Details about the railway line on what is now known as the Ebury Way were requested. Peter Booth of Nascot Street, Watford, wrote in: WITH regard to your reader's query about the old railway line, I have researched the following: The Watford and Rickmansworth Railway Company was incorporated on July 3, 1860, to build a railway from Watford Junction to Rickmansworth, a distance of four-and-a-half miles.

The railway opened on October 1, 1862, with one intermediate station at Watford High Street.

In 1869, the Board of Directors consisted of Lord Ebury, Joseph Carey, Reginald Capel, John Dillon and R W Grosvenor MP.

The railway was operated by The London and North Western Railway, and in 1887 boasted 15 daily services from Rickmansworth to Watford, and 16 in the reverse direction. Two services in each direction were through trains to or from London Euston, via Watford Junction.

There was one morning and one afternoon service in each direction on Sundays. There was also one Wednesday-only service from Watford to Rickmansworth departing after midnight. The journey took ten minutes.

In 1920 a third class single from Rickmansworth to Watford High Street cost 3d.

Rickmansworth station was renamed Rickmansworth Church Street on September 25, 1950, and the line closed to passenger traffic on March 3, 1952.

I do not know when the track was lifted, but I well remember seeing occasional steam hauled freight workings in the 1960s.

The branch line from Watford High Street to Watford West and Croxley Green was opened on June 15, 1912, but was entirely separate from the Watford and Rickmansworth.

Sources: Bradshaw's Railway Manual Shareholders' Guide and Directory 1869, Bradshaw's August 1887 Railway Guide. (Both David and Charles reprints). The Directory of Railway Stations - RVJ Butt (Patrick Stephens 1995).