Rediscovering the Hatfield and St. Albans Railway

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A journey along the alignment of the former Hatfield and St. Albans railway (now occupied by the Alban Way cycle route), to see what remains and what there is to rediscover of this lost line.
CONTACT
[e-mail]
Credits:
- Photographs courtesy of www.disused-stations.org.uk
- Music: Beethoven, Violin Sonata No.5, 2nd Mvt.
Further Information concerning the railway:
- www.hertsmemories.org.uk/conte...
- www.hertsmemories.org.uk/conte...

[@johnsharp8632]

The Alban Way is clearly really appreciated by the people who live along its course. The manner in which they have maintained and enhanced the platforms is a delight.

[@michaelpilling9659]

What a wonderful journey. Whoever decided on turning the trackbed into a publc right of way and replaced all the bridges that needed to be replaced, thank you. You did a great job. A most superb film - thank you

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

Thanks. Filmed in September 2017 if I recall. I nice little jaunt and another sorry loss!

[@arthurreeder2474]

I played on this line with my cousins just after it closed. I was amazed at the shiny rails still in place and yet the trains wouldn't traverse it ever again. I walked the St. Albans end again 40 years later. Memories.

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

Thanks for your comment. I'm sure if had been alive at the time I'd have done the same!

[@angelsone-five7912]

Nice to see some recognizable remains along the old line and a bit of pride in what went before. Lovely.

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

Hazel Brooks Yes agreed. Though the line is gone it still at least provides a service.

[@johnmay2786]

This has bought memories flooding back from the '50s and '60s. I spent a good deal of my youth on or at the side of this line between Hill End Halt and Dellfield Halt near the Salvation Army works. We built camps in the undergrowth on the banks of the cuttings, wrote our names in chalk on the rails to see them offset printed along the track from the occasional N7 tank loco running past. The most exciting thing we did, rather foolishly, was to get under the overhang of the platform at Dellfield Halt as one of the aforementioned N7 locos went slowly by, the heat from it was more than we expected! Another friend of mine lived next to the line and the bottom of their garden was littered with thousands of flowerpot pieces due to someone setting the points to a siding that terminated with a buffer beam, which didn't stop 60 tons plus of N7 and some wagons going very slowly through the fence and ploughing into the greenhouse in the garden.

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

Thank you for sharing those wonderfully evocative memories!

[@kesterdeoliveira2200]

I wish the rail connection was still there. I used to live in Stevenage and the bus journey to St Albans takes forever!

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

Buses rarely seem like a good answer to such situations. They're usually promoted by people who don't have to use them.

[@neildahlgaard-sigsworth3819]

Rediscovering Lost Railways buses serve more stops than the railways ever did or ever will, so journey times wil be longer. They are a solution to the movement of larger numbers of people. I support the use of buses AND use then for work and leisure trabel whenever possible. Buses also tend to go closer to the places passengers want to go; my neareast railway station is anout 4 miles from my home, the bus stop 300 yards.

[@neildahlgaard-sigsworth3819]

Kester Gillard that'll be because between Stevenage and St Albans there are more than 11 stops on the bus route, which will mean a slower journey time (yes I have taken a bus from Stevenage to St Albans) having first travelled by train to Stevenage, changing in Peterbough for the stopping train. It took longer to get from Peterbough to Stevenage than it did to get to Peterborough due to having to stop every five minutes; but that's the joy of travelling on public transport.

[@tonyfranklin8306]

@@neildahlgaard-sigsworth3819 You can cycle from centre of Stevenage to centre of St.Albans in an hour, quicker than the bus and not much longer than the car at rush hour.

[@johnmay2786]

Thank you so much for this, what a flood of memories this has stirred up. In my youth I spent a fair amount of time on or near this line, especially by Ashley Road bridge, making camps in the bushes on the embankment, writing my name in chalk on the rail and seeing it repeated after the slow goods train had passed. My friend and I thought it would be a good idea to crouch under the platform overhang at Dellfields Halt as a slow moving loco passed, we were surprised by the tremendous heat and giggled nervously/excitedly during it's passing!

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

Great memories! Thanks for sharing. Very glad this film helped to bring them back.

[@TheWellington2006]

I noticed the old bridge whilst driving up the A1M,I wasn't aware of the railway prior to this, so this video was great to watch and get an idea of how it was.

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

Thank you - glad you enjoyed the film!

[@barrythedieselelectricstea5217]

nice to see so many stations still exist on the line part of heritage still remains 👍

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

Yes, they've done a lovely job of celebrating the router's heritage!

[@stephenharper9961]

Thank you for sharing this video and to the volunteers who give up their time to make sure the stations looked after if not overgrown on salvation army halt

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

Stephen Harper Glad you enjoyed the film. It was undoubtedly a lovely line in its day.

[@stephenpegum9776]

As someone who lives in N London & who previously worked in Harfield, this is all very familiar territory to me. Great content as always.

