History under your wheels, The Berkhamsted gasworks tramway.
A good few of us may remember the big gasholder North of Berkhamsted alongside the Down Fast. What a good few of us may not know is that a narrow over bridge carried the "gasworks tramway" under the WCML at a point half a mile north of the station.
The 1ft 6 gauge line ran from a gravity dump from the standard gauge tracks in Berko goods yard where the car park now resides (alongside the Up Slow). The tramway ran alongside the US at a lower level, before curving through the Subway to run parallel to the DF again at a lower level to the gas works. The hoppers were horse powered until ceasing of rail borne coal deliveries in the mid 50's.
In 2004 some restoration of some of the track bed took place and in early 2009 I was amazed to find traces of surviving track on a recent nose around the publicly accessible "subway" area. Track also survives in the fenced off "subway" bridge section as well.
Next time you thunder North through Berko look out for the 2nd of 2 small bridges North of the station and look for History "under your wheels.".
Tramway phots.
The "subway" itself clearly has the original rails still in place amongst more modern junk as well Track was still in place curving sharply round to the left of this photo. Imagine 1000's of tons of coal came through here. The 350 overhead hopefully gives the small scale of the "subway". Return to the Main menu