Forgotten post-Beeching station closures

[MidnightFlyer]

One thing that has always interested me about railways in Britain between Beeching and now is the small series of halts that survived the 1960s but were closed almost without record in the 80s and 90s. Whilst many have heard of Lincoln St Marks, Rotherham Masborough, London Broad St and the like, from what I can gather small, unstaffed, out-of-the-way stations with minimal services existed at:
- Errol (between Dundee and Perth)
- Greatham (between Hartlepool and Stockton)
- Cargo Fleet and Grangetown (between Middlesbrough and Redcar)
- Elsham (between Scunthorpe and Barnetby)
- Brocklesby (between Barnetby and Grimsby)

Quite simply, does anyone have information, pictures or similar on any of these stations, and does anyone know what prompted them to close? I realise most were silent and little-used, was that it? If so why did many other stations survive? Obviously if anyone knows of any more please mention them!

(The most I can find on any is this about Cargo Fleet only.)

Cheers

 

[topydre]

There was Gogarth and Abertafol on the Cambrian coast line between Dyfi Junction and Penhelig (closed in 1985): a nice photo below
http://www.class25.info/photograph_pages/individual_photos/770605_25131_Abertafol.htm
Also Llangelynnin was closed in 1991: "The station was closed when it became mandatory to provide platform lighting on health and safety grounds. British Rail decided it wasn't worth providing lighting and closed the halt with the last train running on 25th October 1991." (disused stations)
http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/l/llangelynin_halt/index.shtml
Although the Cambrian Coast has kept more small stations than most places, of course.

 

[bnm]

Not to forget and entire line 'temporarily closed' in 1996. And fully done away with in 2002. Stations closed were Watford West and Croxley Green:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watford_West_railway_station
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croxley_Green_railway_station

Some photos attached that I took of the line in 2010:

Croxley Green (I couldn't get up to platform level. Too overgrown!)
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bnm/hmm7.jpg
Watford West.
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bnm/hmm6.jpg
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bnm/hmm9.jpg
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bnm/hmm2.jpg
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bnm/hmm4.jpg

As you can see, despite a decade plus closure, much NSE 'furniture' remains in place. In fact if you go to Croxley Green, there's even an information poster still in situ telling you how to buy tickets or where you can get information (apologies for the dark edges and slight fish-eye. Shutter stuck):
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bnm/hmm5.jpg

Please don't dial Watford 245001. You're unlikely to get an answer!

 

[yorksrob]

To my mind, the very worst route closures took place in the 1968-70 period. These tend to be the ones that we want re-opened now !

For the 1980's Altofts between Normanton and Woodlesford closed at around this time (I can't see any trace of it from a passing train now).
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
There used to be a few more in the Manchester area as well. Miles Platting and Pendleton spring to mind (from the photo's Pendleton had a lovely platform canopy as well !)

 

[12CSVT]

There used to be a few more in the Manchester area as well. Miles Platting and Pendleton spring to mind (from the photo's Pendleton had a lovely platform canopy as well !)

Also Park (near Baguley Fold Jct) and Royton (on the Oldham loop - although I suspect Derker was regarded as a direct replacement for Royton).

Wasn't Pendleton was replaced by Salford Crescent ?

There was also the closure of a very short stretch of line from Agecroft Jct (Manchester - Bolton line) to Brindle Heath Jct (Atherton line), a distance of less than half a mile.

 

[W-on-Sea]

Radipole, between Weymouth and Upwey was closed in the early 80s, apparently because the platforms needed repair, and doing so wasn't deemed economically worthwhile. I think Errol closed for similar reasons

 

[12CSVT]

Lea Bridge (between Stratford and Tottenham Hale) closed in the mid 1980s

Imagine how busy that station would have been this week if it was still open !

 

[tsr]

Also Llangelynnin was closed in 1991: "The station was closed when it became mandatory to provide platform lighting on health and safety grounds. British Rail decided it wasn't worth providing lighting and closed the halt with the last train running on 25th October 1991." (disused stations)
http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/l/llangelynin_halt/index.shtml
Although the Cambrian Coast has kept more small stations than most places, of course.

<pedantry>

There are still remote stations operating on the NR network with little or no lighting. One good example is Falls of Cruachan, which is therefore only able to receive a daylight-hours-only summertime-only service. To the best of my knowledge, Altnabreac has no lighting. I believe there may be others.

</pedantry>

 

[cle]

Not to forget and entire line 'temporarily closed' in 1996. And fully done away with in 2002. Stations closed were Watford West and Croxley Green:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watford_West_railway_station
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croxley_Green_railway_station

Some photos attached that I took of the line in 2010:

Croxley Green (I couldn't get up to platform level. Too overgrown!)
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bnm/hmm7.jpg
Watford West.
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bnm/hmm6.jpg
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bnm/hmm9.jpg
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bnm/hmm2.jpg
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bnm/hmm4.jpg

As you can see, despite a decade plus closure, much NSE 'furniture' remains in place. In fact if you go to Croxley Green, there's even an information poster still in situ telling you how to buy tickets or where you can get information (apologies for the dark edges and slight fish-eye. Shutter stuck):
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bnm/hmm5.jpg

Please don't dial Watford 245001. You're unlikely to get an answer!

Not that I would ever advocate stealing, but that lot will be disposed of pretty quickly once the new Croxley works start, so if you're local and like NSE memorabilia, perhaps a trip by cover of darkness would be fruitful?

It'll end up on the scrap heap anyway.

