There is no straight simple answer to this question.
I think Western 91 means the Luton single line on the down side. There was no down goods there. On the up side the Hertford branch between Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield was converted to an up goods following closure of that section of the branch to passenger traffic in 1944.
The beginning of the end occurred when Bridge 62 (Wrestler’s) collapsed on Sunday, 20th February 1966. See Report:
https://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docum ... 1966-2.pdf
Following the collapse, these WON extracts should cover the abolition of these lines. Track lifting was a gradual, long-drawn-out process:
(10N/1966 05/03-11/03/1966)
*UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE-BETWEEN HATFIELD AND WELWYN GARDEN CITY
In connection with the demolition of Bridge No. 62, the following alterations have been made:-
A temporary buffer stop has been erected on the Luton single line adjacent to Hatfield No. 3 Starting Signal for this line. The portion of line between Hatfield and the temporary buffer stops will be used as a siding.
The Up Goods line between Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield has been taken out of use and a temporary buffer stop has been erected on this line adjacent to Sherrifs (Mount Pleasant) siding ground frame approximately 10 yards Welwyn Garden City side of temporary Bridge No. 62.
The portion of the Up Goods line between Welwyn Garden City and the temporary buffer stops will be used as a siding.
Traffic for Sherrifs Siding will be worked from Welwyn Garden City and each movement will be accompanied by an Inspector.
The signal arms have been removed from the following running signals at Welwyn Garden City:-
Back Platform Home to Up Goods.
Up Reception to Up Goods.
Up Sidings to Up Goods.
The calling on arms below these signals will be used to allow access to the Siding (former Up Goods line).
The “Limit of Shunt” board, situated on the cess side of the Up Goods line, Welwyn side of Sherrifs Siding ground frame, has been removed. ,MO/S/50472 (UFN)
This Notice was repeated as necessary, sometimes with slightly different wording. Then:
(21N/1966)
*SUNDAY 22nd MAY 1966 BETWEEN HATFIELD NO. 3 AND WELWYN GARDEN CITY
With the exception of the Up distant signal from Blackbridge the Luton Platform Up starting signal and the notice board fitted to the post of the Luton Platform Down starting signal, all Luton branch line signalling will be abolished.
The Luton Branch line between Hatfield No. 3 Down branch starting signal (buffer stops at Bridge No. 62) and the London end of Welwyn Garden City Station will be permanently out of use.
The points leading from the Luton Branch line to the Hatfield end of the Goods Loop at Welwyn Garden City will be abolished, those at the Blackbridge end being temporarily secured out of use.
The remainder of the Luton line will be renamed Blackbridge line.
A new facing connection from the Down Slow line leading into the Blackbridge line at the Hatfield end of Welwyn Garden City station will be brought into use.
A new left hand bracket signal will be fitted to the Down Slow Second Home signal post and will be brought into use with the arm at 25 feet above rail level, applying Down Slow to Blackbridge line.
A new limit of Shunt board will be brought into use on the cess side of the Down Slow line immediately on the Signal Box side of the Down Slow First Home signal. There will be standage for 50 Wagons, Engine and Brake between the Limit of Shunt Board and the Down Slow Second Home signals.
The former Luton Platform Up Starting signal will become the Blackbridge line up Home signal. A new disc signal will be fitted to the main post and will apply Blackbridge line to Down Slow line Limit of Shunt. MO/S/50472 (1)
(3N/1967)
*SUNDAY, 15th JANUARY 1967-HATFIELD
STAGE THREE
All Up Goods running signals will be abolished.
The facing connection from Up Goods to Up Slow line on the Welwyn Garden City side of the signal box will be disconnected and permanently secured out of use pending removal and the adjacent disc signals applying Up Slow to Up Goods and set back along Up Goods will be abolished.
The facing and trailing connections from the Up Goods to the Up Sidings will be converted to hand lever operation and the associated disc signals abolished.
The disc signal applying Up Fast to Down Slow or Down Fast will be repositioned between the Up Fast and Up Slow lines.
The Up Goods line will become part of the Up Siding and a new disc signal will be brought into use adjacent to the outlet points (ex Up Goods to Up Slow) and will apply Up Sidings to Up Slow.
MO/S/Pad. 605A (1)
(11N/1974 SPK)
TUESDAY 19 MARCH 1974 - WELWYN GARDEN CITY
A portion of the former Up Goods line South of the Up Goods Yard/Up Sidings will be retained as far as 19 miles 45 chains and buffer stops will be provided. This will form an extension to the Reversing line designated Reversing Siding and a new facing connection, Reversing line to Up Slow will be brought into use at 19 miles 60 chains. Trap points will be laid in the Reversing Siding protecting this connection.
All the new points will be motor operated and controlled from Welwyn Garden City signal box.
New signals will be brought into use as follows:-
WC598 - a three aspect ground mounted colour light signal with a left-hand offset subsidiary signal to the left of the Reversing line at 19 miles 62 chains applying:-
Reversing line to Up Slow (M).
Reversing line to Reversing Siding (S).
WC165 - A ground position light subsidiary signal located to the right of the Reversing Siding at 19 miles 57 chains south of the trap points applying:-
Reversing Siding to Reversing line WC169 signal. (14)