As some of you may be aware I have a passion for books and collect antiquarian books and whilst most are displayed in one of my numerous bookcases, some due to their condition or size need to be stored elsewhere. I also have a collection of modern books and this is the reason that I am always on the look-out for trunks and the like. They are very useful for storing my books and the other collectables that I have picked up during my travels. But alas, all great ideas are overruled and a couple of my prized trunks have been seconded for more domestic uses.
My 19th Century Chinese Chest, which I purchased from the Arcade in 2007, now holds both our summer and winter wardrobes. Two small pine chests and the ornate oak trunk now hold a variety of items ranging from bed linen to the grandchildren’s toys. Therefore, I was casually searching for another trunk or two. But as normal, when you are looking, there is nothing to be found. That was until last Friday when I found a rather interesting railway trunk dating, as far as I can see, from the 1920/30s.
Like many, I have always liked the romance of the railways (and yes I have watched the two most recent steam trains that have passed through Hungerford) and have very casually collected railway memorabilia for the last thirty years.
Imagine my pleasure when I found a rather battered old railway trunk in the junk section at the Arcade on my last visit. It was rather tired and looked rather travelled to say the least (its locks had seen better days). But what really attracted me to this trunk was the luggage label that had been attached to it many years ago.
Although partially torn, the GWR luggage label indicated that my trunk at some time had travelled from Uxbridge Vine Street. This long lost railway station closed in 1962 and was one of two to be found in Uxbridge. But both fell victim to the Underground connection that the town now enjoys.
I went to college in Uxbridge and met my future wife there and have known the town off and on since 1963. But, I cannot remember Uxbridge Vine Street Railway Station. I can remember that the station site was used for a Saturday market in the early 1970s and that traces of the railway could be seen near Brunel University at the time.
The actual railway history of Uxbridge is quite interesting, as apart from Vine Street, there was also Uxbridge High Street Railway Station which was not far from the beautiful Deco Odeon cinema which was so disgracefully demolished a few years ago.
Uxbridge High Street Railway Station was actually the younger of the two railway stations and was opened for passenger use in May 1907. It suffered a short and sad history.
There was a temporary closure between 1917 and 1920 and the station lingered on until 1939 when the passenger services were suspended after only thirty-two years of operation. The actual station was totally closed in February 1964 when the goods services ceased.
The initial idea was to link the High Street station with the Vine Street Station via a viaduct. This would have meant that the High Street line which ran from Denham and Gerrards Cross would have been connected with the line from West Drayton. In retrospect, this would have been a good idea as it would have provided a fine connection between the lines out of Marylebone and the main lines to the West Country. But it is a well known fact that the people who run the railways do not always think as the rest of us do. One needs only to think of the ridiculous closure of the Maidenhead to High Wycombe branch in 1970 to illustrate this. This brilliant idea however bit the dust long before Beeching and his pals ruined the railway network.
It appears that a great deal of land was purchased and a bridge was constructed over the High Street, but that was as far as it got. The idea was abandoned in 1914 for obvious reasons and the option was not taken up after the war.
In the early 1970s there was still plenty to see, but on my last visit to the area a few years ago a lot of this had disappeared, although the course of the line could still be traced towards Denham. But what of Vine Street?
Well the station was opened in September 1856 and this branch line ran from West Drayton a few miles away. The intention was to construct an extension northwards towards Watford Junction (1863) via Rickmansworth but the GWR got cold feet and the scheme was shelved.
There was an intermediate station at Cowley (1904) and part of the branch line was shared with the Staines West Branch (1885). But this was as good as it got and the competition from the Underground (which was muchmore direct) finally killed off Vine Street and the last passenger trains ran in September 1962.
The station, which was more substantial than the High Street station, lingered on for another seven years before being demolished in 1969. There is absolutely nothing left of Vine Street station as the Hillingdon Road now covers the site. But as with the High Street branch, one can see as they leave the town, traces of this long lost railway.
But, I have forgotten about my trunk which at some time during its long life visited Uxbridge Vine Street Railway Station. Was it a one off visit or did the owners live in Uxbridge or nearby? Where were they going on the day that the luggage label was attached to the trunk? I will never be able to answer these questions and this is the romantic mystery that so attracted me to the trunk in the first place.
For the time being, it is full of late Victorian books and sits proudly in my study. Its scruffy outward appearance might deter invaders, but the interior of the trunk has been well preserved and is ideal for books. I did not visit the Arcade on that day with the view of finding a railway trunk, but as with most things, I found it by accident.
bookcases, some due to their condition or size need to be stored elsewhere. I also have a collection of modern books and this is the reason that I am always on the look-out for trunks and the like. They are very useful for storing my books and the other collectables that I have picked up during my travels. But alas, all great ideas are overruled and a couple of my prized trunks have been seconded for more domestic uses.
My 19th Century Chinese Chest, which I purchased from the Arcade in 2007, now holds both our summer and winter wardrobes. Two small pine chests and the ornate oak trunk now hold a variety of items ranging from bed linen to the grandchildren’s toys. Therefore, I was casually searching for another trunk or two. But as normal, when you are looking, there is nothing to be found. That was until last Friday when I found a rather interesting railway trunk dating, as far as I can see, from the 1920/30s.
Imagine my pleasure when I found a rather battered old railway trunk in the junk section at the Arcade on my last visit. It was rather tired and looked rather travelled to say the least (its locks had seen better days). But what really attracted me to this trunk was the luggage label that had been attached to it many years ago.
The station, which was more substantial than the High Street station, lingered on for another seven years before being demolished in 1969. There is absolutely nothing left of Vine Street station as the Hillingdon Road now covers the site. But as with the High Street branch, one can see as they leave the town, traces of this long lost railway.
But, I have forgotten about my trunk which at some time during its long life visited Uxbridge Vine Street Railway Station. Was it a one off visit or did the owners live in Uxbridge or nearby? Where were they going on the day that the luggage label was attached to the trunk? I will never be able to answer these questions and this is the romantic mystery that so attracted me to the trunk in the first place.
For the time being, it is full of late Victorian books and sits proudly in my study. Its scruffy outward appearance might deter invaders, but the interior of the trunk has been well preserved and is ideal for books. I did not visit the Arcade on that day with the view of finding a railway trunk, but as with most things, I found it by accident.