Harpenden Railway Station - History

History

The second station in Harpenden, it was built by the Midland Railway in 1868 on its extension to St. Pancras, however nothing remains of the original station buildings. Although located on Station Road, the road is actually named after the first station, Harpenden East, now closed.

A branch line, built by the Hemel Hempstead Railway Company in 1877, known as the Nicky Line but operated by the Midland, formerly diverged from the main line north of the station. The intention had been to meet the LNWR at Boxmoor but the section from Hemel Hempstead never had a passenger service. In 1886 a south curve was added to the junction allowing passengers to join the London trains at Harpenden rather than Luton. The branch was closed in 1964. The route remains in use as a cycleway, passing under the M1 in a tunnel.

A row of five brick built former coal merchant's offices along the station approach are now used as small retail and office units.

Read more about this topic:  Harpenden Railway Station

Famous quotes containing the word history:

    A man will not need to study history to find out what is best for his own culture.
    Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)

    There is a history in all men’s lives,
    Figuring the natures of the times deceased,
    The which observed, a man may prophesy,
    With a near aim, of the main chance of things
    As yet not come to life.
    William Shakespeare (1564–1616)

    History is more or less bunk. It’s tradition. We don’t want tradition. We want to live in the present and the only history that is worth a tinker’s damn is the history we make today.
    Henry Ford (1863–1947)