The Classic Croxley Tube Station - Only Unconnect

We're ticking off another 'tick only' station on the Tube Map, as we visit Croxley out in Zone 7 on the Metropolitan Line.
In 'Only Unconnect', I'm visiting some of my favourite station on the Tube Map again, this time with the theme of not being connected to any other lines, and appear with just a station 'tick' on the map - not a connector blog, they're unconnedcted, hence ... Only Unconnect!
Download the Only Unconnect map here: geofftech.co.uk/downloads.html

[@ciaranreed91]

As someone who used to commute out of Croxley (now out of Chorleywood) those random seats under the bridge used to be very good on rainy days when trains were delayed. The other seats and waiting room would get busy quickly. They are a good and (mostly) dry space for those who were regulars.

[@SampleTracks2224]

And now all those waiting rooms are shut, due to the pandemic. I mean the pandemic isn't happening any more, but *what* an excuse!

[@simonacott7583]

A fantastically niche fun fact

[@andrewrowley]

Those seats on the southbound platform are popular as that end of the train is emptier due to the entrance at the only previous station, Watford, being at the other end of the train. Watch out for the rat that lives in the hole in the wall though behind that seat. Oh, and the perching pigeons that poop from the bridge above your head.

[@robharris5245]

@@SampleTracks2224 back in the early 90s we would shut the waiting rooms at about 1900hrs to prevent vandalism. There would be no one going south that time of the evening particularly in the winter The same reason the toilets on the platform were closed.

[@cambridgemart2075]

Hello from an ex-Chorleywood resident and commuter.

[@alastairwood1745]

The Met line in Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire is my favourite part of the network, thanks for making this video Geoff

[@andrewhead6267]

I remember when (1979) Croxley had a signal box and a goods yard. The last place to have regular steam trains to the civil engineers trains tip. Watford Met had water cranes until 1972 to supply the steam engines. Croxley isa great station in the ultimate Met land suburb

[@tomasdionnet812]

I dunno if this might help, but J,E & S Spencer is a company that appear in some pieces of infraestructure in argentinian railways. Like lamps, posts and pillons. So they would have probably specialised in railway related infraestructure perhaps?

[@johnrafferty8087]

Had an unexpected visit to Croxley. Was on my way to Watford. Left Croxly. Got as far as the signal before the canal bridge then there was a signal failure so returned Wrong Road. Nice Chippy there.

[@VickersDoorter]

I regularly used this station in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Sad to see it unstaffed and looking a little forlorn some 50 years later.

[@UKInkSupplies]

I use the station on a regular basis and it is usually staffed, other than when they are on breaks.

[@Buckstom]

Croxley along with other stations that were outside of the zones at the time such as Rickmansworth, Chorleywood, Chalfont, Chesham etc were fitted with UTS gates in mid 90's which is when I suspect the staircase entrance from the car park was closed. All those stations needed some rebuilding to make way for the gates which is why they were fitted much later than the rest. As an example Chalfont and Latimer had the old staff accomodation block and Station foreman's office demolished to all the gates to be installed.

[@laurenbarker5840]

I grew up in Croxley so great to see it featured! Used to love the green paint

[@bonetiredtoo]

I "like" the idea that there are disabled spots in the car park whilst the station is decidedly unfriendly to mobility impaired!

[@bonetiredtoo]

@@HampsteadOwl Unfortunately for you I am one of those who need those spots. Just saying.

[@OneTrackMinded]

This is a good mix of the usual style and the new voiceover style. Really liking it.

[@MattDavis_BeechingsGhosts]

Add Graces Guide to your bookmarks - in an instant, they tell me J&E Spencer were located at 14 Great St. Thomas Apostle, and 29 Garlick Hill, London, EC- Iron Merchants and Tube Manufacturers, the London branch of John Spencer Ltd. FYI, Croxley was meant to be step free as part of the Met Line extension (aka Croxley Rail Link) which would have seen Watford close. You could do a whole video on that...

