branch branch short single track railway branch line england london runs entirely ground owned operated london underground runs junction metropolitan line route runs miles northwest station terminus westernmost northernmost point london underground network line built scheme turn metropolitan railway direct rail route london manchester envisaged station outside intermediate stop route running north connect london deteriorating relations led instead expanding northwest scheme connect abandoned time land needed section line far bought time significant town near new route decided build route far complete connection future date proved desirable local residents unhappy proposed station site outside public subscription raised necessary additional funds extend railway centre town branch opened terminus construction line underway metropolitan railway expanding northwest extension opened line branch line trains operating shuttle service connecting main line trains london opening great central railway connection london manchester highly successful metro land campaign encouraging rural areas served railway led increase traffic area branch affected development areas served railway metropolitan railway taken public ownership metropolitan line london underground london underground aimed concentrate core business passenger transport london saw rural freight lines expensive day day operation branch transferred london retained control line electrified operated trains 1970s 1980s decaying infrastructure withdrawal subsidies brought future line doubt acts paid replacement bridges line allowing operations continue centenary line saw renewal interest upgrading trains london station practical usage line introduction led replacement shuttle service half hourly trains london background english county rise sharply cross county northeast southwest fertile soil good drainage provides ideal conditions farming steep hills historically travelling difficult settlements developed roads existed poor quality county town immediately north miles important agricultural centre london grew significance provider food increased particularly following development duck 18th century large numbers horses cattle ducks roads london huge livestock market strain placed roads bulk livestock movements led introduction network high quality toll roads area 18th century roads crossing followed valley roads greatly improved travel area reducing journey time oxford london single day grand junction canal canal built connecting london canal followed course included branch time coal industrial products northern england london supplied grain timber farms easily shipped market route taken ran east county leaving towns southern isolated london birmingham railway opened paralleled route canal short railway linked london birmingham railway rest central remained unconnected railway canal networks early railway schemes market town historically important manufacturing centre town held flour mills paper mills silk mill town inhabitants recognised master manufacturers local economy suffered badly lack connections new transport networks 1840s coal cost times buy buy took hours passengers travel road convenient railway station height railway bubble 1880s numerous schemes forward railways significant scheme railway bypassing london connect railways entering london north west south route pass scheme abandoned proposal railway entrepreneur member parliament buckingham railway line miles 1st baron railway opened proposed extensions failed attract funding abandoned scheme north london promoted railway link great northern railway station station run terminate cost earthworks necessary reach southern stage proposal abandoned line eventually opened section completed trains terminated nearby heath park halt passengers complete journey horse horse drawn bus proposed run streets proposal abandoned owing lack funds opposition operators toll roads schemes railway station opened railway station connecting london industrial lancashire railways banned parliamentary commission operating london station built northern boundary city main line termini north london soon followed street built outside built area city making reach proposed idea underground railway connecting relatively distant london main line rail termini promote scheme commissioned traffic survey determining day walked travelled travelled private carriages parliamentary commission backed pearson proposal schemes despite concerns vibrations causing nearby buildings problems thousands people homes destroyed digging tunnel fears accidentally break hell construction began new railway built beneath existing running great western railway terminus meat market january line opened metropolitan railway world underground passenger railway successful grew steadily extending services acquiring local railways areas north west london appointed metropolitan railway chairman director railway companies vision string railway companies create single route running manchester london intended france entered negotiations control buckingham railway section railway running north buckingham planned extend north london join existing lines create direct route london north england proposed extend short rail branch ran buckingham railway small town known southwest oxford create route london oxford rail services oxford london time poor extremely roundabout route scheme completed formed shortest route london oxford buckingham duke buckingham chairman buckingham railway owner enthusiastic scheme sought parliament parliament share enthusiasm duke rejected obtain consent extend roughly miles northwest london extension opened line extended time small town population generate passenger traffic new station horse bus service opened september junction scheme continued harbour ambitions linking railway companies north south england construction extension underway planned possible routes north proposal envisaged taking reaching agreement buckingham railway building link running line north close relations shared station felt possible reach