The Nickey Line Photo Gallery

Part of the Lost Rails project

Looking back to the south as the Nickey line branches away from the Midland main line in Harpenden.

Lent by Ken Allen.

Harpenden Junction signal box, where the Nickey leaves the main line in Harpenden.

Lent by Keith Allen

Reinforced embankment on the tight left hand curve away from the main line in Harpenden. July 2010.

The original northbound junction with the Midland Railway north of Harpenden (left) was closed early in the Nickey's history; the southbound route (right) was used thereafter. July 2010.

The trackbed passes beneath Ambrose Lane Bridge, Harpenden. February 2010.

Since the line's closure gardens have extended to the top of the high embankment in north Harpenden.

July 2010, © St Albans Museums

Tall ash trees on the 1:37 gradient up from Harpenden to Roundwood.

July 2010, © St Albans Museums

The Hemelite (breezeblock) train descends frfom Roundwood towards Harpenden. 1970s.

The descent from Roundwood to Harpenden.

July 2010, © St Albans Museums

Tank engine and brake van reaching Roundwood Halt after the long pull from Harpenden. Water levels would be checked here. April 1955.

Roundwood Halt in 1942.

Lent by Ken Allen

Roundwood Halt in July 2010.

The hut from Roundwood Halt relocated to the adjoining garden.

July 2010, © St Albans Museums

The trackbed west of Harpenden.

The descent from Knotts Wood towards Redbourn

July 2010, © St Albans Museums

Wooded embankment between Knotts Wood and Redbourn.

July 2010, © St Albans Museums

Gradient post [1 in 40] at the bottom of the incline from Knotts Wood, now near the Redbourn Bypass.

July 2010, © St Albans Museums

The bridge across the A5 just south-west of Redbourn Station, with a 'special' train, September 1960.

Redbourn Station, Hemel-Hemstead bound, early twentieth century.

Goods train passing through Redbourn Station, 1950s.

Lent by Ken Allen

Mr Cramp, stationmaster at Redbourn, 1950s.

Redbourn Station, abandoned and overgrown, in 1955.

Lent by Ken Allen

Daily coal train bound for Hemel Hempstead, near Wood End Lane, approaching Cupid Green, 1947.

Beaumont's Halt, south west of Redbourn, overgrown and abandoned on a winter's day in the 1960s

An accident with a low railway bridge near Redbourn, 1970s.

The overgrown remains of Godwin's Halt, east of Hemel Hempstead, in 1959.

Section of the line near Hemel Hempstead with the track removed, c1979.

The track near Hemel Hempstead infilled with about 4 metres of debris, probably from road construction, c1979.

A 'special' train climbing the 1 in 39 gradient at Highfield, Hemel Hempstead, in 1957.

A second-hand British Rail Clayton diesel used by the Hemelite breezeblock works, Hemel Hempstead, early 1970s

The Hemelite company's private diesel shunter, newly painted.

Lent by Ken Allen

Interior of the Hemelite shunter, 1970s.

The Mayor starting a Nickey Line cycle ride, 1980s.

Cycling on the Nickey Line, going uphill, probably in Hemel Hempstead, 1980s.

Bridge and pedestrian tunnel crossing Queensway, Hemel Hempstead, 1970s.

The light 'Railmotor' car at Adeyfield, Hemel Hempstead, around 1905; a very early experiment in lightweight locomotives, with plenty of onlookers.

The LMSR Ro-Railer, a hybrid motor coach and locomotive, with retractable wheels, on an experimental run in the 1930s.

Midland Road Station, Hemel Hempstead, early twentieth century.

Lent by Ken Allen

Goods train at Midland Road Station, Hemel Hempstead, 1950s.

Hemel Hempstead Station, early twentieth century, with the Midland Hotel in the background.

'Special' excursion train and rail enthusiasts arriving at Hemel in 1957.

Freight train arriving at Hemel Hempstead Station July 1956.

A 'special' at a steam rally in Hemel Hempstead

Lent by Ken Allen

A LMS locomotive crosses the viaduct at Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead, before 1948. Looking south; today Hemel's 'magic roundabout' lies a short way beyond the viaduct.

The Nickey Line viaduct over Marlowes in central Hemel Hempstead, looking south-west, in 1959.

Heath Park Halt lay just south of the present 'magic roundabout' in Hemel Hempstead; around 1910.

Approaching Heath Park Halt, Hemel Hempstead, in 1947.

Goods train approaching Heath Park Halt, Hemel Hempstead, 1948, with cows in the road below.

The bridge at Heath Park Halt, Hemel Hempstead, with Greenline bus and Phyllosan advertisement, 1957.

Heath Park Halt, Hemel Hempstead, from the park, 1957.

The timber platform at Heath Park Halt, Hemel Hempstead, late 1950s.

The line crossing London Road in Two Waters south of Hemel Hempstead, in 1957.

A Crab 2-6-0 locomotive, probably with coal freight, at Boxmoor Station, February 1961.

Claydale tour

'Special' excursion train at Roundwood

This page was added on 03/03/2011.

Add your comment about this page

Reply
I remember as a child in 1955 having to have my tonsils removed at Hemel Hospital. The children’s ward faced the railway embankment. It was fabulous watching and hearing the freight trains pass in the night. In 1964 I found and lifted a cast iron commemorative plate fixed to a rotting sleeper. It was to celebrate the opening of the line to Harpenden. The opening celebration took place near the gas works siding.
By Chris Makin (30/06/2019)
Reply
Beumonts Halt was at the top of our garden in Hempstead Road, Redbourn. Mr Saunders was the crossing keeper and lived in the house shown in the picture. He had two children with whom I used to play. I think the son was called Tony. If we were very good Mr Saunders used to let us wave the flag for the train passing through. If we were very, very good we were sometimes allowed to ride through the gates in the engine. Wonderful childhood memories. Sad to see it all derelict. No-one ever came to do anything to the site once they closed it down. It was down to those driving the train to open and close the gates. Fortunately, the lane up to Flowers Farm saw very little traffic so this was not an onerous task.
By Sharman Brown nee Draper (17/01/2018)
Reply
The photograph captioned as “a goods train passing through Redbourn station” is actually Hemel Hempsted (Midland Rly spelling).
By David Ford (30/01/2017)
Reply
Lovely photograph. This was part of my playground when I was growing up ! But that is not a tank engine, it’s a 4F Midland or LMS tender engine.
By David Ford (10/12/2015)
Reply
I remember this day very well even after all this time.The special train was announced in the Gazette a couple of weeks previously and a fair few people tuned out on what I recall was a fine day to see the nicely turned out loco and two coaches. After returning from Heath Park Halt with the engine tender first,the train departed from Midland Road station and barked it’s way up the incline (a fearsome bank and a test for any engine and crew) and disappeared towards Harpenden.I can still remember watching from my bedroom window in Cemmaes Court Road as time and time again a goods train struggled up the bank and stalled and having to set back to the station and drop off a couple of wagons in order to attack the 1 in 39 incline again.Great sounds and greater memories!

By Richard KEEN (28/01/2015)
Reply
In 1961 this would have been Hemel Hempstead station. The name Boxmoor station ceased to exist back in the 50s.
By John Newberry (18/10/2013)