North and South Western Junction Railway
Encyclopedia
The North and South Western Junction Railway (NSWJR) was a railway in west London
, England
. It was authorised in 1851 to connect the London and North Western Railway
(LNWR) at Willesden Junction
with the London and South Western Railway
(LSWR) Hounslow Loop Line
by a west-facing link at Old Kew Junction.
(NLR). From 1865 Broad Street in the City of London
was the most important passenger station connected to the line.
Services to Richmond
and began on 20 May 1858 via with reversals at both Old Kew Junction and Barnes. From 1 February 1862 the reversals were eliminated by chords at Kew, which bore the platforms of the N&SJR Kew Bridge station, and at Barnes (long since lifted). From 1864 some trains went on to . The line between Willesden and Richmond carried services to and from Broad Street and was used by other companies serving Richmond. In 1869 the LSWR opened the direct connecting line from to Richmond via Gunnersbury
and services west beyond Richmond ceased.
The LNWR electrified
the lines to both Richmond and Kew Bridge in 1916 on the 4th rail DC system. Passenger service to Kew Bridge ended in 1940. After Broad Street closed in 1986 the NSWJR line carried North London Line
services between Richmond and in east London.
which was renamed "Hammersmith & Chiswick" in 1880. The branch was built, and in full freight and passenger service, by 8 April 1858, against the advice of its shareholders.
The branch did not prosper. Its junction with the NSWJR main line faced away from London and, despite operational expedients, this degraded the service quality of the line, making it unpopular with local commuters, also the Hammersmith terminus was too far from the town centre. Competing lines such as the Hammersmith & City line
of the Metropolitan Railway
, which opened in 1864, provided faster services and when housing development took place in the catchment area of the branch new lines and stations took away the increase in passenger numbers that the NSWJR might have had. A new station at , with a bay for the branch, removed the operating difficulties at the junction and halved the journey time to London, but to no effect on business.
In 1909, three new halt
s were built at Bath Road, Woodstock Road and Rugby Road and new railmotor
s were acquired to improve the services. Three years later, the new Metropolitan District Railway
station at Stamford Brook
, close to the terminus of the branch at Hammersmith & Chiswick, took away the remaining passengers.
Passenger services were withdrawn during World War I
, on 1 January 1917, and they were never reinstated. Freight services continued until 3 May 1965, sustained by a local coal depot and asphalt plant.
London
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...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It was authorised in 1851 to connect the London and North Western Railway
London and North Western Railway
The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway...
(LNWR) at Willesden Junction
Willesden Junction station
Willesden Junction station is a Network Rail station in Harlesden, northwest London, UK. It is served by both London Overground and the Bakerloo line of the London Underground.-History:The station developed on three contiguous sites:...
with the London and South Western Railway
London and South Western Railway
The London and South Western Railway was a railway company in England from 1838 to 1922. Its network extended from London to Plymouth via Salisbury and Exeter, with branches to Ilfracombe and Padstow and via Southampton to Bournemouth and Weymouth. It also had many routes connecting towns in...
(LSWR) Hounslow Loop Line
Hounslow Loop Line
The Hounslow Loop Line is a railway line in southwest London which was opened by the London and South Western Railway in 1850. It leaves the Waterloo to Reading Line at Barnes Junction and after some seven and a half miles rejoins it at a triangular junction between and...
by a west-facing link at Old Kew Junction.
Main Line
After opening in 1853 the main line was operated by the North London RailwayNorth London Railway
The North London Railway was a railway company that opened lines connecting the north of London to the East and West India Docks. The main east to west route is now part the North London Line. Other lines operated by the company fell into disuse, but were later revived as part of the Docklands...
(NLR). From 1865 Broad Street in the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
was the most important passenger station connected to the line.