[@stevieinselby]

Those old lamps on the platform are gorgeous!

[@darynvoss7883]

Nice one, chief. If you ever run out of these Tick Only stations, maybe you can do a series on Lines That Cross But Don't Connect. e.g, Sutton Loop Line and Northern Line. The Goblin and the Central Line. This kind of thing can be annoying.

[@avgeek707]

Missed Connections, perhaps? That's a great video series idea for when he gets done with this one.

[@davidrobert2007]

"Please do not sit on the badly neglected flower beds 😊"

[@andrewwaller5913]

With no flowers😂

[@jakecoare]

Happy new year Geoff! As someone who loves trains and the London Underground I want to thank you for all the amazing and informative videos you make! As someone who has autism you videos open my eyes to something new about trains and railways which I love so very much! Thank you Geoff

[@AllensTrains]

You get the feeling that this type of early 20th Century station is more honest and true to its situation than the metal and glass palaces to be found on the Elizabeth Line! Thanks for uploading.

[@awild10]

Until recently I used to come here every six months or so on my way to visit a nearby data centre which was a 20min walk away over Croxley Common Moor. Last time I came here the barriers were closed and the station was staffed but I'm guessing those low passenger numbers don't justify it outside of peak hours.

[@Extreme_Rice]

I used to work on the Croxley Business Park some of the time, and for a while my then-employer provided a shuttle bus from Croxley station. I’m guessing a lot more people commute *from* that station than *to* it though.

[@rogercolaris8175]

nice video. This is where my mother grew up. her uncle tom and aunt eid were further down the line in watford. Thanks for the look. I think the last and only time i was there is 1984. cheers thanks again.

[@user-if2fg2mw9w]

Geoff, every single week day morning and afternoon swarms of people from my school stand at all the places you said no one stands. If you stand at the bottom, you will get pigeon poo all over you.

[@Zharkov1969A]

The two-seat bench on the southbound-platform is where you’d be if you wanted to head all the way to Baker Street.

[@aaronbrown4390]

Happy new year Geoff, this version i feel works well with you more on screen time. Thanks can't wait for the next one

[@jayisyaps4112]

Back in the 80s I worked on Croxley industrial estate and used the station regularly, plus an old friend of mine worked at the ticket office for many years

[@fToo]

Alas poor Croxley, I knew it before it was so run down!

[@londonerwalks]

I think you should do another series on the most neglected underground stations. Croxley would definitely be included.

[@SampleTracks2224]

Agreed. It looks like a tired, under-invested dump. Ring any bells?

[@Zharkov1969A]

@@SampleTracks2224 the UK in general you mean?

[@jonistan9268]

Situations like the one with the blocked off entrance from the car park are the reason why I really dislike ticket barriers. They make entrances/exits expensive which means that there probably will be fewer of them.

[@MsLancer99]

I never knew that Croxley existed until now Thanks Geoff

[@robertreiske2293]

Loving those well composed and athmospheric Wes Anderson like shots 🎥 Makes your videos stand out from other public transport related channels. Great filming, Geoff

[@xeridon539]

Geoff - I was thinking the other day of a potential new series you could make. Similar to arguably your most famous work of Secrets of the Underground lines, but perhaps Secrets of the London terminal stations, e.g. Waterloo, Euston, Liverpool Street etc. Could give some tips which only commuters know about to generally make our lives a little easier/more interesting.

[@Zharkov1969A]

Croxley is well worth a visit as there are two excellent and award-winning café’s close to the station: Perch & Co; and The Kitchen. Not only that but there is a pub next door and it’s a five minute walk from woodlands, Croxley Moor, and a canal side walk.

[@therealcaldini]

As a watcher of your videos and irregular user of Croxley, I have of course stood at all ends of the platforms and used the seats at the end of the platform. In fact, if you want to get to the front of the train (which helps with changing to the Jubilee at Finchley Rd and alighting at the correct end of the platform at Westminster) those two seats are a nice place to sit.

