Resources Search Results - full record

Title TRAVELLING ON THE "NICKY"

Description

Until a few months ago, I travelled to School on the LMS line between the Harpenden mainline station and Heath Park Halt. The train that consisted of an old- fashioned engine plus one rather tattered and old, rattling coach was called by the schoolchildren, the ?Nicky?. This name originated when the line was laid. It appears that the men who built it were Irishmen and wore knickerbockers.

The ?Nicky? arrived at Harpenden from Hemel Hempstead in the mornings at 8 o?clock and stood in the sidings, letting off steam, and generally disturbing the peace of the village with hissing and squealing noises until about 8.30 am, but unless the Luton train was on time, and that was very rarely, it was after 8.45 am before we left the station. If the Luton train was very late, we also had to wait for the Manchester train to go through, and it was often after 9 am before we left. This generally occurred in the winter, when there was not any heat on the station, or on the ?Nicky?. By the time one arrived at school, one did not know whether one?s feet were still attached to the body or otherwise.

There we stood, the band of ?happy warriors?, ready to begin our journey on the most ?dangerous and hazardous piece of railway? in the world. By name we were known to each other and to the Harpenden station staff as ?Jo, Kay, Val, Lizzy, Pud, Ginger, Monty and Nibs?. The journey was usually spent quietly, as we touched up our previous night?s ?prep? until we reached Redbourn ?Junction? where the following, ?Jean, Froggy, Babs and Bob? crashed in and disturbed the peace. From then on, no one did anything as one?s concentration was distracted by the jokes and frivolities of the new additions to the happy family.

On our arrival at the halt, the guard opened the door for us and we all bundled out. Down the steps we ran, and made our way to school along Park Road and up the hill to Heath Lane, exchanging jokes and chatting as we went. In ordinary circumstances we arrived in form about 9.25 and so began our day.

With the afternoon school over we proceeded to the homework room, where we commenced our ?prep? until about 4.10 pm. Then we went off down the hill again, but this time along Cotterells, the attraction being the ?Pop Shop?. If we had time, we rushed in and ?had one? (but never one over the eight), and sometimes bought a couple of buns or rolls from the bakery on the opposite corner.

The return journey differed from the morning in the fact that we were full of high spirits at going home. On birthdays and end of term days we feasted on buns, pop and somebody?s ?mother?s home-made cake?. Much to our disgust, just before joining the main line at Harpenden, we always stopped at the signal. Often, this resulted in a thirty minutes wait and made us late home.

Joyce Walmsley (Form 1VS)

Taken from ?A Brief History of Hemel Hempstead School, Celebrating 75 Years 1931 ? 2006.? by Colin Hollick

Keywords Harpenden, Nicky Line

Collection Hemel Hempstead School

Place Hemel Hempstead

Year 1939 - 1945

Conflict World War Two

File type html

Record ID number 122

Return to the search results?

Can you add any more information to this resource?

If so please complete this form and we will be in touch

Change text size -

Title	TRAVELLING ON THE "NICKY"
Description	Until a few months ago, I travelled to School on the LMS line between the Harpenden mainline station and Heath Park Halt. The train that consisted of an old- fashioned engine plus one rather tattered and old, rattling coach was called by the schoolchildren, the ?Nicky?. This name originated when the line was laid. It appears that the men who built it were Irishmen and wore knickerbockers. The ?Nicky? arrived at Harpenden from Hemel Hempstead in the mornings at 8 o?clock and stood in the sidings, letting off steam, and generally disturbing the peace of the village with hissing and squealing noises until about 8.30 am, but unless the Luton train was on time, and that was very rarely, it was after 8.45 am before we left the station. If the Luton train was very late, we also had to wait for the Manchester train to go through, and it was often after 9 am before we left. This generally occurred in the winter, when there was not any heat on the station, or on the ?Nicky?. By the time one arrived at school, one did not know whether one?s feet were still attached to the body or otherwise. There we stood, the band of ?happy warriors?, ready to begin our journey on the most ?dangerous and hazardous piece of railway? in the world. By name we were known to each other and to the Harpenden station staff as ?Jo, Kay, Val, Lizzy, Pud, Ginger, Monty and Nibs?. The journey was usually spent quietly, as we touched up our previous night?s ?prep? until we reached Redbourn ?Junction? where the following, ?Jean, Froggy, Babs and Bob? crashed in and disturbed the peace. From then on, no one did anything as one?s concentration was distracted by the jokes and frivolities of the new additions to the happy family. On our arrival at the halt, the guard opened the door for us and we all bundled out. Down the steps we ran, and made our way to school along Park Road and up the hill to Heath Lane, exchanging jokes and chatting as we went. In ordinary circumstances we arrived in form about 9.25 and so began our day. With the afternoon school over we proceeded to the homework room, where we commenced our ?prep? until about 4.10 pm. Then we went off down the hill again, but this time along Cotterells, the attraction being the ?Pop Shop?. If we had time, we rushed in and ?had one? (but never one over the eight), and sometimes bought a couple of buns or rolls from the bakery on the opposite corner. The return journey differed from the morning in the fact that we were full of high spirits at going home. On birthdays and end of term days we feasted on buns, pop and somebody?s ?mother?s home-made cake?. Much to our disgust, just before joining the main line at Harpenden, we always stopped at the signal. Often, this resulted in a thirty minutes wait and made us late home. Joyce Walmsley (Form 1VS) Taken from ?A Brief History of Hemel Hempstead School, Celebrating 75 Years 1931 ? 2006.? by Colin Hollick
Keywords	Harpenden, Nicky Line
Collection	Hemel Hempstead School
Place	Hemel Hempstead
Year	1939 - 1945
Conflict	World War Two
File type	html
Record ID number	122