IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Gibbs Couch, WATFORD, WD19 5EQ

It is not possible to drive across the railway line in Carpenders Park. This foot tunnel is the only route between Carpenders Park on this side and South Oxhey opposite, and more footbridges some distance to the north. Cars must cross around a mile north and south of here only.

A pair of London Midland's Class 321 units (321412+321415) pass Carpenders Park station with the 11:26 (2T18) Tring to Euston service. The signal gantry spanning the fast and slow lines almost certainly dates back to the time of the original electrification in the mid-1960's - the first electric trains ran in and out of Euston in 1965 though passenger services didn't start until 1966. The signal gantry may be a bit rusty but it looks like the catenary has recently been repainted - or has it been renewed? Note the white phone box in the foreground used by drivers to contact the signal box if held at the signal - the wooden fence is to stop the inadvertently stepping onto the electrified DC line in the foreground.

The London & Birmingham Railway opened from Euston to Boxmoor in 1837 and on to Birmingham in 1838. In 1846 it became part of the London & North Western Railway. Suburban trains were diverted from 15th June 1912 to run over the "New Lines", which had just been built between Euston and Watford Junction. The first station here was opened by the London & North Western Railway (L&NWR) on 1st April 1914 to serve the nearby golf course. It was 230 yards further north than the current site and was a wooden two platform structure with a footbridge. This closed on 1st January 1917 and reopened on 5th May 1919 served only by the London Electric Railway (which later became London Underground) trains. L&NWR electric trains were reinstated from 10 July 1922. The original station was closed on 17th November 1952 when the present station opened. London Underground trains served the station until 24th September 1982 when Bakerloo line services were withdrawn. The station is now served by London Overground. The fast lines are beyond the station to the left here. The next station in this direction is Hatch End. This was a very wet evening in December.

The 12:01 (2C22) departure from Watford Junction arrives on time at Carpenders Park. the train will call all stations to London Euston and is formed of a London Overground class 378 (378234). Known as the DC lines, the tracks were electrified using the London Underground 4th rail system and sections of the route between Queens Park and Harrow & Wealdstone are shared with Bakerloo Line services. North of Harrow & Wealdstone the track has been converted to 3rd rail electrification although the 4th (central) rail remains in situ but out of use.

View northward, towards Watford Junction and the North, ex-LNW WCML. This station is a rebuild (17/11/52) 230 yards south of the original ex-LNW station of 1914, serving only the DC electric lines, Euston/Broad Street - Watford Junction, also LT Bakerloo Line trains until 9/82. The main lines (electrified at 25kv in 1965-66) are on the right, and a self-propelled Civil Engineer's maintenance vehicle is passing on the Down Slow line.

A DB Schenker class 92 (92031) heads north on the slow lines past Carpenders Park station on a sunny autumn morning with a long train of vans. The service is the 11:43 (6B41) Wembley European Freight Ops Centre - Daventry International Railfreight Reception.

Originally opened in 1914 by the London & North Western Railway on its line from London Euston to Watford Junction, the station was moved slightly south by British Rail in 1952. View north towards Bushey and Watford Junction. The main lines are to the right.