agreement instead cooperate anticipation refusing cooperate tentative agreement reached london good terms build route connect mainline scheme provide alternative route london necessary providing long sought connection north land required intermediate station near line site outside purchased agreement reached costs building line shared equally return having running rights act parliament extension obtained act parliament granted membership board changed abandoned support extension time bought land required section route extension scheme relations deteriorating turned attention proposal link negotiations broken seized opportunity agree running rights route north taking line completely work began extension route abandoned land needed section south bought population significant town area building decided build section line branch line despite longer proposed route north planned route passed east proposed site station southwest town extension abandoned continued buy land years anticipation scheme revived work begun station including completion station hotel pub population unhappy station built distance town extension meet abandoned railway longer needed curve away town public subscription raised fund chain extension site near town centre construction branch began late construction opening extensions designed built contractor follow valley convenient route route intentionally built higher ground reduce steep climb rose steadily station road station renamed near line split line total length miles chains single track branch ran alongside line short distance curving slope gradient chalk railway cutting build embankment bring railway town centre beds proved problematic cost line exceeded estimate additional costs incurred laying temporary track early allow directors trial trip route demonstration train comprising carriages locomotives ran newly completed line carrying subscribers funded extension representatives local authorities covering areas new line ran metropolitan railway train run finished line train drawn locomotives belonging contractors built line engines engine ran ahead demonstration train act pilot second train carried directors metropolitan railway london collected passengers ridden demonstration train continued line formally approved opening requested local authorities celebrate event public interest high schools closed day large crowds gathered station line banner reading long looked come hung station train pulled greeted celebratory gunfire drew town band station played conquering hero comes party newly built goods depot decorated hall occasion opening ceremony conducted outside local railway group entered goods depot celebratory meal gave speech desire years earlier mainline railway built route taken metropolitan railway joked hoped easy access london lead rural nature area displaced sudden influx spoke desire connection northwards completed line formally inspected july official service line left london baker street july day large crowds station watch trains arrival departure train greeted bells course day passengers travelled line line week operations following opening line trains weekday ran direction intervals hour initial trains drawn class locomotives trains stopped stations fast trains morning ran baker street taking minutes start finish sundays trains ran hourly intervals trains day ran hour gap services morning allow railway staff attend church opening railway dramatically ended isolation london possible time affordable seaside resorts south east coasts products area industries farms time shipped markets london london newspapers arrived morning time delivery stations station road built facilities london bound platform largest nearby settlement tracks passengers travelling station obliged lengthy single exit tracks added approach road giving access station southern railway line built station platforms platform direction london line bay platform alongside platform trains run loop built allow locomotives reversing bay platform trains built outside station meaning locomotives reversing line obliged push trains station performing manoeuvre station renamed station signage inconsistent absorption signs read simply increased passenger numbers strained station minimal facilities eventually redeveloped extended shelters improved waiting rooms platforms extended electrification works metropolitan railway act given permission extend line connect terminus line station designed revival extension scheme mind small station building set tracks allow possible extension onwards station single platform run loop alongside station water tank station lit gas light local gas works consumed tons coal year threatened withdraw coal traffic line station fitted electric lighting road station initially served sparsely populated rural area village grown station station busy time opening staff ticket collectors extensive goods facilities particularly coal goods yard initially equipped mobile ton crane replaced fixed ton crane outward transport major local industry generated significant traffic electrification line station equipped bay platform passenger trains allow accommodate services baker street shuttle simultaneously bay platform closed november garden metropolitan railway passenger coaches dating designed underground use london fitted heating consequently stations equipped equipment heating distributed passengers cold weather opening line developments line road took place progress continued mile cross link september work completed far temporary station south connection buckingham railway absorbed metropolitan railway completed late january trains station temporary station abandoned line branch line generally operated shuttle service road trains peak periods continued run london bought number metropolitan railway class locomotives replace class engines performed poorly london line soon replaced metropolitan railway class consequence class engines shuttle services construction lines underway continued press extension prominent manufacturers construction extensions left seriously exposed