Great Western Coffee Shop

Where was I today?

This may take more than one clue, but lets see how good the forum's knowledge is....

1st clue:

(http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/hmm.jpg)

Kudos to anyone who gets it from this first clue.  :D

Henley branch

Sorry, no.

The river at Cookham on the Maidenhead-Marlow branch.

Brentford?

still no correct answer. Another photo to follow. In the mean time an additional clue:

Not in FGW land.

'Leicester Line'?

Nope. Although nice thinking. I am, however, referring to a railway line ;)

2nd photo clue:

(http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/hmm2.jpg)

I wonder if it's between Guildford and Christ's Hospital ... Wey and Arun Canal stub.   Just a guess.

Sorry, no.

Regent's canal?

Sorry, no.

Croxley Green Branch over Grand Union Canal.

Well done that man. I'm impressed! I visited the Croxley Green Branch (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watford_and_Rickmansworth_Railway#Croxley_Green_branch).

The 2nd photo is of the platform at Watford West.

Some more pics:

(http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/hmm7.jpg)
Absolutely no way up to the platform, it was a jungle behind the entrance!

(http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/hmm8.jpg)
'Scuse dark corner. Not my finger over the lens. Shutter stuck!

(http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/hmm6.jpg)
Watford West. Here it was possible to get down to the platform, although very overgrown.

(http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/hmm4.jpg)
Just visible is the 'Way Out' sign attached to a NSE lamp post. Also barely visible is the frame for the DOO mirror.

(http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/hmm9.jpg)
Watford West. To the left of this shot is the road bridge carrying Tolpits Lane over the line. It appeared as though someone was living rough under there. Also visible here is the 3rd rail. I avoided stepping on it although I doubt very much any juice remains!

(http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/hmm10.jpg)
Another view of the bridge over the Grand Union Canal.

It was your second photo and your clue that it was not FGW that gave it away.

Also we had a talk at Slough and Windsor Railway Society by someone who specialise in the branch and has a model of the depot that used to be at the Watford end.

Interesting line in that the depot was probably one of the only places where tube and full sized stock shared the same building. A couple of tracks had a 4th rail for tube stock.

Also it is one of TFLs aims tims to reopen the line, althougn I believe it isn't closed, linking it to the Watford North line near Croxley and shutting Watford North.

You would then have MET line trains from Baker Street serving Watfford Junction.

I think you mean Watford (Metropolitan) to close rather than Watford North, which is on the Abbey Line to St Albans.

The plan is to build a viaduct from the Metropolitan Line just to the north of Croxley Station (Met) take it across a main road and the canal and join the extant Croxley Green Branch at Ascot Road. The existing bridge over the canal will be abandoned as will the section of line from Ascot Road to Croxley Green Station.

Also being closed would be the section of track on the Metropolitan Line from the point where this new viaduct is built to Watford (Met) Station.

http://www.croxleyraillink.com/

Have friends in this area and have become fascinated by the history surrounding this short branch line. Probably the most recently 'closed' and abandoned passenger line on the UK network.

Sorry got my Watfords mixed up more used to one with the locks.