Very wide trackbed near Hounslow & Brentford

[ccityplanner12]

The Brentford loop line between approximately X43 & X06 is much wider than it needs to be. It appears to be wide enough for 4 tracks & all the bridges are designed that way. An exception to this is a section that is used as a car park for a recent apartment complex. Also strange is a bridge over the railway that continues over some vacant land at 51.467506, -0.351299 & another that continues over an industrial estate at track level at 51.462878, -0.360547. There is a pointless 15-chain fence running perfectly parallel to the line north of XIII20. However, Heath Rd. itself goes over a bridge that only spans the 2 current tracks.

 

[30907]

I take it you mean the section immediately NE of Hounslow (your description wasn't exactly clear - what are X43 and X06?

One area you describe is obviously Hounslow station goods yard, and the other is similar in shape, with relatively modern housing next to Victorian terraced housing.
The 1960 sectional appendix mentions Hounslow no. 2 goods yard, accessed by a ground frame on the up side between Hounslow and Isleworth, so I think we have the explanation.
Anyone know what it was used for?

 

[CatfordCat]

Not quite sure exactly where you mean, but as 30907 says, Hounslow goods yard was on the NE side of Hounslow station.

Does this (1950s mapping) help?

 

[30907]

I would hazard a guess that no.2 yard for coal was a result of the enormous expansion of housing in the area - there being presumably no way of expanding at the station itself.

Thanks for producing the link.

 

[Dr_Paul]

These maps showing Hounslow station and its environs might help http://maps.nls.uk/view/102893731,
http://maps.nls.uk/view/102893164 and
http://maps.nls.uk/view/102893146.

Edit -- I've just seen the above post, which links to a better presentation of the maps.