Closed heritage railway stations.

Belperpete · 15 Jun 2025

Bletchleyite said:
According to Wikipedia it was a temporary terminus during construction and closed when another section of the line opened, but has been used occasionally since.

Hafod y Llyn railway station - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Note that it is on the loop line, not the through line, so through trains cannot call at the platform.

There is already a place called Hafod y Llyn on the Ffestiniog, although no longer a station, which is why the FfR originally intended giving the WHR halt a different name.

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Steven Taylor · 15 Jun 2025

Belperpete said:
On the Ffestiniog there was a station at Llynystradau, that was the temporary terminus for a year I think. Also a halt at Pen Cob in the early restoration days. Was there also a halt below Penrhyn at one time?

On narrow gauge railways, halts can often be little more than a name board, and so quite ephemeral. I am thinking of some of the halts on the old WHR, the Manx Electric and the like.

The halt Is Pen y Bryn Halt

Iskra · 15 Jun 2025

Elsecar, on the now defunct Elsecar Steam Railway

Ploughman · 16 Jun 2025

NYMR Pickering High Mill before the passenger service was extended back into the Station, a scaffolding halt was in use.

Taunton · 16 Jun 2025

Didn't the Talyllyn used to have two or three stops on the lower section, essentially at farm gateways, which appeared in their earlier timetables as request stops, but not now.

EbbwJunction1 · 16 Jun 2025

LittleRedTrain said:
I believe Ashburton station on what is now the South Devon Railway was briefly re-opened, before road improvements forced its closure and truncation back to Buckfastleigh. (You couldn't imagine such a thing happening now!)

The original preserved South Devon Railway ran from Totnes to Ashburton. There was no station at the former and you had to go to Buckfastleigh or Ashburton to board the trains. The line original line was reopened as the Dart Valley Railway in 1966. However, the Ministry for Transport insisted that the railway assist in improvements to the A38 road, and it was not until 1969 that an agreement was made to operate from Totnes to Buckfastleigh, with the section beyond to Ashburton lost to dual carriageway improvements to the A38 trunk road. The final severing of the line took place in 1971.The rare Brunel-style station building at Ashburton, with its overhead roof, survives as a garage.

As an aside, two special trains marked the closure of the Buckfastleigh to Ashburton section. One ran from London, and one from Swansea; I travelled on the latter.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Jun 2025 ==

The County School station on the Mid Norfolk Railway has since preservation seen services, although it currently does not. The MNR plans to reopen the line from Dereham, although it's a long process.

Ashley Hill · 16 Jun 2025

EbbwJunction1 said:
The original preserved South Devon Railway ran from Totnes to Ashburton. There was no station at the former and you had to go to Buckfastleigh or Ashburton to board the trains.

AIUI the line from Buckfastleigh to Ashburton was never used for regular passenger services in DVR days. Stabling and maintenance was provided at Ashburton and trains ran ECS at the start and end of day.

Sir Felix Pole · 16 Jun 2025

Slightly different but Sampford Courtenay was on the former Dartmoor Railway - it is now on NR's Okehampton Branch but closed.

Villagers are wanting it reopened, but very unlikely now that Okehampton Interchange will open next year.

EbbwJunction1 · 16 Jun 2025

Ashley Hill said:
AIUI the line from Buckfastleigh to Ashburton was never used for regular passenger services in DVR days. Stabling and maintenance was provided at Ashburton and trains ran ECS at the start and end of day.

I didn't visit the line before the part to Ashburton closed, so I don't know what they did; I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case, though.

notverydeep · 16 Jun 2025

Taunton said:
Didn't the Talyllyn used to have two or three stops on the lower section, essentially at farm gateways, which appeared in their earlier timetables as request stops, but not now.

Though not mentioned in the online timetable, the Route Map used on their 'Walks' leaflets including this one for the walk between Rhydyronen and Pender (Tywyn), does still show all five halts including the three in that section, Hendy, Fach Goch and Cynfal, plus Tynllwyn-Hen (between Rhydyronen and Brynglas and finally Quarry Siding between Dolgoch and Abergynowlwyn. My suspicion is that while not actively advertised, these remain open and could be used (though the only likely users, beyond line side photographers, would be hikers accessing specific public footpaths).

