Harlesden railway station (Midland Railway)
Harlesden railway station was a station in northwest London on the south side of the southern section of a road called Craven Park, which is part of the A404 Harrow Road between Paddington and Wembley. The station was sometimes known as Harrow Road or as Stonebridge Park.
| Harlesden | |
|---|---|
 The former Harlesden Station goods office, demolished in 2011. The ticket office was off to the right, above the railway lines. | |
| Location | Harlesden |
| Local authority | London Borough of Brent |
| Number of platforms | 2 |
| Railway companies | |
| Original company | Midland Railway |
| Pre-grouping | Midland Railway |
| Key dates | |
| 3 August 1875 | Opened as Harrow Road for Stonebridge Park and West Willesden |
| 1 February 1876 | Renamed Harrow Road for Stonebridge Park and Harlesden |
| 1 May 1878 | Renamed Harrow Road |
| 1 October 1879 | Renamed Harrow Road for Stonebridge and Harlesden |
| 1 November 1880 | Renamed Harrow Road for Stonebridge Park and Harlesden |
| 1 July 1884 | Renamed Stonebridge Park for West Willesden and Harlesden |
| 2 July 1888 | Closed |
| 1 March 1893 | Reopened |
| 1 February 1901 | Renamed Harlesden for West Willesden and Stonebridge Park |
| 1 October 1902 | Closed |
| Other information | |
 London transport portal | |
It was opened by the Midland Railway on the Dudding Hill Line on 3 August 1875,[1] partly to service the neighbouring exclusive Craven Park Estate.
Originally named Harrow Road for Stonebridge Park and West Willesden, the station was renamed several times: on 1 February 1876 it became Harrow Road for Stonebridge Park and Harlesden; on 1 May 1878 Harrow Road; on 1 October 1879 Harrow Road for Stonebridge and Harlesden; on 1 November 1880 Harrow Road for Stonebridge Park and Harlesden;[1] and on 1 July 1884 Stonebridge Park for West Willesden and Harlesden.[2] The station was closed on 2 July 1888.[3]
It was reopened on 1 March 1893,[3] and on 1 February 1901 it was renamed again, becoming Harlesden for West Willesden and Stonebridge Park.[2] It was finally closed to passengers for a second time on 1 October 1902,[1] after a sustained campaign by local people. The neighbouring goods sidings were in use for coal deliveries until the 1960s. The street level station buildings were demolished in the 1960s.[4] The former goods office still stood in 2010, although the interior and much of the roof was destroyed in a fire in December 2009. Some platform edges remain, although most were removed when the railway embankment was pinned to stop slippage in 2001.
The Dudding Hill Line remains in use for freight services today. The station stood on the later 1855 straightening of this road, which meant the railway had to be built under two roads of the same name.
It should not be confused with Harlesden station, an existing Network Rail station, some three or four hundred metres south, served by Bakerloo line and London Overground trains.
| Preceding station | Disused railways | Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acton Central Line open, station open |
Midland Railway Dudding Hill Line |
Dudding Hill Line open, station closed |
Re-opening proposals
Harlesden station features in the North and West London Light Railway proposal which has been promoted by the Campaign for Better Transport. A new light rail station is suggested for the other side of the road, between the two Craven Park road bridges.[5]
R25 Proposals
In 2014 plans by Boris Johnson for an orbital railway around London were released with a stop at Harlesden using the old Dudding Hill Line to link up with Cricklewood and would stop at Harlesden.[6]
 The Dudding Hill Line passing through Harlesden station |
 The Victorian Super Outer Circle route. Harlesden (Midland) station is on the middle left, to the left of "Willesden Junction" |
See also
References
- Butt, R.V.J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations. Yeovil: Patrick Stephens Ltd. p. 114. ISBN 1-85260-508-1. R508.
- Butt 1995, pp. 114, 221
- Butt 1995, p. 221
- Forgotten Stations of Greater London BY J.E.Connor and B.Halford
- "New rail line needed to tackle traffic at Brent Cross". Campaign for Better Transport. 23 January 2008. Retrieved 16 December 2009.
- "New Rail Orbital for London". Retrieved 13 July 2014.
- Site visit May 2009
- Londons Local Railways: Alan A Jackson
- London's Railways: Edwin Course
External links
- Site record at Disused Stations – Subterranea Britannica
- Trainspots photographs The Dudding Hill Line in Craven Park. The closed station is bottom-middle of the aerial photograph
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