| A contractors line was laid down from the LNWR Watford-St Albans Abbey branchline to supply materials being used in the construction of the Midland Railways extension to St Pancras.
The contractors line crossed Watling Street by way of an overbridge, and joined up with the infant Midland Railway at Napsbury. Most of the earthworks remain at the western end between the St Albans Abbey branchline and Watling Street, but an airfield and more lately aggregates extraction have obliterated the course of the railway at the Napsbury end. |
01 A Watford Junction bound class 321 passes the former junction site where the contractors line left the LNWR and headed towards Napsbury. Buy Print |
02 Looking towards Napsbury, the St Albans line is on the left. The embankment survives from here to Watling Street. Buy Print |
03 Ploughing through the undergrowth towards Watling Street, this embankment is clearly visible rom trains on the St Albans branchline. Buy Print |
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04 The embankment ends here at Watling Street, Frogmore is to the south, and Park Street is to the north. Buy Print |
05 The overbridge abutements remain on the Napsbury side, this view is looking south along Watling Street towards Frogmore. Buy Print |
06 Two more short sections of embankment survive on the Napsbury side of Watling street, surrounded by descreet residential develoments. Sadly the locals use this part of the old formation as a dumping ground. This view is looking towards the Watling Street abutements seen in the last photo. Buy Print |
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07 Gated access to this section of the formation is marked 'Private Land'. Only a few yards of embankment remain before the old formation is swallowed up by an aggregates extraction site. Buy Print |
08 Looking towards Napsbury from the south side of the formation. This area is a private residential zone. Buy Print |
