Buntingford Branch Line
Encyclopedia
The Buntingford Branch Line was a railway in Hertfordshire
in the United Kingdom
. It ran between the village of St Margarets and the town of Buntingford
. It branched off what is now known as the Hertford East Branch Line
.
. This was due to a dispute with a local landowner. With the help of the Eastern Counties Railway
(which merged into the Great Eastern Railway
in 1862), the route gained enough capital, after initially struggling due to other landowner disputes and compensation, crossings of the River Rib
and the River Ash
and some issues with design, and opened 3 July 1863. In 1868, after a short time, the company was merged with its parent the Great Eastern, which had run the line from the start.
Although rural, the line was fairly well used with commuters, particularly when through trains to London were established. Cheap tickets were offered on Sundays to encourage walker
s to use the line. There was also freight traffic of three trains a day which was mainly agricultural although there was also a flour mill served at Standon
. The line was dieselised
in 1959 but the through trains were cut and it is thought this, combined with the increase of cars allowing access to faster competing rail routes, is what lead to the line's decline for the next five years. After 101 years of services, the line closed as part of the Beeching report
in 1964. Freight on the line ceased in 1965.
, Hertfordshire
. It served an area of the countryside in which had hardly any industry. The route from start to finish was approximately 13.8 miles (22.2 km) long. The route was noted for its numerous bridges and steep grades.
All stations opened after St Margaret's opened in 1863 and closed in 1964. The line had a passing loop
at Braughing
. It should also be noted that Mardock had the suffix "for Wareside".
Places served were Wareside
, Widford
, Much Hadham
, Standon
, Braughing
, Westmill
and Buntingford
.
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It ran between the village of St Margarets and the town of Buntingford
Buntingford
Buntingford is a small market town and civil parish in the district of East Hertfordshire and county of Hertfordshire in England. It lies on the River Rib and on the Roman road Ermine Street. As a result of its location, it grew mainly as a staging post with many coaching inns and has an 18th...
. It branched off what is now known as the Hertford East Branch Line
Hertford East Branch Line
The Hertford East Branch Line is a railway line in Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom. It runs between and . The line follows the route of the Lea Valley; serving many towns and villages along the way...
.
History
After a bill in government for a new route from Ware to Cambridge via Buntingford failed, the feasibility of a branch line was discussed at a couple of town meetings in 1856 and an application was put forward in 1857 with the formation of the Ware, Hadham and Buntingford Railway. In 1858, the route gained authorisation from government. The original intention was for the line to serve the town of Ware, as the name suggests, but this was changed moved to St Margarets, which is a stop closer to LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. This was due to a dispute with a local landowner. With the help of the Eastern Counties Railway
Eastern Counties Railway
The Eastern Counties Railway was an early English railway company incorporated in 1836. It was intended to link London with Ipswich via Colchester, and then on to Norwich and Yarmouth. Construction began in late March 1837 on the first nine miles, at the London end of the line.Construction was...
(which merged into the Great Eastern Railway
Great Eastern Railway
The Great Eastern Railway was a pre-grouping British railway company, whose main line linked London Liverpool Street to Norwich and which had other lines through East Anglia...
in 1862), the route gained enough capital, after initially struggling due to other landowner disputes and compensation, crossings of the River Rib
River Rib
The River Rib originates near the East Hertfordshire village of Buckland and runs parallel with the A10 through Buntingford, Westmill, Braughing, Puckeridge and Standon until it reaches its confluence with the River Lea near Hertford.-History:...
and the River Ash
River Ash, Hertfordshire
The River Ash originates near the village of Brent Pelham in North Hertfordshire and flows through The Hadhams , Widford, Wareside, until it reaches the River Lea near Stanstead Abbots....
and some issues with design, and opened 3 July 1863. In 1868, after a short time, the company was merged with its parent the Great Eastern, which had run the line from the start.