[@johnmurray8428]

Last month in London I used Preston Road on the Metropolitan Line. I had never heard of it until I went to see a friend who lives close by.

[@davidemmott6225]

There used to be a Preston Road on the Northern Line (of Merseyrail) until its name was changed to the more accurate Rice Lane.

[@davidioanhedges]

That's my old Local station ! I know it very well, my family still live nearby

[@HenrysAdventures]

Good to see one of my more local stations. Happy New Year!

[@mjc8281]

Brings memories back for me, I used to travel from Amersham to Croxley every day for school as a teenager, managed it for a full school year.

[@srpacific]

As it happens I just put a deposit on a house in Croxley Green - today! - so this’ll be a familiar sight for me in the weeks to come. Thanks Geoff!

[@shitvideoquality4856]

Loving this series Geoff! Happy new year! It feels like yesterday when you came here to did the north curve video, how fast time flies…

[@ruthorgan5902]

Happy new year Geoff. I'm loving this series and your general content. Keep up the great work.

[@ianhalsall-fox]

One of several very handy Tube together with Elizabeth Line stations that are close to moorings along the Grand Union canal and Paddington Arm.

[@PetertheRock.]

Well done Geoff! I did Croxley station a few weeks ago, and saw similar things of course. But maybe my style was different. Great that KZbin watchers have a choice of us artists! Ho ho!

[@DavidKnowles0]

So what this video show is for a investment of a couple of gate barriers and neccessary cabling, a ramp, an removal of some fencing, TFL could make at least one side of this station step free access.

[@paulneave2041]

Nice to see Croxley again. I lived there in the late 90s and commuted to Moorgate every day on the Met.

[@michaelgwrtrainspotter]

Geoff! Love your videos just thought of a new least used series, maybe you could do the least used station in each underground zone (1-9)

[@trevorelliston1]

The car park was probably a goods yard at one time.

[@LUtrainwizard]

Happy New Year Geoff! I'm really loving this series. I think you've hit a good balance between voice over and on-camera explanations.

[@Twigs86]

Happy New Year Geoff!! Loving the new series 😊

[@carolinetv5112]

Used it quite a lot when Tottenham Hotspur played at Wembley. Because of the large car park compared to Watford Met.

[@alloallie]

Love this new format, Geoff ! 😊

[@framedman]

Loved this one, Geoff. I think you took on the comments on your post and have made these heaps better.

[@roderickmain9697]

There is a feel to Croxley which comes through your video that its like a heritage railway station. They've tried to "modernise" without modernising - ie putting in a barrier to divide a set of stairs, which allows you to see the past and wonder how it used to be. Interesting that it was green paint under the metropolitan maroon. Maybe that dates from before Underground lines had a colour significance?

[@timwillett7802]

Nailed the format Geoff! 👍🏻

[@williamwildcat]

Great work in this one Geoff!

[@d947]

I love this series!

[@user-iv9ql5jr1e]

❤❤ your videos are the best, Geoff. Happy New Year

[@simonhorn1745]

Very useful cone on that bus stop..the local town crier gets its ladders climbs up and shouts through....Geoffffffffff Marshalllllll. A great day for the squirrel and people of Croxley. Great as per Geoff

[@joermnyc]

Woodside station on the 7 line has a double line of beautiful lamps at the western uncovered end of both island platforms in a nice light green color. (It’s not an unconnected stop though, as the LIRR has a station directly underneath it.)

[@user-mn4cc6bb7t]

As an unabashed provincial type who hasn't travelled by rail for years but enjoys Geoff's videos, I had a quiet chuckle to myself when Croxley's 0.81 million annual passenger numbers (presumably entries and exits) classified it as a less well used station. That is 2,200 per day on average. Having looked at the statistics for mainline stations outside the south-east of England, that usage puts it on a par with Poole, Scarborough, Ayr and the combined totals for Burnley or Dunfermline.