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@HenrysAdventures]

Another great video! I walked this one in the opposite direction a few years ago! I don't remember there being station signs present. I love how they've restored Nast Hyde Halt.

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

It's a real gem isn't it! I can imagine this would be a useful commuter line today, but it's a lovely cycleway as it is!

[@HenrysAdventures]

@@RediscoveringLostRailways I remember when they were taking about converting the Abbey Line into a tramway there was talk of this becoming a tramway to!

[@soundnicetome]

Used to visit this old station,prior to its sale into private hands in the 70`s Like all of these beautiful stations on so many abandoned railway lines...so sad to see our heritage going back then. Another masterpiece video...so enjoyable to watch,many thanks once again.

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

Thanks again for your kind words about my films. You'll be pleased to know that I've just about completed the research on my next film and that I hope to start recording in the next week or so. I've gone for something that has been long since lost to the plough and is quite rural. I hope you enjoy it when it is uploaded. Thanks again.

[@royruns6175]

Brilliant, I just ran along this line last Sunday. Nice to learn more about it and see the historic footage. Thank you!

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

Roy Runs Thanks for the comment. It's great that this line has had an afterlife of sorts; so many just fade to nothing.

[@royruns6175]

The only one I knew so far is in London, between Finsbury Park and Alexandra Palace. It is like a long Park, you won't think you are in a city like London when you there. Love it.

[@nigelstringfellow5187]

Excellent video and lovely music..what more could anyone wish for.Thank You

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

Thank you very much for saying so. Do subscribe if you've not already done so and enjoy my other films in the series 🙂

[@FENCYCLIST]

Great video. Back in 1987 I walked the line with Roger D Taylor taking photos along the line, for a book he and Brian Anderson was writing about the line, it was published in 1988 by Oakwood press

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

The Oakwood Press series is undoubtedly my favourite - how wonderful to have been a part of that process!

[@FENCYCLIST]

@@RediscoveringLostRailways yes Roger D Taylor was born and lived in St Albans, then moved to Peterborough, he was the Head chef at the Thomas Cook head office during the 80s and I was the Directors chef/second chef, it was great to work with someone else who had a love of the railways.

[@daviddent8822]

Thank you for your reply it will I am sure be very well received, as the history of the line is of interest to many people. Happy to provide any info as I helped in a small way with Peter’s book, but I do realise that your videos are very much your own interpretation. David Dent

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

Many thanks for your offer - always glad to have someone to turn to!

[@railwaychristina3192]

Cycled this little gem!

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

It's a goodun!

[@zennor_man]

Excellent. Thanks for the upload.

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

Patrick Thank you! Do see my other films in the series.

[@kevinjones4559]

It's a great cycle Ebury Way, Alban Way and the line to Hertford and then down the Lea Navigation to Stratford

[@chrischibnall593]

Among the "other businesses" served by Salvation Army Halt, was the famous "Sanders Orchids".

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

Thanks for the information!

[@chrischibnall593]

@@RediscoveringLostRailways You are very welcome. There are a couple of streets in the vicinity of Salvation Army Halt that are named after orchids, namely Lycaste Close, and Vanda Crescent (the street sign for the latter is invariably altered by some wit with a felt pen to read "VANDAL CRESCENT"!)

[@daviddent8822]

Commented before about possibly doing a video on the Hertford to Welwyn branch line and just wanted to update you that Peter Paye’s history of the line has just been published by Lightmoor Press. It is titled Hatfield to Hertford as the service ran from Hatfield from about 1860 until 1944. Further details can be found on Lightmoor’s website if anyone is interested.

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

Many thanks indeed for the update - I will make it this summer - it would be a pleasure!

[@chrismaybank1711]

Thanks. Excellent video.

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

My pleasure 🙂

[@johnjephcote7636]

12th March 1961 Branchline Society Special behind 4F 44675; my only traverse of the line. St.Pancras round trip via Rickmansworth Church Street, Watford Jct.,St.Albans Abbey and Hatfied. I had wondered what had become of the trackbed!

[@nickwass9700]

Lovely to see the area again. I remember this line when it was still operational for goods only, serviced by an occasional 08 diesel shunter. There was a scrapyard at Smallford (if my memory is correct). It had, intriguingly, the remains of a steam locomotive in there. My mate and and I got chased off when we went to investigate! What have they done to Hatfield station and the surrounding area? I haven't been back in decades and was quite shocked to see it looking as it does! I used to visit the signalman in one of the boxes there - won't be doing that again, ever.

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

Such a shame it's all gone!

[@andrewholloway231]

Thank you for uploading this video. I enjoyed it.

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

Thanks Andrew! A nice, straightforward one to make this time - no need for clambering through thorn bushes and stinging nettles in pursuit of lost railways on this occasion!

