley Green.

[@christianfischer9971]

Thanks for sharing. Croxley Green has such a rich history. Over three million children escaped from London by train on the first few days of September 1939, known as Operation Pied Piper.

[@barcancelN2]

It’s like the huge crossover event was Geoff’s way of making up for the fact that the Metropolitan line extension will not be happening

[@librarian16]

There was a spell when a half hourly service was tried. I went on one of these trains and got off at Croxley Green with about six other people. Nobody left the station and we all got back on again and went to Watford Junction.

[@geofftech2]

ha! what year was that? i bet that didn't last long ...

[@librarian16]

@@geofftech2 You do ask awkward questions. :-) I can't remember exactly, but it must have been some time in the 1980s. I was told once that the biggest paying flow of passengers was FROM Watford Junction carrying men going to work at Sun Printers (nothing to do with the Sun paper). Until the late 1950s they printed many magazines.

[@davidioanhedges]

So nice to see you do my old nearest station - Croxley Green - My dad used to commute to London from there

[@simonthebailey]

Brilliant stuff Geoff. Really enjoyed the series, thank you.

[@George5210]

Croxley Rail Link forever in our hearts 😢

[@Clivestravelandtrains]

There was also a maintenence depot/stabling point served from the Croxley Green branch, which was closed in 1985 or thereabouts. For some years, Bakerloo line trains were stabled there overnight having worked to Watford Junction.

[@meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee2]

Trains on the DC would sometimes stop on the Bushey Curves where Colne Junction used to be. Doors would open and close (501 slam door stock) allowing members of staff for the shed to jump out of the train, and disappear down a path running along the track bed of the southern angle of the triangle.

[@Mortimer50145]

Ah, you're doing the Ebury Way too. That brings back memories of going for a walk along it back in the 1990s to trace where the railway had gone. It wasn't a properly way-marked path in those days. I suddenly realised that it was getting dark - you don't notice it when you're out in it and it creeps up on you ;-) I had to find my way back to my car which was somewhere near the junction with the Coxley Green branch - but it was dark and I couldn't see where I was going. I kept stumbling over brambles, so trying to make my way along an unlit "obstacle course" was not a good idea. Following moving lights (cars, I presumed) I eventually made my way to a bridge over the track, and from there I had to try and navigate along the roads to my car... but I didn't know the name of the road where I'd parked so I couldn't ask a passer-by "how do I get to X Street". Somehow I managed it (I seem to have a fairly good innate sense of direction) but I felt an utter berk for getting caught out by dusk which happened the same time as it had the previous night so I shouldn't have been surprised by it.

[@superlynx98]

Geoff! I'm a Watford local who does sometimes walk along the railway! Last week I saw a man and two kids doing some work on the bit of the line you mentioned liked well maintained. Wish I could have said hello while you were in the area!!!

[@geofftech2]

good local info thanks Adam! it definetely looks like someone is stopping it from completely growing over, doesn't it?

[@timothynixon9437]

You should walk the Ebury Way to Rickmansworth, there is the bridge over the Grand Union that still has the imprint of the old rails.

[@cell172]

I'm in the process of walking all the Underground lines and ended up on Ebury Way when going from Croxley to Moor Park. I had no idea it was an old train line. Very cool.

[@melvynbuckton6881]

The rumble of trains mentioned at the end in riverside park is not the metropolitan line which is miles away but the North London line just behind the trees across the road.