Out-of-action stations
LONDON’S LONGLOST RAILWAY STATIONS
IN THE 1800s trains changed everything.
The railway network was the internet of its time, as thousands of people packed away their horse and carts and took up train travel.
As commuting became more popular and prices started falling, stations began popping up all across West London to cope with the huge demands.
For many residents of London , train travel allowed them to even visit the sea for the first time in their lives – it was a time of adventure and hope.
Over the decades though behaviours and technology changed, train stations that were once packed to the rafters with excited passengers suddenly fell into disrepair.
So here are nine abandoned railway stations in West London that time forgot.
Uxbridge Vine Street Railway Station
The station opened on September 8, 1856 and was originally called Uxbridge Station. It was the final stop on the Uxbridge branch that ran from West Drayton.
The Uxbridge branch continued to operate under British Rail until September 10, 1962.
Uxbridge High Street Railway Station
The second abandoned railway station that Uxbridge had to contend with.
The station opened on May 1, 1907 and closed to passengers on September 25, 1939.
Between January 1917 and May 1920 no trains ran through the station as the route was suspended.
The line from Uxbridge High Street Station ran along the west side of Shire Ditch and Frays River and right through the middle of Denham Country Park.
Cowley Railway Station
A station on the Uxbridge branch of the Great Western Railway line.
The station opened in 1904, which was over 40 years after the rest of the Uxbridge branch had been constructed.
As with Uxbridge Vine Street Railway Station, Cowley station also closed in September 10, 1962 when the line was put out of service.
The former station still lives on through a railway bridge in Cowley and the aptly named Station Road.
Hammersmith and Chiswick Railway Station
The station originally opened as Hammersmith Station on April 8, 1858 and renamed to Hammersmith and Chiswick on July 1, 1880.
At the turn of the 20th Century the station struggled to compete with the District Line and its nearby stop Stamford Brook.
In 1917 the station closed due to the outbreak of the First World War and sadly never reopened again.
Brentham for North Ealing and Greystoke Park Railway Station
The station was located in Park Royal and opened on May 1, 1911. Originally called Brentham Station, which had itself recently replaced another station called Twyford Abbey Halt.
Brentham for North Ealing and Greystoke Park closed on June 15, 1947 in anticipation of the Central Line extension.
It was replaced by Hanger Lane Tube Station Belmont Railway Station
Not to be confused with Belmont Station in Sutton, South London this Belmont Station was once found in Harrow.
The station was open in September 12, 1932 and was in use for a relatively short 32 years before closing on July 6, 1964. The station was sandwiched between Harrow and Wealdstone and Stanmore Village on a short line.
The station’s time came to an end under pressure from the huge success and reach of the London Underground.
Stanmore Village Railway Station
The station opened on December 18, 1890 and was initially known as Stanmore.
Hotel millionaire, Frederick Gordon built the line to Stanmore from Harrow because he owned a country house nearby and wanted to use the house as a retreat for other wealthy individuals.
In 1932 the Metropolitan Line opened a Tube station in Stanmore, creating stiff opposition for the railway line.
In 1950 the Stanmore Railway Station changed its name to Stanmore Village Railway Station so it could not be confused with the London Underground stop. In 1952 the station closed to passengers as it could not compete with the Tube and in 1964 the station closed to freight too.
Chelsea & Fulham Railway Station
When the station was opened on March 2, 1863 it was called Chelsea Station and then changed its name to Chelsea and Fulham in 1902.
The station was situated between the Kings Road and Fulham Road.
It was believed that Chelsea Football Club was named after the station in 1905, with founder Gus Mears weighing up many names but eventually settled on Chelsea due to the station being so close.
During home games the station was swamped with fans going to the match, but as with many West London stations the London Underground proved to tough to compete with. In 1940 the station closed after suffering damage during the Second World War.
Harlesden Railway Station
The station opened on August 3, 1875 and was originally called Harrow Road for Stonebridge Park and West Willesden.
The station was completely separate to the Harlesden Station stop on the Bakerloo line and London Overground network, which is still in use today.
The station eventually closed in 1902 after local residents campaigned against it.