| Date | 17 April 2015 |
|---|---|
| Source | Slough Observer |
| Reference | VP-0081 |
| Volume | Views of the Past |
| Collection | Views of the Past |
Transcript
College opposed trains
THE branch line between Slough and Windsor opened on October 8, 1849, despite a great deal of opposition from Eton College. It was built as a broad gauge line, but was later converted to a dual gauge track in 1862.
Between 1883 and 1885, the branch line was also served by the Metropolitan District Railway, which was later to become part of the London tube network, now known as the Metropolitan Line, and which was London’s first underground railway. It could be said that Windsor had its own underground railway, both in theory and in practice.
The junction at Slough, at the start of the branch line, was triangular in shape and connected the Great Western Railway in both eastbound and westbound directions. There was an early turntable capable of turning trains in either direction at the Slough railway shed.
There were originally two tracks, known as ‘chords’. The most popular was the eastern one, which is in use today. The western chord was known as the Royal or Queen’s Curve and was used mostly by royalty or excursion trains running to Windsor. It closed in 1964.
All land west of the eastern chord, including the site of the Royal Curve, was later sold for housing. These tracks can be seen on old aerial photographs.
The branch line had only one intermediate stop, known as Chalvey Halt. It was not built until 1929 and opened in May that year, at a cost of £840. It had both up and down platforms and was built from heavy timbers using the Great Western Railway standard designs for halts. There were also shelters and steps leading down to the road. The halt sadly closed just 14 months after its completion when, according to local accounts, the station collapsed into the surrounding gardens. The short siding adjacent to the station was used by the Ministry of Defence during World War Two, until 1944.
The station at Windsor is approached along a brick viaduct and Windsor Railway Bridge, Brunel’s oldest surviving railway bridge. The station started life as a train shed and was completely rebuilt for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897. It originally had five tracks, but today there is only one.
VICTORIAN: The original Windsor Station, shed-like in its construction, c.1860
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