Decline
Passenger demand was never high and further declined during the inter-war years. The rivalry between the Midland and LNW Railway companies ensured that the line ultimately failed to serve the people of Hemel Hempstead in the most useful way possible, and the last passenger train ran in December 1947, following a 'temporary' suspension of services due to the national coal shortage.
Following nationalisation of the railways, the connection of the lines at Boxmoor which had so long been a bone of contention was finally resolved, the connection being made to allow coal trains to supply the nearby gasworks at Duckhall. Having finally connected the lines, this service ran for all of six months in 1959 before the line was closed altogether. The viaduct crossing the lower end of Marlowes was demolished on July 6, 1960 during redevelopment of the town centre. Many people turned out to witness the demolition of this local landmark, and the event was well recorded in photographs.
The line between Cupid Green and Harpenden was privately owned by the Hemelite company from 1968, and was used to transport raw materials for manufacturing building blocks via Harpenden to their works at Cupid Green. The line beyond this point to the terminus at Hemel was lifted during the late 1950s.
It is notable that prior to Hemel Hempstead being chosen as the site for a new town, Redbourn was also considered. Had this occurred then the Nicky Line would have been significantly upgraded to provide a link between the main line at Hemel and a new station at Redbourn.
Read more about this topic: Nicky Line
Famous quotes containing the word decline:
“The chief misery of the decline of the faculties, and a main cause of the irritability that often goes with it, is evidently the isolation, the lack of customary appreciation and influence, which only the rarest tact and thoughtfulness on the part of others can alleviate.”
—Charles Horton Cooley (1864–1929)
“Our achievements speak for themselves. What we have to keep track of are our failures, discouragements, and doubts. We tend to forget the past difficulties, the many false starts, and the painful groping. We see our past achievements as the end result of a clean forward thrust, and our present difficulties as signs of decline and decay.”
—Eric Hoffer (1902–1983)
“Families suffered badly under industrialization, but they survived, and the lives of men, women, and children improved. Children, once marginal and exploited figures, have moved to a position of greater protection and respect,... The historic decline in the overall death rates for children is an astonishing social fact, notwithstanding the disgraceful infant mortality figures for the poor and minorities. Like the decline in death from childbirth for women, this is a stunning achievement.”
—Joseph Featherstone (20th century)