Uxbridge Branch 120th Anniversary

During the late 1890s, multiple proposals were put forth to build railway lines to Uxbridge, with the Metropolitan and Metropolitan District Railways both proposing lines to the town. In 1897, the Harrow & Uxbridge Railway (supported by MDR) received approval to construct a line between South Harrow and Uxbridge. This would be followed in 1899 by a bill from the Metropolitan Railway to build a curve of track from Harrow-on-the-Hill to connect with the H&UR line near Rayners Lane. Due to the poor financial health of the MDR, the MR would take charge of the project, including construction and management of the line. Construction finally began in 1901, with the line being completed in 1904. The opening ceremony would be held on June 30th, 1904. The line would be fully opened on July 4, 1904. Upon opening, the line had two stations: Ruislip and Uxbridge (Belmont Road). Upon opening 4th rail, electrification equipment would be installed; however, due to delays in the construction of the Neasden power station, electric trains wouldn’t operate until January 1st 1905. In 1910, regular District services would finally begin operating on the line. In 1933, with the establishment of the London Passenger Transport Board, the London Underground would soon make changes, with the District service being withdrawn with the introduction of Piccadilly Line services on October 23rd of that year. Uxbridge (Belmont Road) station would be closed on December 3rd, 1938, with the current Uxbridge station replacing it due to it being better located in Uxbridge town centre, and as Belmont Road was an inadequate terminus being designed as a through station, in case the line would be extended. The goods yard closed the following year, in 1939. Over the next 19 years, multiple infill stations would be constructed: Ickenham in 1905, Rayners Lane and Eastcote in 1906, Ruislip Manor in 1912, West Harrow in 1913, and finally Hillingdon (Swakeleys) in late 1923. As of 2024, services are provided by the Metropolitan and Piccadilly lines, with Metropolitan services from Aldgate and Piccadilly line services from Cockfosters terminating at Rayners Lane or Uxbridge.

Operator: TfL
Rolling Stock: S8 Stock & 1973 Stock
Date of recording: July 3rd 2024

Timestamps:
0:00 21017/21018 ([430] All stations service to Aldgate) [UXB]
0:21 21071/21072 (All stations service to Uxbridge) S8 Stock (All stations service to Aldgate) [UXB]
1:08 21115/21116 (All stations service to Uxbridge) S8 Stock (Not in service) [UXB]
1:57 1973 Stock (Service to Uxbridge) 1973 Stock (Not in Service) [UXB]
2:33 21112/21112 ([446] All stations service to Uxbridge) 21080/21079 ([445] All stations service to Aldgate) [RUI]
3:01 21080/21079 ([445] All stations service to Aldgate) [RUI]
3:32 21055/21054 ([463] Not in Service) [RUI]
4:20 21020/21019 ([442] All stations service to Aldgate) [RUI]
5:08 21049/21050 ([447] All stations service to Uxbridge) [RUI]
5:21 21112/21111 ([437] All stations service to Uxbridge) 21072/21071 (All stations service to Aldgate) [RAL]
6:03 21072/21071 ([433] All stations service to Aldgate) [RAL]
6:46 DM 185, T 585, UNDM 385 + UNDM 424, T 624, DM 224 ([308] Service to Uxbridge) [RAL]
7:35 21037/21038 ([434] All stations service to Aldgate) [WSH]
8:29 21028/21027 ([440] All stations service to Uxbridge) [WSH]
9:31 21083/21084 ([445] All stations service to Uxbridge) 21058/21057 ([426] All stations service to Aldgate) [HOH]
10:05 Outro

Metropolitan Line logo used in the thumbnail is from Wikipedia
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...

Information from: http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/u/... and A History of the Metropolitan Railway & Metro - Land by Irene Hawkes [ISBN 978-0-86093-674-9]