DMU Operations: London Midland Region
Harrow - Belmont
The ACV lightweight diesel train was tested on the 1 ¼ mile on several occasions in 1954: in June; 1st to 6th September; and was back on 18 October.
Appearances continued through 1955 as the experimental set was taken into BR stock allocated to Watford Junction (1C) and more vehicles were delivered. These railcars also worked the St Albans branch. The Harrow branch only formally switched to diesel working with the delivery of the final ACV set in August 1957, although reversion to steam was not unusual due to the unreliability of the railcars.
Four Park Royal sets were transferred to Watford Junction in December 1958 and these would also become regulars on the line.
The Belmont branch closed on the 5th October 1964, on the last day of the service on the 3rd M50413/56169 were in operation.
Sample Timetable
15th June to 13th September 1959
In the LMR Passenger Services timetable it was Table 54 (0.6 mb pdf).
Images
24th May 1954
A London Midland Region publicity image (negative DG499) showing the original three ACV/BUT railcar vehicles in Belmont station on 24 May 1954. Vehicles are 2 (later M79740), 3 (later M79741) and 1 (later M79742). Note the BUT plaque on the buffer beam. British Railways.
23rd January 1960
An ACV railcar in Harrow and Wealdstone station on a rainy 23 January 1960. The three vehicles are thought to be M79745 + M79747 + M79742 which were the regular cars in use on the Belmont service at that time. Stuart Mackay Collection.
23rd January 1960
An ACV railcar in Harrow and Wealdstone station on a rainy 23 January 1960. The three vehicles are thought to be M79745 + M79747 + M79742 which were the regular cars in use on the Belmont service at that time. Stuart Mackay Collection.
23rd January 1960
An ACV railcar on the Belmont branch seen from Harrow and Wealdstone on a rainy 23 January 1960. The three vehicles are thought to be M79742 + M79747 + M79745 which were the regular cars in use on the Belmont service at that time. Stuart Mackay Collection.
23rd January 1960
An ACV railcar in Belmont station on a rainy 23 January 1960. Closest is M79742, the other two are thought to be M79747 + M79745, the regular cars in use on the braqnch at that time. Stuart Mackay Collection.
1st September 1962
A two-car Park Royal DMU approaching Harrow & Wealdstone station with the branch train from Belmont on the Stanmore branch, 1 September 1962. John Cosford.
1st September 1962
A Park Royal DMU at Belmont on 1 September 1962 with the freight-only line to Stanmore in the background. John Cosford.
1st September 1962
A Park Royal DMU with M56166 closest in Belmont station on the Stanmore branch, 1 September 1962. John Cosford.
1st September 1962
A Park Royal DMU (M56166 closest) in Harrow & Wealdstone station with the branch train to Belmont on the Stanmore branch, 1 September 1962. Passenger services to Stanmore had been withdrawn in 1952 and freight services in 1964. Belmont station was closed on 5th October 1964. John Cosford.
circa 1964
A Park Royal DMU in Belmont station circa 1964, the last remains of the former LNWR Stanmore Village branch. It still carries 3C on the buffer beams (Ryecroft depot) and has had the electrification flashes removed. The missing paint around the left windscreen suggests this is M56166. Image by Tony Martens. John Law Collection.