Services to Richmond
Richmond station (London)
Richmond station is a National Rail and London Underground station in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in south west London which is managed by South West Trains....
and began on 20 May 1858 via with reversals at both Old Kew Junction and Barnes. From 1 February 1862 the reversals were eliminated by chords at Kew, which bore the platforms of the N&SJR Kew Bridge station, and at Barnes (long since lifted). From 1864 some trains went on to . The line between Willesden and Richmond carried services to and from Broad Street and was used by other companies serving Richmond. In 1869 the LSWR opened the direct connecting line from to Richmond via Gunnersbury
Gunnersbury station
thumb|right|District Line train for Richmond in 1955Gunnersbury station is a London Underground and National Rail station in Gunnersbury in west London. The station is served by the District Line and London Overground trains on the North London Line and is managed by London Underground. On the...
and services west beyond Richmond ceased.
The LNWR electrified
Railway electrification system
A railway electrification system supplies electrical energy to railway locomotives and multiple units as well as trams so that they can operate without having an on-board prime mover. There are several different electrification systems in use throughout the world...
the lines to both Richmond and Kew Bridge in 1916 on the 4th rail DC system. Passenger service to Kew Bridge ended in 1940. After Broad Street closed in 1986 the NSWJR line carried North London Line
North London Line
The North London Line is a railway line which passes through the inner suburbs of north London, England. Its route is a rough semicircle from the south west to the north east, avoiding central London. The line is owned and maintained by Network Rail...
services between Richmond and in east London.
Hammersmith Branch
The only branch line of the NSWJR ran from Acton to a terminus at HammersmithHammersmith & Chiswick railway station
Hammersmith & Chiswick railway station was in west London. Originally named "Hammersmith" it became "Hammersmith & Chiswick" in 1880.-History:...
which was renamed "Hammersmith & Chiswick" in 1880. The branch was built, and in full freight and passenger service, by 8 April 1858, against the advice of its shareholders.
The branch did not prosper. Its junction with the NSWJR main line faced away from London and, despite operational expedients, this degraded the service quality of the line, making it unpopular with local commuters, also the Hammersmith terminus was too far from the town centre. Competing lines such as the Hammersmith & City line
Hammersmith & City Line
The Hammersmith & City line is a subsurface London Underground line. It connects Hammersmith in the west with Barking in the east, running through the northern part of central London. It is coloured salmon pink on the Tube map...
of the Metropolitan Railway
Metropolitan railway
Metropolitan Railway can refer to:* Metropolitan line, part of the London Underground* Metropolitan Railway, the first underground railway to be built in London...
, which opened in 1864, provided faster services and when housing development took place in the catchment area of the branch new lines and stations took away the increase in passenger numbers that the NSWJR might have had. A new station at , with a bay for the branch, removed the operating difficulties at the junction and halved the journey time to London, but to no effect on business.
In 1909, three new halt
Halt
Halt can refer to:* Train station § Halt, a small train station, usually unstaffed, with few facilities and normally is a request stop* A sign, meaning attention* "Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired" in behavioral addiction recovery...
s were built at Bath Road, Woodstock Road and Rugby Road and new railmotor
Railmotor
Railmotor is a term which was used by several British railway companies for a steam railcar.-Overview:William Bridges Adams started building railmotors as early as 1848, but only in small numbers...
s were acquired to improve the services. Three years later, the new Metropolitan District Railway
Metropolitan District Railway
The Metropolitan District Railway was the predecessor of the District line of the London Underground. Set up on 29 July 1864, at first to complete the "Inner Circle" railway around central London, it was gradually extended into the suburbs...
station at Stamford Brook
Stamford Brook tube station
Stamford Brook is a London Underground station on the eastern edge of Chiswick in west London. The station is served by the District Line and is between Ravenscourt Park and Turnham Green stations. The main entrance is located on Goldhawk Road with a secondary entrance on Prebend Gardens. It is in...
, close to the terminus of the branch at Hammersmith & Chiswick, took away the remaining passengers.
Passenger services were withdrawn during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, on 1 January 1917, and they were never reinstated. Freight services continued until 3 May 1965, sustained by a local coal depot and asphalt plant.