North of Amersham

Although Met line trains terminate at Amersham, historically not just Met line but also mainline trains  once used the southern section of the line to get as far north as Manchester

Amersham is the furthest west the Underground goes. Although technically Chesham station is slightly further west trains at Amersham run just a bit further west to turn around and track from here, although not electrified is still technically owned by London Underground and is so for some distance until the boundary with network rail at a foot crossing west of Amersham. Boundary signs (similar to the ones at Harrow) are visible. Chiltern services stop at Great Missenden (the home of Roald Dahl), Wendover and Stoke Mandaville before Ayelsbury. Until several years ago, Network Southeast signage was still in use at the station. Aylesbury has been described as 'a railway cul-de-sac' and this could not be more accurate. although once a major destination it now falls into the unusual position of being a sizeable town served by only a small three platform railway station. It is the junction with the line from Princes Risbrough. This single track line serves Little Kimble and Monks Risbrough. It sees trains from Ayelsbury to Marylebone via the Chiltern main line rather than the Joint line as well as empty coaching stock to Ayelsbury Depot. This line was built by the Wycombe Railway's line from Paddington-Aylesbury via High Wycombe and Maidenhead. The link to High Wycombe was closed leaving only the section from Maidenhead to Bourne end and the stub to Marlow which is still served by GWR. During peak hours trains from Ayelsbury terminate at Princes Risbrough rather than running to London. Until 2016 this service was operated by 1960s class 121 units affectionately known as "bubble cars". Two units were in use by the time the service finished which were retained for as long as they were partly because of the Novelty of being able to ride them on the main line however they were withdrawn due to material obsolescence. Both units are preserved. Chiltern also used other 121 units on the line between Bicester Town (later Village) and Oxford from when Chiltern Railways took over the line from First Great Western and when the line was rebuilt for London services. Sadly these units have been either scrapped or stripped for parts for the other units. North of Ayelsbury Depot is where the line becomes a single track. Obviously it used to be a double track but this has been lifted. There is a signal and a good old fashioned token machine for the line ahead.  Sometimes the junction between the two tracks is used as a passing loop to allow passenger and freight trains to cross. 

Aylesbury was the end of Chiltern services until 2008 when Aylesbury Vale Parkway opened to serve new development North of Aylesbury. The station is a single platform that branches off and runs alongside the single line. The line continues north past Waddeson Manor station, built to serve the country house of the same name.  The line then reaches Quainton Road, home to the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, an excellent museum that has preserved the original station perfectly which it is why it has often been used as a filming location for shows such as Midsommer Murders and Doctor Who. There are many restored trains including old Tube stock on display as well as a museum building dedicated to railway operation and the route as well as a second hand book store. It is overall a wonderful day out especially for families. The railway has built two tracks either side of the original line where they run steam trains that visitors can ride. The lines were disconnected from the mainline until 2025 when a link was made from the eastern track to the mainline to allow steam trains to run into the original station which the museum now leases from Network Rail.  The reason why this is possible is that in 2021, freight services on the line ceased and the track north of the station was listed. This was done for two reasons. One, to clear the line north for HS2 which runs parallel north of here and Two, for possible upgrade for East West Rail. Prior to its demolition freight trains ran to the landfill site at Calvert as well as occasionally from from the line further north which was connected to the old Varsity line for freight. Trains could reverse at Claydon to head to Oxford. This line has now been rebuilt for East West Rail. At Quainton road the Metropolitan Railway split away from the great central alignment. A branch from Quainton ran to Brill to the west. Known as the Brill tramway it has vanished almost without trace. However through trains diverged east running through several small stations before reaching Verney Junction, the end of the Metropolitan Railway and interchange with the Varsity line and connections to the Great Central main line near Buckingham. Like the brill line, very little remnants of this line exist. North of Calvert is the site of a junction with a link line that allowed Great Central trains to run over the Chiltern mainline (formerly Great Central-Great Western joint line) and then re-join the Great Central mainline, avoiding the Metropolitan railway. This was done after the two companies fell out. Originally the Great central alignment crossed over the Varsity line rather than connecting with it and heading to Finnmere station. from here the line continued to Banbury or to Rugby, Nottingham, Sheffield and Manchester and yes, trains from those locations did run over the Metropolitan line as late as the 60s when the Great Central mainline was closed by Dr Beaching. (if you're not a train enthusiast, we hate him). That being said the original alignment is being partially utilised for HS2. 

and that is the very end of the Metropolitan Railway. Standing in the tiny hamlet of Verney Junction it is surreal to think that this was once the end of what we now know as the Met line. The journey from here to Baker Street took seven hours, and you thought your commute was bad. If you were wealthier you could take a Pullman  service until 1939. It is no longer possible to stand on the old platforms at Verney Junction as it has been demolished for East West Rail. It is a shame that the branch to Marylebone was shelved. This would have seen trains run from Marylebone to Milton Keens via High Wycombe and Aylesbury but alas this line remains unused for now.