At a guess, they will have disappeared from most publicity with the arrival of advanced online booking, especially during the pandemic. I wonder if this is the case for some of the other such stations in the list on this thread? Certainly on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, which I visit more frequently, the pandemic seemed to bring a similar situation with an online booking system introduced quickly, but end to end tickets only to make things simple for visitors and staff alike. On that line too, the wayside halts at Miteside and Murthwaite (both useful for some walks) were listed as closed in at least the 2020 season (as were the intermediate stations), but are now available again on request - but I presume only with 'on the day' tickets...

Sir Felix Pole · 16 Jun 2025

Ashley Hill said:
AIUI the line from Buckfastleigh to Ashburton was never used for regular passenger services in DVR days. Stabling and maintenance was provided at Ashburton and trains ran ECS at the start and end of day.

Yes, whatever the DfT was called in those days wouldn't grant permission to run regular passenger services Buckfastleigh to Ashburton because they knew they needed it for the A38 - there were a few specials, however, including the very last trip.

robvulpes · 16 Jun 2025

On that line too [the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway], the wayside halts at Miteside and Murthwaite (both useful for some walks) were listed as closed in at least the 2020 season (as were the intermediate stations), but are now available again on request - but I presume only with 'on the day' tickets...

Correct

EbbwJunction1 · 18 Jun 2025

Sir Felix Pole said:
Yes, whatever the DfT was called in those days wouldn't grant permission to run regular passenger services Buckfastleigh to Ashburton because they knew they needed it for the A38 - there were a few specials, however, including the very last trip.

Thanks for clarifying this.

Bletchleyite · 18 Jun 2025

notverydeep said:
Though not mentioned in the online timetable, the Route Map used on their 'Walks' leaflets including this one for the walk between Rhydyronen and Pender (Tywyn), does still show all five halts including the three in that section, Hendy, Fach Goch and Cynfal, plus Tynllwyn-Hen (between Rhydyronen and Brynglas and finally Quarry Siding between Dolgoch and Abergynowlwyn.

Quarry Siding is used for the annual "Race the Train" event but as it involves alighting onto and walking along the track to reach the footpath (there is no platform nor anything resembling one) I doubt it would meet modern standards to use it as a day to day station.

A view of a train in Quarry Sidings showing runners walking along the track. We alighted on the side pictured.

Quarry Siding name board and pleasant view of rolling hills behind.

bramling · 18 Jun 2025

Taunton said:
Didn't the Talyllyn used to have two or three stops on the lower section, essentially at farm gateways, which appeared in their earlier timetables as request stops, but not now.

They’re still there, albeit little more than a sign on a post. No idea if anything ever serves them these days, I visited them all by foot a few years ago, and they were somewhat awkward to reach.

Dave S 56F · 18 Jun 2025

West Hoathly on the bluebell railway and Holywell halt it seemed to be quite overgrown last Saturday 14 june on a video I watched with J27 65894 in action there and even when I've visited previously last in January 2024 no trains seem to stop at Holywell halt.
and theres Ewood bridge (platforms built of sandstone can still be seen) on the east lancs railway officially irwell Vale halt replaces this officially since they reached Rawtenstall a fair few years ago Pimhole and Broadfield between Heywood and Bury were also stations Broadford both platforms still visible.

61653 HTAFC · 19 Jun 2025

Cuckoo's Nest Halt on the Kirklees Light Railway/Whistlestop Valley still exists, but it's no longer possible to enter or exit the station onto the nearby footpath, as the gap in the fence has been closed. There's still a loop there for trains to pass, but it's only used during events with more services running.

Taunton · 19 Jun 2025

bramling said:
They’re [Talyllyn halts] still there, albeit little more than a sign on a post. No idea if anything ever serves them these days, I visited them all by foot a few years ago, and they were somewhat awkward to reach.

Tom Rolt wrote that they had become casual unofficial stops before the preservation society, generally just on Fridays when the adjacent farmers' wives would wait for the morning inbound train, get off at Pendre, work down through the town, shopping, and get the afternoon train back from Wharf, all sat together in one compartment. Simpler times, when the farmers' wives, and perhaps the farm overall, had no car. It may be they never officially opened, to be later formally closed. The Rev Awdry described them quite nicely in his childrens' books.

Did you try putting your hand up and seeing if a train stopped? Would tickets be issued?