[@sethharvey1073]

Ever thought about visiting the Mid-Norfolk Heritage Railway running between Dereham-Wymondham. Runs odd services using perserved trains, electric pacers, steam, and old GA slamdoors. Proper old school, my neck of the woods.

[@hendrikharryg]

Nice Video, Geoff. Looking forward to seeing more of these stations. Also, thanks for reconsidering your direction for this series. The pre VO and station footage definitely did not work for me.

[@PeterTorr]

Happy New Year Geoff!! Great vid as usual! 😊

[@wteff8586]

Another great video in this very cool series! Nice to get a good look at these less acknowledged stations as an international viewer too :)

[@peteking8063]

As part of the widespread ticket office closures, TFL promised that every station would be staffed from first train to last train. Absence of staff, especially at quieter stations, seems to be happening more nowadays.

[@dereham1]

Great series, Geoff!

[@MrGreatplum]

Looks like a lovely suburban station that’s a bit down on its luck - hopefully someone can take good care of it!

[@ajs41]

I was there on Friday 5th January (2024), doing part of a tube challenge attempt (a segment), and the station was manned and the toilets were open. That was at about 8:20pm.

[@Nayson]

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been on the Amersham branch, never seen Croxley before despite passing the junction for it hundreds if not thousands of times. Cool video. 👍

[@TheYorkshireTrainspotter]

Thanks Geoff, really interesting video and I much prefer this format!

[@jonathanfletcher1958]

Another great video, thank you.

[@robharris5245]

I nver thought that i would ever see Croxley stn on KZbin as i worked there for two years, back in the early 90s. There didnt use to be a grill at the bottom of the stairs. It was in my day a solid wooden partition,

[@johna5635]

'Standing at the far end of that Croxley Platform makes a lot of sense as the Watford exit is at that end of the train. Conversely, when I get on a train from Watford to Croxley I find myself walking right along the train to get to the exit at Croxley!

[@lawrencespinelli7850]

Another great series from the "Tube Master'!!

[@barrowc]

Great video, Geoff! The 1915 Post Office London Directory has Spencer J. E. & S. at 16 & 33 Dowgate hill EC and they are listed as being tubemakers. Spencer John Ltd is also listed at the same address

[@adrianlyons6831]

Could have mentioned, along with the Croxley Link, the direct route to Rickmansworth, not show on the TFL map but still used at least once a day for a service between Watford and Rickmansworth. A real rarity!❤

[@jeremybuck1818]

Geoff has done a complete video about this link...

[@PokhrajRoy.]

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Have a great 2024 and here’s to more Binauguration, car parks, allotments, sliding down station floors and dot matrix displays.

[@StudioGuillemCalvo]

Shame to have missed you at Croxley! Love your videos always, but I must say as much as Croxley station isn’t in its best state is not as bad as you have painted (or unpainted!) The waiting room is open mostly and the benches are all quite useful. People do walk to the end of the platform as the last stop watford has the exit on that side. Anyway, with a nice paint job I believe Croxley is a charming station

[@GUNNERS_GOAT]

Hi Geoff, I’ve always been a fan of you. I have already visited 160 station, stepping onto the platform and it’s nothing like the tube challenge. My favourite station is Baker Street.

[@FC-Mobile-Highlights]

Loving it geoff

[@Sim0nTrains]

CAR PARK!!!! Sadly I don't have my car-d for this one, Did visit Croxley once to capture a 1960 Tube Stock on a test train but never been to Watford! Great video Geoff and happy new year

[@Ro99]

I like how you alternate between just shots of the station and voiceover but also seeing your face and hearing you talk in the shot with the slight amount of background noise. Much better than just scenic shots in my opinion. Here because it’s Geoff as much as I’m here to see the station

[@davidsixtwo]

This reminds me of stations on the NYC subway in Brooklyn

[@librarian16]

A silly thing about the station names is that Croxley is much nearer to the Green than Croxley Green station was.

