| I chanced across this line quite by accident when I got lost on one of the footpaths that crosses the Colne Valley. I was amazed to come to a steel bridge over the River Colne that had what appeared to be rails leading to it.
Consultation of the excellent book 'West of Watford' by F.W.Goudie and Douglas Stuckey revealed the answer of this mystery to me! The Colne Valley Water Company Light Railway came into existence in 1932 to supply the Eastbury Pumping Station near Watford with coal and salt. Coal and salt were delivered by the LMS via its branchline from Watford Junction to Rickmansworth as far as Brightwells Farm transfer sidings. From there deliveries for the pumping station were transferred to the Water Companies own 2.0' gauge wagons and transferred the short distance, being hauled by one of two Ruston Hornsby twin cylinder 16hp diesel locomotives. These pictures show you what can still be found if you are prepared to look hard enough..... |
01. Access to Brightwells Farm siding was to the right of this photo, taken on the Watford - Rickmansworth branch, looking in the direction of Watford. If you look close enough you can make out one of the concrete gate posts. |
02. A view over the fence. The Ricky branch is to the right, the grassed area immediately left was the sight of the transfer sidings. There was one standard gauge, and three 2.0 ft gauge sidings here. Note that the field is contoured in the distance where the siding connected into the Ricky branch. There is also a gate post still in situ. Buy Print |
03. Looking towards Eastbury Pumping Station from a point south of Brightwells Farm. Note the slight embankment in the distance as the trackbed approaches the River Colne which is at the bottom of the field. Buy Print |
04. Standing on the trackbed looking directly towards Brightwells Sidings. The fence line that runs from left to right parallels a public footpath. A wooden footbridge crossed the line at this point. The rusty gates dead ahead were an original feature of the line and appear in an old photo. Buy Print |
05. Initially, I thought that these rails that run alongside the barbed wire fence were the old tracks, put to good use after the line closed. However, close scrutiny of an old photo taken near this point when the line was still operational, reveals the very same rails in use as fence posts then! Curious and curiouser..... Buy Print |
06. Unbelievable! The CVWC Light Railway lives! 2.0 ft gauge track still in situ in 2005 on the embankment approaching the River Colne bridge. Buy Print |
07. A field access point passes between the embankment - with rusted rails and steel sleepers still in situ overhead in 2005! Brightwells Farm is in the background. Buy Print |
08. The bovine occupants of the field ahead appear uninterested in the industrial archaeology next to their grazing! Buy Print |
09. Bridge over the River Colne. The track has gone but part of the bridge structure carries pipework - possibly to the pumping station? Buy Print |