Bradford PA · 19 Jun 2025

Dave S 56F said:
West Hoathly on the bluebell railway and Holywell halt it seemed to be quite overgrown last Saturday 14 june on a video I watched with J27 65894 in action there and even when I've visited previously last in January 2024 no trains seem to stop at Holywell halt.
and theres Ewood bridge (platforms built of sandstone can still be seen) on the east lancs railway officially irwell Vale halt replaces this officially since they reached Rawtenstall a fair few years ago Pimhole and Broadfield between Heywood and Bury were also stations Broadford both platforms still visible.

I have often wondered about West Hoathly. When the line was temporarily re-opened by BR in the mid-fifties following a legal challenge, West Hoathly was was one of the stations still served whereas Kingscote remained closed. When the preservation society took over they closed and demolished West Hoathly but chose to re-open Kingscote. I am not sure why. Hoathly is in quite an attractive location close to the mouth of the tunnel ?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Jun 2025 ==

61653 HTAFC said:
Cuckoo's Nest Halt on the Kirklees Light Railway/Whistlestop Valley still exists, but it's no longer possible to enter or exit the station onto the nearby footpath, as the gap in the fence has been closed. There's still a loop there for trains to pass, but it's only used during events with more services running.

Why was this closed ? Lack of use ? I have walked the length of this line, as well as having travelled it by train, and this site used to be advertised as a picnic venue due to its situation.

steamybrian · 19 Jun 2025

Bradford PA said:
I have often wondered about West Hoathly. When the line was temporarily re-opened by BR in the mid-fifties following a legal challenge, West Hoathly was was one of the stations still served whereas Kingscote remained closed. When the preservation society took over they closed and demolished West Hoathly but chose to re-open Kingscote. I am not sure why. Hoathly is in quite an attractive location close to the mouth of the tunnel ?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Jun 2025 ==

Why was this closed ? Lack of use ? I have walked the length of this line, as well as having travelled it by train, and this site used to be advertised as a picnic venue due to its situation.

West Hoathly station was demolished around 1967-68 many years before the Bluebell Line bought the station site.
I understand that West Hoathly station was not rebuilt/reopened because of objections from local residents/ Parish Councils, etc. When the line was reopened through the site trains terminated just north of the station at a run round loop named New Coombe Bridge which as its name suggests required a new bridge over a road to be built before extending the line further..There was no platform there so passengers could not alight. There is a rumour that the pub opposite the station site "Bluebell Inn" initially objected to the railway but when he saw train loads of passengers stopping near his pub he changed his mind. The pub subsequently closed.
Kingscote was the next station north which was restored but subject to many planning and operating restrictions such as no car parking at or around the station. Initially only passengers arriving by the special bus service from East Grinstead and showing their bus ticket could purchase a rail ticket. I have memories of walking the 2 miles from East Grinstead to Kingscote and initially being refused to buy a ticket but after much discussion they agreed to sell me a ticket.

Sheridan · 19 Jun 2025

I visited the Talyllyn post-covid and the small halts were in the guidebook - I only had time for one trip and wanted to do the whole line but I’d love to go back and do them.

I suspect if you requested them then crews would generally be happy to stop as it’s something out of the ordinary. I remember using Tryfan Junction on the Welsh Highland not long after it reopened following Covid - the booking office had told me it was fine but the guard and driver weren’t so sure. Despite not being convinced it was ‘officially’ open they were still more than happy to deposit me there!

158760 · 19 Jun 2025

Bradford PA said:
I have often wondered about West Hoathly. When the line was temporarily re-opened by BR in the mid-fifties following a legal challenge, West Hoathly was was one of the stations still served whereas Kingscote remained closed. When the preservation society took over they closed and demolished West Hoathly but chose to re-open Kingscote. I am not sure why. Hoathly is in quite an attractive location close to the mouth of the tunnel ?

steamybrian said:
West Hoathly station was demolished around 1967-68 many years before the Bluebell Line bought the station site.
I understand that West Hoathly station was not rebuilt/reopened because of objections from local residents/ Parish Councils, etc. When the line was reopened through the site trains terminated just north of the station at a run round loop named New Coombe Bridge which as its name suggests required a new bridge over a road to be built before extending the line further..There was no platform there so passengers could not alight. There is a rumour that the pub opposite the station site "Bluebell Inn" initially objected to the railway but when he saw train loads of passengers stopping near his pub he changed his mind. The pub subsequently closed.
Kingscote was the next station north which was restored but subject to many planning and operating restrictions such as no car parking at or around the station. Initially only passengers arriving by the special bus service from East Grinstead and showing their bus ticket could purchase a rail ticket. I have memories of walking the 2 miles from East Grinstead to Kingscote and initially being refused to buy a ticket but after much discussion they agreed to sell me a ticket.

