Station Name: STAINES WEST

[Source: Nick Catford]


Staines West Station Gallery 3:
March 1963 - November 1965

With his right hand operating the vacuum brake, the smartly attired driver brings his Pressed Steel single-unit DMU (later Class 121) into Staines West during March 1963. The unit is in its original livery, overhead warning flashes excepted, and displays the correct headcode for the branch passenger service. The destination blind shows 'West Drayton & Yiewsley', ready for the return journey. Perhaps the driver had altered the blind at Yeoveney. The 'Yiewsley' suffix was dropped from the station name in 1974 but continued to appear on DMU blinds until such a time as they required replacement. On the Western Region DMUs the Staines display could be either 'Staines West' or simply 'Staines'. The white cab roofs applied originally to certain DMU classes was not a good idea as it quickly dirtied, although the proximity of the exhaust stacks in this case do not appear to have had too much of an effect. Behind the DMU the top of Staines 'parachute' type water tower can be seen. The goods shed seen in the photo above has been demolished. The grounded 'Toad' brakevan body at far left stood over the well which supplied the water tower. The higher elevation of the tower relative to the well meant a pump would have been necessary and therefore is it reasonable to assume the brakevan body housed the pump. Steam traction still existed on Western Region in 1963 but whether the water tower was still operable at this time is not known. The space to the left of the DMU once housed Staines West engine shed; the shed closed in 1952 and was demolished soon afterwards but its pit is said to have remained. In this view to track to the shed has been lifted and, it would appear, the pit infilled. Other tracks remain in situ, including that serving the cattle dock visible left of centre. On the platform, the signage and lamp standard appear well maintained although the standard has lost its lamp. The goods yard was to the right and at least some of its tracks remain in situ albeit overgrown. In the right background the spur to the linoleum factory which had a quite extensive internal rail system can just be made out. It is not known if the factory, which ceased operation in 1969 and relocated to Tyneside, still received rail traffic in 1963 but in all probability it did as incoming goods would have largely comprised oil and chemical products.
Photo by John Leeming


A single-car Class 121 DMU at Staines West station with a West Drayton service is seen from the concourse in 1964.

The last scheduled passenger service waits to depart from Staines West in the evening
of 27 March 1965.
Photo by Keith Jaggers from Jaggers Family History web site


Staines West station forecourt c.1965
Photo by Keith Jaggers from Jaggers Family History web site


A 2-car Class 121 DMU awaiting departure from Staines West station c.1965.
Photo by Keith Jaggers from Jaggers Family History web site


Notice on the front of the final train during the evening of 27 March 1965.
Photo by Chris Totty



The LCGB/Railway Enthusiasts’ Club 'Thames Valley Railtour' approaches Staines West station on 25 July 1965, four months after closure of the branch.
Photo by Keith Jaggers from Jaggers Family History web site


The LCGB/Railway Enthusiasts’ Club 'Thames Valley Railtour' at Staines West station on 25 July 1965.
Photo by Chris Totty


The LCGB/Railway Enthusiasts’ Club 'Thames Valley Railtour' at Staines West station on 25 July 1965.
Photo by Keith Jaggers from Jaggers Family History web site


The LCGB/Railway Enthusiasts’ Club 'Thames Valley Railtour' at Staines West station on 25 July 1965.
Photo by Keith Jaggers from Jaggers Family History web site.

Staines West on 25 July 1965 during a visit by the LCGB/Railway Enthusiasts’ Club 'Thames Valley Railtour'. For the run down to Staines West locomotive number 9773, an ex-GWR 57XX pannier tank, built at Swindon in 1936, was used. With only five months’ service left, this loco worked the railtour legs, Southall to Brentford Goods, Brentford Goods to Staines West, then  Staines West to Windsor & Eton Central; here it handed over to 6106, an ex-GWR large Prairie tank. 9773 was withdrawn in December 1965 and cut up at Cashmores of Newport in June 1966.'
Photo by Keith Jaggers from Jaggers Family History web site


Closure notice at Staines West station in November 1965. The west wing of the building was originally longer on the lower floor but was shortened to match the upper floor when the building was converted into the railway terminus. The rendered wall shows where the building was shortened. The entrance porch is also a later addition.
Photo by J E Connor

Click here for Staines West Station Gallery 4:
November 1965 - July 1975



 

 

 

[Source: Nick Catford]




Last updated: Saturday, 03-Feb-2018 13:20:51 CET
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