Letchworth Garden City

[Skimpot flyer]

Just took a trip to Letchworth and had a look at the new flyover that is being built between there & the down slow at Hitchin. Does anyone know if the outer faces of the island platforms at [stn]LET[/stn] have ever had tracks? Seems odd that the station is laid out as it is, when a single island would have sufficed.

 

[Aictos]

Just took a trip to Letchworth and had a look at the new flyover that is being built between there & the down slow at Hitchin. Does anyone know if the outer faces of the island platforms at LGC have ever had tracks? Seems odd that the station is laid out as it is, when a single island would have sufficed.

Actually it's LET not LGC

As to your question although designed for 4 tracks though the station, it has never had tracks laid for the outer faces.

Much like Platform 1 at Hertford North is laid out as a island platform but the outer face has never seen track laid.

 

[trentside]

Thanks for providing an answer to that, it was something I intended to ask ages ago.

No doubt the extra platform faces were provided for demand that never materialised from the town itself.

 

[ntg]

Actually it's LET not LGC

As to your question although designed for 4 tracks though the station, it has never had tracks laid for the outer faces.

Much like Platform 1 at Hertford North is laid out as a island platform but the outer face has never seen track laid.

I thought that it once had been for the Hertford and Welwyn Junction Railway, and replace the former Hertford Cowbridge station on that line?

 

[Ediswan]

I thought that it once had been for the Hertford and Welwyn Junction Railway, and replace the former Hertford Cowbridge station on that line?

That line passed very close to the 'never used' platform at Hertford North, but not through it. Everything I have seen says that the platform in question never had any track. As I understand it, despite the impession that might be gained from old maps, Hertford North never was an interchange between the two line.

 

[Aictos]

Thanks for providing an answer to that, it was something I intended to ask ages ago.

No doubt the extra platform faces were provided for demand that never materialised from the town itself.

No worries, just happy I was helpful

That line passed very close to the 'never used' platform at Hertford North, but not through it. Everything I have seen says that the platform in question never had any track. As I understand it, despite the impession that might be gained from old maps, Hertford North never was an interchange between the two line.

The line in question in question used to run from Welwyn Garden City under the Hertford Loop at the point where the viaducts are south of Hertford North then run alongside the Up Yard before veering towards Hertford East at the point just past the existing relay room which is where Hertford North signalbox I think used to be.

In fact the abutments which supported the line towards Hertford East are still in place although obviously the bridge and track etc.. have all long gone.

If you look directly across the road from the station entrance, you will see one of the abutments, there's some old stairs towards the side from the car park leading onto the former trackbed up above where a mobile phone transmitter now resides on the former trackbed.

The line itself closed in the 1950s so can't really be blamed on Dr Beeching which is a shame as if the line was cut back but left in place between Welwyn Garden City and Hertford, it would have proven to be so useful in today's age and time.

 

[LE Greys]

The line in question in question used to run from Welwyn Garden City under the Hertford Loop at the point where the viaducts are south of Hertford North then run alongside the Up Yard before veering towards Hertford East at the point just past the existing relay room which is where Hertford North signalbox I think used to be.

In fact the abutments which supported the line towards Hertford East are still in place although obviously the bridge and track etc.. have all long gone.

If you look directly across the road from the station entrance, you will see one of the abutments, there's some old stairs towards the side from the car park leading onto the former trackbed up above where a mobile phone transmitter now resides on the former trackbed.

The line itself closed in the 1950s so can't really be blamed on Dr Beeching which is a shame as if the line was cut back but left in place between Welwyn Garden City and Hertford, it would have proven to be so useful in today's age and time.

It seems bizarre that BR closed this line at almost the same time that Stevenage New Town was under construction, part of a massive round of suburban development in the area. Silly idea.

 

[Ediswan]

In fact the abutments which supported the line towards Hertford East are still in place although obviously the bridge and track etc.. have all long gone.

Yes. There is also an original riveted bridge still carrying motor traffic to a car park at Hartham Common, over the Rive Lea and what is now a foot/cycle path.

If you look directly across the road from the station entrance, you will see one of the abutments, there's some old stairs towards the side from the car park leading onto the former trackbed up above where a mobile phone transmitter now resides on the former trackbed.

That is worth investigating, legally.

The line itself closed in the 1950s so can't really be blamed on Dr Beeching which is a shame as if the line was cut back but left in place between Welwyn Garden City and Hertford, it would have proven to be so useful in today's age and time.

I have seen 'grand plans' that suggest the same. So we can start the debate on where loops would be needed on the single track

 

[ntg]

That line passed very close to the 'never used' platform at Hertford North, but not through it. Everything I have seen says that the platform in question never had any track. As I understand it, despite the impession that might be gained from old maps, Hertford North never was an interchange between the two line.

Ah I see, thanks for clearing that up! It's rather strange that there was never a platform built there after they closed the older station, but I guess since the line was dying anyway there wouldn't have been demand.

I have seen 'grand plans' that suggest the same. So we can start the debate on where loops would be needed on the single track

Something to do with EWR? The whole line would have been of use as an ECML backup/alternative to doubling the viaduct and for providing a link to Stanstead. We would surely benefit to keeping such things in mind when making railway related decisions today. Leave the options open, you never know what will be needed in 50 years time...

 

[Bedpan]

Don't think that it would have lent itself to being a diversionary route to avboid Welwyn Viaduct as it ran on an west - east axis and did not join up with the Hertford loop - it was at a lower level as far as I can recall, whereas the Hertford loop itself runs south - north and in terms of the path it takes, forms an almost perfect diversionary route.

It (Welwyn - Hertford East line) could have provided a link to Stansted from North London, with a new west - north chord at Broxbourne Junction, although I'm not sure of what practical use it would have been.

 

[Ediswan]

Ah I see, thanks for clearing that up! It's rather strange that there was never a platform built there after they closed the older station, but I guess since the line was dying anyway there wouldn't have been demand.

The best information I found was in this book:
https://www.middletonpress.co.uk/books/railways/branch-lines/branch-lines-around-hertford.html

No connection, just a customer.

 

[Eagle]

It (Welwyn - Hertford East line) could have provided a link to Stansted from North London, with a new west - north chord at Broxbourne Junction, although I'm not sure of what practical use it would have been.

Particularly being as Stansted Airport didn't open until 1991, 24 years after the line had been completely dismantled (and 40 years since the last passenger service).

(Image from Disused Stations)

 

[Bedpan]

Particularly being as Stansted Airport didn't open until 1991, 24 years after the line had been completely dismantled (and 40 years since the last passenger service).

(Image from Disused Stations)

Apologies, meant to put that in the present tense, ie "not sure what practical use it would be". However the airport has been there for many years prior to the major expansion resulting in the new terminal which was opened in 1991, quadrupling the airport's capacity. I remember seeing signs for it when going along the A120 when on the way to visit my grandparents in Suffolk.

 

[Ediswan]

(Ignore the earlier version of this if you saw it.)

I take back what I said before. Trains from Welwyn did terminate at the current Hertford North after Cowbridge closed to passengers. So it was an interchange between the two lines.

What was confusing me was the map in the Middleton Press book showing no track for that. I had missed the clue in the text '...shows the work incomplete'. In a photo I can just make out the track making the required connection.

 

[Aictos]

Thing is so many people wanting Hatfield end up at Hertford, don't know why but it happens...

Even if a class 153 was used to shuttle between Welwyn Garden City and Hertford, it would be faster then the 724 bus!