financially forcing board cut july special general meeting february matters came head shareholders endorsed decision acquire buckingham railway authorised acquire connected road station blocked expensive extension proposed extension north manchester sheffield lincolnshire railway refused consent time build south connect rendered branch inevitably loss making branch line serving lightly populated area determined build section vital segment vision london manchester railway proposed build section manchester sheffield lincolnshire railway build line lease board refused scheme eventually served railway network railway station great central railway suffered stroke nominally remained director railway companies resigned railway influence effectively ended connection complete metropolitan railway reached miles northwest london planned route london northern england complete manchester sheffield lincolnshire railway continued build southwards southernmost point reaching road station completing north south link great central railway time vision completed death relations great central railway retirement management relations deteriorated rapidly shared use baker street station route london soon broke completely july general manager metropolitan railway took control road signal box refused allow train owned tracks grounds scheduled great western metropolitan route south occasion king edward vii travelling home visiting friend allowed slow goods train run royal train causing king arrive late london management refused permission install points connect engine shed railway line grounds land shed bought eventually parallel set tracks built london running alongside separate terminus short distance baker street continued share section including road station hostile controlling approach london general manager decided create link great western railway create second route london bypassed property great western began construction new line commonly known link existing station princes new line line ran princes north meet great central miles north road bypassing road altogether formally independent company practice new line operated great central railway new route opened substantial traffic london diverted damaging railway operations management horrified potential loss income restarted negotiations agreement meant traffic shared old new routes management shared route north alternated years proposed link sub surface section metropolitan railway allowed trains run london controlled thames tunnel south coast abandoned sharing arrangement meant trains running terminus baker street branch worked trains rolling stock metro land appointed secretary metropolitan railway working electrification london sections line route electrified far sections north including branch continued worked steam power appointed general manager position hold realised schemes expensive electrification project left company major financial core business central london come significant pressure use automobiles increased new railways london tube lines improved services set route goods passengers london new branches built extremely effective metro land advertising campaign began promoting lightly developed areas routes ideal london schemes led acquisition huge tracts near worthless land countryside routes tried control land possible possible route london manchester complete longer necessary lands clear potential railway use began development massive scale houses built entire new towns grown stations development generated huge amounts money property development vastly increased use railway passenger goods traffic baker street terminus redeveloped block luxury apartments known built station profits generated line electrified far branch electrified remained operated steam locomotives electric locomotives trains steam locomotive haul train time steam sections route generally worked powerful metropolitan railway class engines capable speeds miles hour conscious effort attract wealthy classes railway stations park built serve golf courses hunts route horse provided stations serving hunts point points cars introduced selected services benefit businessmen travelling work returning london despite huge population growth southern caused railway remained relatively unaffected development extensive development roughly halfway population grew peak metro land boom season ticket revenue stations rose owned large tracts land bought anticipation revival connection scheme chose build housing estate site instead selling local council time service branch relatively poor quality improvements central london section line led surplus stock branch partial electrification caused delays later steam locomotives coupled branch mainly operated shuttle service passengers obliged wait station built serve lightly populated area metro land development caused larger number users designed waiting facilities poor lighting inadequate shelter dirty toilets grew trains previously run direct london instead ran causing passengers waited shuttle service improving road transport caused increasing number abandon line turn prompted reduce passenger services accidents short line generally good safety record despite sharp curves relatively steep gradient suffered significant accidents period august class engine hauling train broke axle outside injuries track blocked passenger service maintained operating shuttle services end branch crash site passengers obliged walk engine change trains november locomotive train driver flames type locomotive recorded likely metropolitan railway class known problem locomotive managed drive train prior died injuries days later found prior failed turn verdict accidental death recorded fought vigorously independence metropolitan railway successfully preserved independence grouping merged britain railways companies died suddenly successors pressure merge london underground railways july merger brought london underground railways aside short public ownership newly formed metropolitan railway metropolitan line london underground managing director chief executive