Over the years we’ve often featured rediscovered tram track underneath the road surface, exactly as it was when the tramways were abandoned and the concrete had just been put on top. But in some locations the track was removed and cut up into smaller sections to then be used to strengthen the road surface. One such location was Edgware Road in Colindale, London where recent utility work has rediscovered these small sections of track once more.
Trams last ran along Colindale Road in 1936 when they were abandoned in favour of trolleybuses and motorbuses but its thought that the tracks remained in place until during the Second World War when they were removed and presumably at that point cut into smaller sections and used to strengthen the road surface. This means that it is likely these short sections now rediscovered have been performing that role for the best part of 80 years – you would imagine the idea of strengthening the road surface was a success then!
It isn’t just this small section of road where this practice was carried out by Middlesex Council as back in the 1990s the same arrangement was seen a mile or so south of this location during similar works.
The rail has been seen in Edgware Road just by the former Colindale tram and trolleybus depot which closed in 1962 and now partially houses a KFC!
The service trench where the track has been found is on the left on this shot. The sections of track can be seen jutting out at regular intervals. The KFC in the background is the corner of the old depot site.
A closer view of the trench and old track.
If you look carefully in front of the digger here you can see removed sections of track. (All Photographs by Andrew Simpson)