[@quintuscrinis8032]

Didn't realise there was an actual Green? Although Green and Park are often used to show it's a fair walk from the station to the actual town/village. Up a long hill here right?

[@librarian16]

@quintuscrinis8032 It was a long uphill walk from Croxley Green Station as far as Croxley Station but almost level from there on.

[@SoutheasternTracks]

loving it

[@charlotteoleary196]

I use those seats! When it's raining and you want to be at the end of the train (it can get busy in rush hour), or when you get off the train and need to stop and readjust your bag and take off your mask. They are used a lot although now you've pointed it out I see why they look weird. That schlep up the steps and back down again is a right ball-ache though. I am fairly sure in the 1980s we used to be able to walk straight onto the platform then those pesky barriers got fitted early 90s.

[@andrewwisker6918]

Happy New Year Geoff great vlog 😀😀😀

[@badbob1982]

Don’t sit on the sleepers, because if they are actual railway sleepers (as is often the case with older features on stations), then they will likely leach Creosote which will ruin your clothes (and is carcinogenic). Sleepers you would buy from the garden centre are pressure treated and not with creosote, as old railway sleepers were (new railway sleepers are still treated with stuff you don’t want on your clothes, just not creosote).

[@joshuaa_77]

I took a piss on that station platform recently

[@Busesincroydon]

Nice Video Geoff, Keep it up!

[@sianwarwick633]

Great. Zone 7 step on, and courtesy seats. Reminds me of late 60s neo-realist filmmaking. Need b/w. Thanks Geoff

[@JeekayTenn]

1:47 reminds me of walking to the end of Eastcote station and seeing the model Owl no one talks about

[@elainemulberryrat5300]

Nice video. Happy New Year.

[@AchyutChaudhary]

*Happy New Year Geoff! 🥳*

[@memofromessex]

Thanks. I enjoyed that.

[@TheNeverred1]

Happy New Year Geoff. Not exactly Croxley (7/270) related but this video followed one from a failed attempt to capture all 272 stations in a day. A young lad and his father nearly made it in 19 hours. His channel is TUBETRAINBOY. This got me thinking if you have done this challenge? I'm sure you have done the 270 way back in your Londonist days or maybe on TV on On The Tube. With your extensive knowledge of the network maybe it's time to set a new record!

[@robinbeckford]

Brought up in Croxley, I used that station sixty years ago. It doesn't seem to have changed much.

[@jtb52]

Happy New Year.

[@happyfrenchfries]

Happy new year Geoff! :D

[@AFCManUk]

Happy New Year, Geoff! They really missed a trick by not reopening the Croxley Link. Would have increased traffic there by quite a large amount.

[@ClydebridgeStation]

Agreed, though it would raise the question of the future of the Watford (Met) station, located on Cassiobury Park.

[@rjjcms1]

I would like to see the Croxley Rail Link happen and Watford Met station kept.

[@srpacific]

Where Cassiobridge station would be is being built up quite a bit now, I would bet that the Croxley Link might come in to play at some point in the next 5-10 years

[@obifox6356]

What and where is Crowley Rail Link?

[@rjjcms1]

@@obifox6356It's on the Aleister Crowley branch line. Leads to some dark places.

[@kennyangel]

You should go and have a pint (or tea) at every station at the closest pub to that very station. That tells you more about and area than anything!

[@MrJohnnyeagle]

A few years ago I had a nice roast in the pub just outside the station. Very good place if you fancy a bite to eat and a drink

[@oliverstemp9132]

You could technically walk directly from the car park to the platform at Chalfont & Latimer and Chorleywood as well.

[@David_Avidmind]

Possibly, 'John Spencer, iron master, of Phoenix House, West Bromwich.' Father of Sir J.E.S Spencer, politician. (A lot of assuming from me based on wikipedia information) It seems the family had foundries all over the UK, so possibly had one in London, or were registered at companies house.