 

[DazCM]

Melton Halt, west of Hull between Ferriby and Brough.

http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/m/melton_halt/index.shtml

 

[steamybrian]

Several lines that survived the Beeching cuts of the 1960s but were starved of investment-

Woodside- Selsdon closed in 1983. Dwindling number of passenger usage.

Tunbridge Wells- Eridge line closed in July 1985 because at the Tunbridge Wells end the Hastings line was being resignalled and electrified whilst at the Eridge end plans were in hand to single the Uckfield line with new signalling.

Broad Street- Dalston Junction closed in 1986 to permit redevelopment of the Broad Street area.
Section from Shoreditch to Dalston Junction was reopened in 2010 as part of the East London Line extension


I have many photographs and tickets from all stations from these three lines.

 

[David Goddard]

The March - Spalding line closed in 1982. Great shame as it would be very useful now.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Manchester area:
Miles Platting, Park and Godley East all closed 27 May 1995. The latter was down to one call a week on a Saturday afternoon

Sheffield Area:
1995 also saw the demise of Brightside and Attercliffe Road, which lay between Sheffield and Meadowhall.

 

[yorksrob]

Wasn't Pendleton was replaced by Salford Crescent ?

Pretty much so, although according to Wikipedia, it finally closed in 1998, so it would have coexisted with Salford Crescent for a few years.

Come to think of it as well, the Clayton West branch.

 

[50010 Monarch]

I think that the closure of the Cheltenham to Stratford route in 1976 (or was it 1977?) was a rather strange decision although hindsight is a wonderful thing.

No stations were closed as they were all long gone by 1976 anyway but the line if open now would provide a useful alternative to the Lickey route. The Glos/Warks railway are doing their best to reinstate the line but its doubtful the line will ever be rebuilt all the way through.

Its a similar situation as March - Spalding in that its basically a duplicated route that would provide invaluable extra capacity if still open now.

 

[kjhskj75]

Its a similar situation as March - Spalding in that its basically a duplicated route that would provide invaluable extra capacity if still open now.

And also make it unnecessary to grade-separate Werrington Jn.

 

[swcovas]

Black Rock......last station before Pwllheli on the Cambrian. Closed on safety grounds in 1976. Can't remember much more.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Just remembered the Kilmacolm line in the fine county of Renfrewshire (mostly). Of course it reopened less than a decade later as far as Paisley Canal, which is now being electrified, and a full reopening back to Kilmacolm isn't out of the question, despite the trackbed being built on.

 

[The Barlow Boy]

Cambridge - St. Ives closed to passengers at the cessation of the 1969-1970 winter timetable.
Elmers end to Selsdon closed in the eighties.

 

[swcovas]

Cambridge - St. Ives closed to passengers at the cessation of the 1969-1970 winter timetable.
Elmers end to Selsdon closed in the eighties.

If we're into that era then include Bangor - Caernarfon although it WAS actually proposed for closure by Beeching as Afon Wen-Bangor. The link from Bangor to Caernarfon was reprieved as the argument was that Caernarfon provided a better railhead for the Lleyn Peninsula. However it didn't last that long closing in JAN 1970. It has been argued that it was kept open for "political" reasons because of the investiture of the Prince of Wales in Caernarfon Castle in 1969.

 

[mr williams]

Cefn Onn in South Wales closed in the mid 80s. Filton near Bristol closed but was replaced by Abbey Wood.

 

[Greenback]

Haltwhistle to Alton and Maiden Newton to bridport both close din 1975 didn't they? And by a strange coincidence I was looking at Balloch Pier (closed 1986) at lunchtime today. Not literally, just on Wikipedia!

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Nearby Ardrossan Winton Pier (replaced by Harbour) station also closed in 1986~.

What interesting lunchbreaks you have Greenback

 

[6Gman]

Wasn't Colne-Skipton a post-Beeching closure? [Not listed for closure by Dr B]

 

[Greenback]

What interesting lunchbreaks you have Greenback

I was looking at visitng Loch Lomond, and got a bit sidetracked! I did read years ago about the line being cut back in Balloch, and I was reminded of it when I found the town listed as one of the main tourist destinations for the loch!

That said, in a previous job I did spend a lot of my lunch breaks looking at disused stations

http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/

Even my former boss became interested!

 

[Essexman]

Black Rock......last station before Pwllheli on the Cambrian. Closed on safety grounds in 1976. Can't remember much more.

Black Rock was between Porthmadog & Cricceith I think.

 

[142094]

I'm sure Grangetown was closed around about the same time British Steel Redcar was opened, which was better placed to serve the offices at Steel House.

As for Greatham, can't remember exactly where I read it but I think it was in part due to low passenger numbers. You can still see the platforms, right next to the signal box, but the factory that used to be there has closed down and been demolished.

 

[Gwenllian2001]

The Ilfracombe Branch closed in 1970 but the last movement before lifting was an inspection train in 1975.

 

[HullMichael]

New Holland Pier. Closed in 1981 with the opening of the Humber Bridge and consequent ending of the ferry service.

 

[Butts]

I was looking at visitng Loch Lomond, and got a bit sidetracked! I did read years ago about the line being cut back in Balloch, and I was reminded of it when I found the town listed as one of the main tourist destinations for the loch!

That said, in a previous job I did spend a lot of my lunch breaks looking at disused stations

http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/

Even my former boss became interested!

Quite a comprehensive site...well worth a butchers

 

[The Barlow Boy]

Has anyone mentioned the Woodhead route yet?