The original Act of Parliament for opening the railway stipulated that there must be 4 trains a day in each direction, calling at Newick and Chailey, Sheffield Park, Horsted Keynes and West Hoathly. Barcombe and Kingscote weren’t mentioned, hence the permanent closure of these two stations in May 1955 when the line closed for the first time. The rest of the line reopened to passengers in August 1956, but closed again to passengers in March 1958 after two years of what was dubbed the ‘Sulky Service’.

The line through West Hoathly remained open until 1963, when the line was fully closed between East Grinstead and Horsted Keynes. At West Hoathly the track was still there until 1964, when ironically a Bluebell engine was drafted in to help lift the track. As mentioned above the station was fully demolished in 1967 by BR, not the Bluebell.

The station site was acquired in 1974 by the railway, and as mentioned above the planning permission for reopening that section of line stated that West Hoathly station should not reopen because of concerns over an increase in traffic on the local roads, which are quite narrow through West Hoathly and Sharpthorne. The line was opened as far as West Hoathly in 1992, with a simple runround loop installed. The loop was lifted when the Kingscote extension opened in 1994. The rumour about the pub is a well-known one on the railway!

If the Bluebell did apply for planning permission to reopen the station, they would likely get approval for it. Unfortunately, reopening the station exactly as it was is now impossible without changing the alignment of the railway, as new planning laws do not allow the construction of a railway station on a hill, and there is a relatively steep climb out of the northern tunnel portal.

The options currently are to not rebuild the station, carry out the groundwork necessary to level the trackbed and reopen it in the same location or move the station a few chains north where the trackbed is on a very shallow gradient that would be easier to level out.

Bradford PA · 20 Jun 2025

158760 said:
The original Act of Parliament for opening the railway stipulated that there must be 4 trains a day in each direction, calling at Newick and Chailey, Sheffield Park, Horsted Keynes and West Hoathly. Barcombe and Kingscote weren’t mentioned, hence the permanent closure of these two stations in May 1955 when the line closed for the first time. The rest of the line reopened to passengers in August 1956, but closed again to passengers in March 1958 after two years of what was dubbed the ‘Sulky Service’.

The line through West Hoathly remained open until 1963, when the line was fully closed between East Grinstead and Horsted Keynes. At West Hoathly the track was still there until 1964, when ironically a Bluebell engine was drafted in to help lift the track. As mentioned above the station was fully demolished in 1967 by BR, not the Bluebell.

The station site was acquired in 1974 by the railway, and as mentioned above the planning permission for reopening that section of line stated that West Hoathly station should not reopen because of concerns over an increase in traffic on the local roads, which are quite narrow through West Hoathly and Sharpthorne. The line was opened as far as West Hoathly in 1992, with a simple runround loop installed. The loop was lifted when the Kingscote extension opened in 1994. The rumour about the pub is a well-known one on the railway!

If the Bluebell did apply for planning permission to reopen the station, they would likely get approval for it. Unfortunately, reopening the station exactly as it was is now impossible without changing the alignment of the railway, as new planning laws do not allow the construction of a railway station on a hill, and there is a relatively steep climb out of the northern tunnel portal.

The options currently are to not rebuild the station, carry out the groundwork necessary to level the trackbed and reopen it in the same location or move the station a few chains north where the trackbed is on a very shallow gradient that would be easier to level out.

Thanks for the detailed information. When I walked alongside the line several years ago there were quite a few people at West Hoathley. It is an attractive setting with good opportunities for photography as well. I would guess that similar restrictions to those at Kingscote could be put in place regarding traffic were it to be re-opened with most visitors arriving by train or on foot.

DJ_K666 · 23 Jun 2025

stadler said:
Am i correct in remembering that Freshfield Halt is the one about two minutes after leaving Sheffield Park station? If you look on the East side of the track there is a very basic short platform?

I thought that Eardington Halt was reopened in 2023 and is now an actual calling point? I think it is only temporarily closed now along with Bridgnorth station due to the landslip that happened?