[@andrewholloway231]

You're welcome and good to know that you didn't have to clamber through thorn bushes and stinging nettles. I have walked part of the Ebury Way, a branch line that ran from Watford to Rickmansworth Church Street.

[@tango6nf477]

Hi. I've just started to watch your videos once again from the beginning everyday hoping for a new one, I hope there is one due soon, please................?

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

I hope you find them rewarding the second time around. I am, at present, editing together my latest film concerning the fascinating Southwold Railway...not long now!

[@philhomes233]

I walked this line in the 70s, towards London Road it was rather overgrown (to say the least !) and took rather a long time to get through !!.

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

Thanks for your comment - I have some experience of battling overgrown railway alignments, so I must say I'm glad I didn't have to do it this time! I just watched some archive footage of this line in 1968 - a very different scene indeed.

[@parrotyee]

@@RediscoveringLostRailways May I get the link to the archives? The Alban Way is a huge part of mine and my friends lives so it would be great to see its previous history and early use.

[@alanhamer52]

Fantastic video,I love cycling down Alban way and seeing the old platforms,I go with my son and we have looked into the history of the track all the way from St Alban's abbey station to Hatfield station,Thank you for sharing this video,Our next challenge is finding Napsbury station

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

Many thanks for your comment and kind words about my film

[@soepil]

Running through the suburbs, it seems strange that this line didn't survive. Well, it was not alone in getting closed. Great film, would love to walk or cycle this one day. :)

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

Yes, it is a lovely short ride - most enjoyable!

[@Nick-zp3ub]

Hatfield and st albans are just a few miles apart but if you want to go from one town to the other by train you need to go to London to change. There needs to be a new line connecting the two towns

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

Yes, it is a bit of a silly situation...

[@aaronking135]

You could do rediscovering the luton and dunstable railway

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

Aaron King I'm planning on going the whole thing from Hertford to Dunstable via Welwyn so watch this space!

[@davidharris6527]

@@RediscoveringLostRailways Have you done the Hertford to Leighton Buzzard line yet...... Cycled it many times when I was younger

[@dukeofaaghisle7324]

So unusual to see so many station platforms in such good condition. Often they were demolished soon after closure.

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

Yes agreed 👍

[@likklej8]

This is upsetting to see the nasty modernised Hatfield station. A Hatfield shedded loco usually a J50 would do the St Albans line.

[@Mishima505]

When I studied at Hatfield I used to cycle to St Albans along this route to see my then girlfriend. Sadly she wasn’t into trains like me...

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

Well, at least you could enjoy the journey and appreciate its historic qualities!

[@chrismccartney8668]

Would now be a useful feeder commuter station for around the area...

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

Yes, I believe it would too!

[@neildahlgaard-sigsworth3819]

Used to walk this line in my student days.

[@michaela.chmieloski3196]

Am a bit amazed by the artifacts decorating Nast Hyde Halt's station area. Were such thing done here in the United States, the thieves inhabiting our railfan community would abscond with such items at first opportunity.

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

There are a number of disused stations here in the UK that have be taken over by the community and similarly decorated. But never fear, the blight of theft and vandalism still occurs, so you're not alone!

[@MkVII]

The Lemsford Road bridge was removed after a double-decker bus tried to pass under it, and had the top ripped off.

[@stevewyman2822]

...I know this one....have walked it many times myself...

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

It is a fine example of making good use of a former railway!

[@parrotyee]

Do you have a drawn map with accurate measurements? I really want to re-create the route in Train Simulator with the Surveyor building mode.

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

I don't, but try the following: National Library of Scotland Map archive, there's a friends of the line group which might be in the description - have a look and get in touch with them. Let me know if you have any luck!

[@stephenbrasher]

Salvation Army Halt sounds like a religious statement and would certainly be in the running for best Railway Station name were it still open. :)

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

Yes! To me it sounds like an order!

[@stephenbrasher]

@@RediscoveringLostRailways Salvation Army Halt! This is where we are due to have our carol concert.

[@BernieHollandMusic]

Now you have seen this lovely video - you can go on Google Earth and obtain an aerial survey of the route in the present day - providing of course, you have Google Earth installed on your device - by the way what is the piano and violin duet ? It is very nice,

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

It's Beethoven spring sonata. Glad you enjoyed the film!

[@xr6lad]

Why did they demolish Abbey station if still used? Lovely charm.

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

Yes, it's a pretty drab new building by comparison!

[@DMWill65]

Please, Please, Please do the SMJR from Weedon Junc. to the GCR.

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

I will look into it right away (always looking for the next project!). In the mean time, part one of my journey along the GCR London Extension will be out next Saturday!

[@DMWill65]

Thanks. Love your videos :-)

[@prof.hectorholbrook4692]

Excellent photography; depressing music.

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

I've never heard this piece called depressing! But I'll take the compliment, thanks!

[@prof.hectorholbrook4692]

Nice. Shame about the wrist-slitting music.

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

Glad you liked the film - sorry you didn't like the music