Although rural, the line was fairly well used with commuters, particularly when through trains to London were established. Cheap tickets were offered on Sundays to encourage walker
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
s to use the line. There was also freight traffic of three trains a day which was mainly agricultural although there was also a flour mill served at Standon
Standon, Hertfordshire
Standon is a village and civil parish in Hertfordshire. The parish includes the adjoining village of Puckeridge. The village church of St Mary has Saxon origins with much Victorian restoration.The Prime Meridian passes to the west of Standon....
. The line was dieselised
Dieselisation
Dieselisation or dieselization is a term generally used for the increasingly common use of diesel fuel in vehicles, as opposed to gasoline or steam engines.-Water Transport:...
in 1959 but the through trains were cut and it is thought this, combined with the increase of cars allowing access to faster competing rail routes, is what lead to the line's decline for the next five years. After 101 years of services, the line closed as part of the Beeching report
Beeching Axe
The Beeching Axe or the Beeching Cuts are informal names for the British Government's attempt in the 1960s to reduce the cost of running British Railways, the nationalised railway system in the United Kingdom. The name is that of the main author of The Reshaping of British Railways, Dr Richard...
in 1964. Freight on the line ceased in 1965.
Route
The railway ran on a north-south axis from Buntingford to just north of St Margarets near HoddesdonHoddesdon
Hoddesdon is a town in the English county of Hertfordshire, situated in the Lea Valley. The town grew up as a coaching stop on the route between Cambridge and London. It is located southeast of Hertford, north of Waltham Cross and southwest of Bishop's Stortford. At its height during the 18th...
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
. It served an area of the countryside in which had hardly any industry. The route from start to finish was approximately 13.8 miles (22.2 km) long. The route was noted for its numerous bridges and steep grades.
All stations opened after St Margaret's opened in 1863 and closed in 1964. The line had a passing loop
Passing loop
A passing loop is a place on a single line railway or tramway, often located at a station, where trains or trams in opposing directions can pass each other. Trains/trams in the same direction can also overtake, providing that the signalling arrangement allows it...
at Braughing
Braughing
Braughing is a village and civil parish, between the rivers Quin and Rib, in the non-metropolitan district of East Hertfordshire, part of the English county of Hertfordshire, England...
. It should also be noted that Mardock had the suffix "for Wareside".
Places served were Wareside
Wareside
Wareside is a small village and civil parish in the East Hertfordshire District, in the county of Hertfordshire. It is about 3 miles away from the town of Ware and the large town of Hertford Nearby villages include Widford, Hertfordshire, Babbs Green and Bakers End...
, Widford
Widford, Hertfordshire
Widford is a village and civil parish in the East Hertfordshire district of Hertfordshire in England. After the Second World War it was the home of Arthur Ernest Percival.The "Apostle to the Indians," John Eliot was born in Widford....
, Much Hadham
Much Hadham
Much Hadham is a village and civil parish in the district of East Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire, England, formerly known as Great Hadham. It is situated on the B1004 road, midway between Ware and Bishop's Stortford...
, Standon
Standon, Hertfordshire
Standon is a village and civil parish in Hertfordshire. The parish includes the adjoining village of Puckeridge. The village church of St Mary has Saxon origins with much Victorian restoration.The Prime Meridian passes to the west of Standon....
, Braughing
Braughing
Braughing is a village and civil parish, between the rivers Quin and Rib, in the non-metropolitan district of East Hertfordshire, part of the English county of Hertfordshire, England...
, Westmill
Westmill
Westmill is a village and civil parish in the East Hertfordshire district of Hertfordshire, England, with an area of 1036 hectares. A population of 264 was recorded in the 2001 National Census...
and Buntingford
Buntingford
Buntingford is a small market town and civil parish in the district of East Hertfordshire and county of Hertfordshire in England. It lies on the River Rib and on the Roman road Ermine Street. As a result of its location, it grew mainly as a staging post with many coaching inns and has an 18th...
.