Brookmans Park - Down side siding.

[Eightpot]

This was located about 1/4 mile south of the station, and just north of the Hawkshead Lane overbridge. If one follows the linepath towards Potters Bar the former site is easily recognisable as the site widens out at this point. Last time there, the remains of a PW hut could still be seen. Presumably access was gained via the driveway joining and adjacent to Hawkshead Lane. I believe that it was used by a local coal merchant. A picture of the siding clearly shows it on page 125 of the book "The London and North Eastern Railway - A century and a half of progress - LNER 150" by Patrick Whitehouse & David St John Thomas. There is a second photo of this location at the bottom of page 88 (wrongly captioned as 'near Knebworth!') but the siding can hardly be made out on the extreme left hand edge due to smoke.

Three questions:-

When did it cease to be used?

When was it, and its connection to the Down Slow removed?

Who was the coal merchant, or others that formerly used it?

[R. pike]

http://richard2890.fotopic.net/p61780791.html

There is a siding shown on this plan.

[Eightpot]

Thanks for the plan. As there is no mention of the station at Brookmans Park I assume this dates from prior to it being built circa 1926.

[Mickey]

Deleted

[giner]

From Wikipedia:
1880–1923
Agriculture prices fell as did rents. Scottish farmers came south to take over farms. Brookmans Manor was burned down while the family cruised off the coast of Holland. The Great Northern Railway pushed through the estate. Parts of the estate were sold off to cut costs and make ends meet.

1923–1939
The developers moved in and the village changed forever. A railway station was built and with it shops and homes. The BBC set up its transmitter station at Bell Bar.

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So, it seems that about 1926 would be about right for the building of the station.

[AndyRush]

Hawkshead Siding was located on the down side at 14m 14¼ch, and opened with the signal box nearby (14m 07½ch) of the same name in July 1886. The siding is listed in all the RCH handbooks that I have (1904-1956 inclusive) but a BR line diagram in my possession dated July 1953 doesn't show it. It was not a public siding and so its closure date is not listed in Clinker's Register. Brookmans Park station opened 19.07.1926.

Regards

Andy

[hyperion]

Well, talk about live and learn ! As a born Potters Barbarian, my first railway 'beat' was along the line-path between Potters Bar and Brookmans Park. I suppose I was about 10 before I ventured out into the wooded wilds towards Brookmans Park which would make it about 1950. There was no siding near Hawkshead then. But I walked this path for many years - in fact still do on occasion - and I know the place where this siding must have been so well. And now so much falls into place; the platelayers hut, why the bridlepath is so much wider from Hawkshead Bridge down to the hut - or where it was - and then turns sharp left while the way on to Brookmans Park is just a very narrow footpath. Nowadays the bridleway, which must have given access to the coal merchant, cuts across to the back of the Veterinary College which was built on Hawkshead Lane during the 1960s.

I was booking clerk at Brookmans Park about 1957/8 and the 'line-path' was a pleasant way of getting to work for the afternoon shift when the weather was right.

But with all my investigations into local and GN railway history - does Grinling mention it ? - I never knew there was a siding north of Hawkshead !

Thank you gentlemen.

[hyperion]

P.S. From Wrottesley's "The Great Northern Railway" Vol II p.136 ;-

"Langford siding was opened in 1878, Hawkshead siding in July 1888 and Wymondley siding in January 1888."

This followed the opening of new down goods lines; "Hawkshead - Marshmoor in June 1886, Potters Bar - Hawkshead on 14 March 1887,"

Regards

[giner]

As I recall, of course this may be wildly off, but didn't Little Wymondley have two sidings on the 'down' side? Even a couple of coal staithes? And speaking of footpaths, was there a finer spot on a summer's day than on the coathanger bridge, classic criss-cross girders and your feet about four foot above the trains, just south of Wymondley? Such a superb view down towards Hitchin, and up towards Stevenage.

[StevieG]

Also known by some staff as the 'Ha'penny bridge' ? Though I forget why.

[manna]

G'Day Gents

'Cos it used to be a toll bridge, did'nt the NRM get it???

manna

[hq1hitchin]

G'Day Gents

'Cos it used to be a toll bridge, did'nt the NRM get it???

manna

I certainly remember the weekend it came down - it was removed when the GN was electrified c1974 and certainly we were told that it was to be preserved. Quite an elegant structure as bridges go. Seem to recall it was loaded onto 50t Salmons (?) and they were brought to Hitchin on the Sunday afternoon.

Much, much earlier on, a story about what used to go on in those parts. The mind boggles ('Mr Mopes')

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/article ... 5-0073.pdf

[giner]

A wonderful tale, there, hq1. All those years in Stevenage and even having had the odd pint in the Hermit of Redcoats Green pub, it's the first time I've known who the 'hermit' actually was. Also, finding out that one of the 'new town' pubs is named for Dickens' novel, Tom Tiddler's Tavern. Thank you.

[Mickey]

Deleted

[hyperion]

I would like to send a coupla pics, one on the old Hawkshead line path which I have patrolled these 60 years or so passed. Also one or two for Giner re Wymondle bridge. But my shots are between 1-2MB which are evidently too big to post here. Pardon my ignorance in these modern matters but how can I 'downsize' them ???