Disused Stations: Uxbridge Belmont Road Station

[Source: Nick Catford]

Taken in 1929 and this time facing east, we have a good view of the station approach from Belmont Road. The arched sign above the entrance reads 'METROPOLITAN RAILWAY' and would have been in serif font. One curiosity appears in these aerial views which is especially obvious in this one. The track into the Up platform is either unused or little used and the polished railheads of the crossover and track into the Down platform strongly suggest all or most trains were using this platform. The idea had been for Metropolitan trains to use the Down platform, i.e. that with the station building, with the somewhat short-lived District trains and then Piccadilly trains using the Up platform. The apparent disuse, or only occasional use, of the Up platform would explain why one photograph on these pages shows a Piccadilly train at the Down platform. One can only assume service frequencies permitted use of the Down platform for all trains, which would have been more convenient for both passengers and staff. All that is known about this is what can be seen in photographs although some photographs, taken from 1933 onwards, do show trains in both platforms. Click here for a large version.
Photo from Britain From Above, reproduced with permission

One of seven aerial views of the Belmont Road station and goods yard in 1929. Belmont Road runs north-east along the left side of the picture with York Road running along the bottom. The start of the station approach road is seen bottom left with an arched sign above the road announcing 'Metropolitan Railway'. By the bend in the approach road steps from Belmont Road are seen. There are six parallel goods siding with No. 6 siding passing through a stone goods shed. The small building at the end of the shed is the goods office. No. 7 siding served the coal yard with a BP petrol depot at the far end. The large complex in the foreground is the warehouses and offices of Alfred Button & Co, wholesale grocers. In the middle of the complex there is a large covered yard which is open at one end. Click here for a large version.
Photo from Britain From Above, reproduced with permission

A vista from aloft across the station and part of the goods yard in 1929. For orientation purposes this view faces north with Belmont Road passing diagonally across top left and York Road diagonally from left toward the bottom right. Not immediately obvious is that a train has just arrived at the Down platform, the main telltale being the scattering of people walking away from the station along the approach road. Dominating the scene is the warehouse of Messrs. Alfred Button & Sons Ltd., wholesale grocers. Button referred to these premises as their 'Metropolitan Depot' and they also had retail premises at 33 High Street, Uxbridge. The 'short cut' steps down from Belmont Road can be seen top, left of centre and a number of road motor vehicles including what were probably two taxis beside the station building can also be seen. The coal depot, bottom right, has a nameboard on its roof. The second part of the name appears to be 'Ramsey' but no trace of a coal merchant by that or a very similar name has been found. Click here for a large version.
Photo from Britain From Above, reproduced with permission

Facing south-east, again in 1929. with Belmont Road running left to right across the bottom of the picture. This time we can see the goods yard in its entirety. The electrified siding running behind the signal box can be discerned and this siding also served Button's warehouse where some wagons can be seen alongside the awning where there would have been a goods platform. The current rails on this, No. 1, siding end short of the warehouse at the barrow crossing. Why this siding was electrified is unconfirmed but probably for rolling stock stabling overnight. Just outside Button's warehouse is a crossover connecting Nos. 1 & 2 sidings and it is thought likely Button's traffic used No. 2 siding, which has a goods loading gauge, upon which shunting and uncoupling could be performed away from the current rails. At left centre can be seen a yard crane on a circular plinth. The capacity of this crane is unknown. To the right of the crane is the Metropolitan goods shed, a fairly typical brick-built structure which likely would have contained another crane, perhaps of 1½ tons capacity. The design of the second shed, towards top right, indicates that it was quite obviously used by a coal merchant but also suggests not only coal was handled. Many such businesses were coal and corn, or coal and some other commodity, merchants. A rake of coal wagons is on the siding serving this shed; most wagons are private owner but two LMS wagons are also present. Behind the LMS wagon, fifth from right, is a horse-drawn road van - the only horse-drawn vehicle which can be seen among various types of motor vehicle. BP (British Petroleum) had a small facility at Belmont Road and this can be seen towards the top and left of centre. There are two rows of two storage tanks each with a hut at their west ends. There is a single tank wagon, coupled to an open wagon, stabled opposite. Click here for a large version.
Photo from Britain From Above, reproduced with permission

Belmont Road station and goods yard in 1929. Running north-east along the right edge of the picture an internal road served the coal yard. A rake of coal wagons is seen in the siding while a number of coal merchants were located along the right side of the road. Belmont Road signal box is seen top right. A crane on a circular plinth is seen between sidings 2 and 3. Click here for a large version.
Photo from Britain From Above, reproduced with permission

A view of Belmont Road station looking East in 1929. The entrance to the goods yard is on the far right. From here a road runs alongside siding 7 which served the coal yard. One coal merchant's shed is seen on the left at the end of the siding. Other merchants are spread out along the road to its right. At the far end of this road there is a BP petrol depot with what appear to be two road tankers parked. Click here for a large version.
Photo from Britain From Above, reproduced with permission

Belmont Road siding and goods yard seen from the air in 1929. York Road is seen running south east along the bottom of the picture. The entrance to the goods yard is seen bottom right, the weigh office and weigh bridge can just be made out just inside the entrance. The yard crane is clearly seen on a circular plinth between platforms 2 and 3. Click here for a large version.
Photo from Britain From Above, reproduced with permission

Station Name: UXBRIDGE (Belmont Road)