Hampstead Junction Railway
| Company type | Railway company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | August 20, 1853 |
| Defunct | 1867 |
| Fate | Incorporated into North London Railway |
| Headquarters | London , England |
Area served | North-west London |
The Hampstead Junction Railway was a rail route situated in north-west London, England, inaugurated in 1860. It linked the pre-existing North London Railway at Camden with the North and South Western Junction Railway. Traversing largely undeveloped land, it encouraged suburban growth and offered passenger services to the City of London, while also connecting various rail lines. The railway was incorporated into the North London Railway in 1867. Its track remains operational today, accommodating North London Line passenger services as well as substantial freight traffic.
Origins
Established under the Hampstead Junction Railway Act 1853 (16 & 17 Vict. c. ccxxii) on 20 August 1853, the Hampstead Junction Railway was commissioned to construct a rail link from Willesden on the London and North Western Railway (LNWR) to the North London Railway (NLR) at Camden, including a branch line connecting to the North and South Western Junction Railway (N&SWJR) at Old Oak Junction.
The key objective was to facilitate local passenger services on the NLR extending westwards toward Kew and Richmond without routing through Camden station and the Primrose Hill Tunnel, where heavy LNWR main line traffic restricted frequent local train operations.
The North London Railway extended from Poplar in east London westward through Canonbury and Camden, joining the LNWR at Willesden, thus linking docks and Fenchurch Street station in central London.
West of this, the N&SWJR branched south from the LNWR main line at Willesden toward Kew, connecting with the London and South Western Railway (LSWR) and providing routes to Richmond.
With increasing commuter demand to the City and growing freight volumes from East London's docks and industrial zones heading to western suburbs, the Hampstead Junction line helped ease congestion on the LNWR main line by linking the NLR with the N&SWJR.
Opening
Commencing operations on 2 January 1860, the line was initially run by the North London Railway. From 1864 onwards, management transitioned to the North London Railway itself, which was subsequently absorbed by the LNWR in 1867.
Route description
The Hampstead Junction Railway branched north from the North London Railway at Camden Road Junction. A station named Kentish Town opened at Prince of Wales Road on 1 April 1867; this was renamed Kentish Town West on 2 June 1924. The line then curved westward near what was originally Kentish Town station (renamed Gospel Oak from 1 February 1867), passing through Hampstead Heath station and traversing the 1,166-yard Hampstead Tunnel. Following this was Finchley Road St Johns Wood station, renamed Finchley Road & Frognal on 2 October 1880. The railway crossed over the Midland Railway main line close to West End Lane station, which became West Hampstead on 6 May 1975.
Edgware Road station experienced multiple name changes between 1872 and 1873 before settling as Brondesbury. Brondesbury Park station opened on 1 June 1908, succeeded by Kensal Green & Harlesden station. A station called Kensal Green began service at Chamberlayne Wood on 1 April 1873; it was renamed Kensal Rise on 24 May 1890. This replaced an earlier facility located at Green Lane (later Wrottesley Road), which had operated from 1 November 1861 with staggered platforms and closed when the new station opened. West of this former station lay a three-way junction connecting both to the LNWR main line and joining with the N&SWJR at Old Oak Junction.
The line's gradient ascends toward its highest point within Hampstead Tunnel, featuring a steep westbound incline of approximately 1 in 98.
Electrification commenced on 1 October 1916 using a four-rail system supplying 600 V DC for trains running between Broad Street and Richmond as well as Kew Bridge. This system was converted to a three-rail configuration in August 1970.
In 1996, significant upgrades related to Eurostar operations necessitated closure of the line, including reinforcement work on Hampstead Tunnel. Service resumed on 29 September 1996 with electrification upgraded to a 25 kV AC overhead system.