aimed network away freight services concentrate electrification improvement core routes london particular saw lines road having little future financially viable passenger routes november train ran stroke midnight rails connecting main line severed buckingham railway junction closed passengers july services north withdrawn london north eastern railway operation route branch survived pick metropolitan line routes particular line increasingly regarded expensive operation steam services north passed retained class locomotives work branch steam services operated class locomotives want responsibility line provided services ownership remained seeking abandon steam power possible drew scheme include electrification line planned branch instead diesel powered borrowed trials branch performed curves slopes branch capacity passengers able haul light amounts goods commissioned larger design end decided instead branch schemes abandoned plan envisaged electric trains splitting half train continuing half preparatory work carried outbreak second world war brought electrification north halt class travel abandoned cars line operated entirely shuttle service branch converted working trains driven end avoiding time consuming locomotive class locomotives push pull working car sets passenger cars dating january railways britain including london transport act british railways sir strongly recommended halt modern development preserve sensitive local environment little prospect growth passenger numbers branch decade services continued unification mainline companies meant wider variety locomotives operating services branch weeks october experimented car lightweight diesel train route train difficulty negotiating line sharp bends branch reverted steam operations mid-1950s british railways begun operate regional units responsibility services routes transferred london midland region services branch generally hauled class locomotives passenger trains continued use cars british railways continued operate goods services branch declined steadily owing competition road point coal deliveries significant business pre war electrification scheme revived electrification began platforms extended second platform opened july prevent operations baker street interfering shuttle electric service began operations august electric locomotives hauling trains london steam locomotive kept standby new second platform case failure electric trains june stock locomotive hauled trains replaced newly introduced london underground stock scheduled steam passenger train branch left september passengers line day comparison typical sunday usage earlier september descendants residents attended original meeting promote railway year old present opening line rode steam shuttle attended ceremony service september scheduled steam service use line steam train left morning deliver newspapers returning passenger train journey open public appear published arrangement continued operated steam locomotive june passenger cars covered miles retired service steam powered passenger services remaining non electrified section ran september line handed leaving westernmost point london underground network goods yard closed train hauled class locomotive removed track goods yard steam service use line october newspaper train service return journey time worked diesel multiple unit abandoned leaving branch exclusively operated trains closure proposals hoped electrification boost revenue branch generated little income period recession reluctant continue little branch line distance outside core area drastically increased leaving monthly season ticket costing considered closing branch survived thanks subsidies sunday services branch abolished cost cutting measure decision reversed following protests future line came question clear bridges carrying line deteriorating badly bridges replaced branch continue operate time rail services drastically cut axe mass rail closure programme 1960s passenger trains north run september future route doubt scheduled abolition bringing branch end unwilling pay replacing bridges proposing instead station relocated original proposed station site 1880s south bridges safety concerns led speed limit miles hour bridges line appeared certain closed revival branch acts granted replace bridges new bridges built alongside existing bridges disruption rolled place march april centenary branch saw revival interest line weekends july special services run preserved steam locomotives electric locomotive service great success people travelling trains large numbers people travelling area watch trains success prompted repeat steam met event annually running early 1990s number passengers branch people weekday branch saw journeys year proposal close route dropped instead line upgraded equipped fast class trains early 1990s reduced travel time minutes increasing usage line commuter route branch proposed terminus original scheme seen trains running serve stations branch allowing withdraw cut metropolitan line serve branches bill proposing scheme defeated parliament abandoned revived scheme authorised act include branches time little central line branch closed services running september leaving westernmost point london underground network withdrawal northernmost point london underground time london underground operations transferred newly created transport london stock trains years old trains circle line line sections district line stock remainder district line plans place replacement following lengthy expensive negotiations order placed fleet new trains operations metropolitan city district lines restoration service car configuration stock design includes open connections passenger cars split shorter car trains capable fitting bay platform station consequently announced shuttle service abandoned instead long standing metropolitan line service trains hour reduced services running trains london years service december shuttle service left station stock trains continued run line providing services london september retired replaced trains
Chesham branch