In July 1860, Lord Ebury obtained powers to construct a 4.5 mile single track line between Watford and Rickmansworth which opened in October 1862.

The Rickmansworth terminus was located opposite the church to the south of the town where interchange sidings were provided with the nearby Grand Union Canal.

Lord Ebury's ambition to link Watford and Uxbridge was never realised, and the W&RR was to remain a short branch line for its entire operation.

The line was worked from the outset by the London and North Western Railway (LNWR), which shared Watford Junction station with the W&RR.

Although the Metropolitan did not reach the town of Watford until 1925, the LNWR was keen to act against emerging competition and in 1908 began work on a new branch line to Croxley Green.

[6][7] The following year, the LNWR built a new stretch of track from Watford High Street over the River Colne to Bushey & Oxhey railway station, with another connecting line turning south towards Rickmansworth.

The semi-rural location of the Croxley Green terminus gave added credence to the LNWR's slogan "Live in the Country".

The Croxley Green branch was electrified on 30 October 1922, with Rickmansworth following in September 1927 as part of the LNWR's New Line Project.

The Church Street station continued to be used for goods services until 1967 when it was completely closed and the line cut back to one of the intermediate freight sidings.

The branch continued to serve a papermill near Croxley Green until 20 January 1983, British Rail having retained a contract to carry oil fuel supplies.

[18] Although identified in the Beeching Report for closure, consent was refused and a peak service was run for many years along the Croxley Green branch.