Notes: The branch from West Drayton to Uxbridge was authorised in 1853. Work on the line which was just over two miles in length, started in 1854 and following a Board of Trade inspection the first passengers were carried on 8th September 1856. The terminus at Uxbridge faced onto Vine Street and consisted of a single storey 'L' shaped building with a covered concourse leading to the central island platform. This was flanked on either side by two shorter narrow platforms. The station was also provided with an overall roof (trainshed). The branch had one intermediate station at Cowley which was added in 1904.

A single road brick engine shed and turntable was sited on the east side of the station while the goods yard with a brick built goods shed was sited on the west side.

The single track broad gauge line was an immediate success but in 1871 the track was re-laid as standard gauge with the line reopening on 9th October 1871 with some trains now running through to and from Paddington. Both passenger and freight traffic continued to increase and in 1881 it was necessary to double the line after which a new service was introduced between Uxbridge and Aldgate on the Metropolitan Line.

The engine shed was closed in 1897 and in the early 20th Century the station itself was threatened with closure to passengers following a proposal to extend the line northwards to join the GWR at Denham. This would have rendered 'Vine Street' redundant with a new station being provided to the west of the town. At the same time the Metropolitan Railway was also

The first world war brought a reduction in passenger numbers but these picked up again after the war. In 1923 the trainshed roof was removed and replaced by a platform canopy and at the same time the narrow platforms on either side of the central island were cut back to a short stub. After the second world war passengers were again in decline with commuters preferring the more convenient and faster Metropolitan and Picadilly line services into London and once the line began running at a loss closure was inevitable.

Despite the usual public protests the station closed to passengers on 10th September 1962. Although the freight service remained profitable and the line was resignaled, this only lasted until 24th February 1964 with final closure following on 13th July that year when the parcels service was also withdrawn.

The track was lifted in March/April 1965 and the island platform was demolished shortly afterwards. The station building lingered a little longer and for a short time was used for storage by a local retailer. By early 1968 it was derelict and it was demolished the following year. The stub of one of the side platforms remained at least until the mid 1970's but the whole area was completely cleared when the A4020 Hillingdon Road was realigned straight through the station site part of which is also under an adjacent office block.

Today little remains of the Vine Street branch; Cowley Station has also been demolished and all the bridges have been removed. The cutting alongside Brunel University has been infilled but a short length of track bed running parallel with Cleveland Road, Cowley has been retained as a nature reserve and a short length of broad gauge track has been laid along it.

Further reading: GWR Disused Stations in Greater London by J.E. Connor - Connor & Butler 2000 ISBN 0 947699 31 7

Other web sites: Abandoned Tube Stations - includes photographs of the branch in 2005

See also Cowley