That was Ketches Halt. Built out of redundant BR prefabricated concrete parts for a farm project that wasn't to be. Freshfield Halt was further north, on the embankments next to Mountesford Lane. Not far from a fantastic pub called The Sloop Inn.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Jun 2025 ==

158760 said:
The original Act of Parliament for opening the railway stipulated that there must be 4 trains a day in each direction, calling at Newick and Chailey, Sheffield Park, Horsted Keynes and West Hoathly. Barcombe and Kingscote weren’t mentioned, hence the permanent closure of these two stations in May 1955 when the line closed for the first time. The rest of the line reopened to passengers in August 1956, but closed again to passengers in March 1958 after two years of what was dubbed the ‘Sulky Service’.

The line through West Hoathly remained open until 1963, when the line was fully closed between East Grinstead and Horsted Keynes. At West Hoathly the track was still there until 1964, when ironically a Bluebell engine was drafted in to help lift the track. As mentioned above the station was fully demolished in 1967 by BR, not the Bluebell.

The station site was acquired in 1974 by the railway, and as mentioned above the planning permission for reopening that section of line stated that West Hoathly station should not reopen because of concerns over an increase in traffic on the local roads, which are quite narrow through West Hoathly and Sharpthorne. The line was opened as far as West Hoathly in 1992, with a simple runround loop installed. The loop was lifted when the Kingscote extension opened in 1994. The rumour about the pub is a well-known one on the railway!

If the Bluebell did apply for planning permission to reopen the station, they would likely get approval for it. Unfortunately, reopening the station exactly as it was is now impossible without changing the alignment of the railway, as new planning laws do not allow the construction of a railway station on a hill, and there is a relatively steep climb out of the northern tunnel portal.

The options currently are to not rebuild the station, carry out the groundwork necessary to level the trackbed and reopen it in the same location or move the station a few chains north where the trackbed is on a very shallow gradient that would be easier to level out.

Since there are remnants of platforms there could the railway not claim it's a 'resurfacing or restoration of existing infrastructure' and claim grandfather rights to get around it that way? I'm guessing there'd be quite a....shall we say....heated meeting if that were to be brought up.

The tunnel is on quite a slope at 1 in 75 from the northern portal. Then (heading north) there's a section at 1 in 233, which must be the station site and then you're onto 1 in 842, which must be roughly where New Coombe Bridge is situated.

158760 · 24 Jun 2025

DJ_K666 said:
Since there are remnants of platforms there could the railway not claim it's a 'resurfacing or restoration of existing infrastructure' and claim grandfather rights to get around it that way? I'm guessing there'd be quite a....shall we say....heated meeting if that were to be brought up.

The tunnel is on quite a slope at 1 in 75 from the northern portal. Then (heading north) there's a section at 1 in 233, which must be the station site and then you're onto 1 in 842, which must be roughly where New Coombe Bridge is situated.
View attachment 182491

I have looked more closely into the whole situation around the gradients in that area and comparing my gradient profile to the public version, the public version appears to be incorrect. The tunnel is graded at 1/75 as stated by this, but then levels out at the southern end of the platforms, before falling to 1/122 around halfway along the old goods yard. The next gradient change then isn’t until just after Mill Place Bridge around half a mile before Kingscote station, which then becomes a 1/403 down as on the public gradient profile. There are some other discrepancies too, but not so relevant to this thread.

Either my memory is failing me or there has been some work done on the old station site to level it out since the gradient profile was drawn up - I think the first draft in that format was done in the early 1990s, at which point there was a passing loop and the gradients may have changed.

I’m not sure on the legal side of things but the remnants of the platforms would need completely digging out and replacing from the foundations so I think you would struggle to call it resurfacing!

I didn’t mention it above, and you could say it’s not a major issue in the grand scheme of things but the foot crossing would either need relocating or a footbridge and crossing installing as part of a reopening to provide an accessible route for the footpath.

It could happen at some point, but until the main infrastructure projects underway now have been completed and the railway has enough money to build a new station from the ground up, its a few years off yet.

DJ_K666 · 25 Jun 2025

158760 said:
I have looked more closely into the whole situation around the gradients in that area and comparing my gradient profile to the public version, the public version appears to be incorrect. The tunnel is graded at 1/75 as stated by this, but then levels out at the southern end of the platforms, before falling to 1/122 around halfway along the old goods yard. The next gradient change then isn’t until just after Mill Place Bridge around half a mile before Kingscote station, which then becomes a 1/403 down as on the public gradient profile. There are some other discrepancies too, but not so relevant to this thread.

Either my memory is failing me or there has been some work done on the old station site to level it out since the gradient profile was drawn up - I think the first draft in that format was done in the early 1990s, at which point there was a passing loop and the gradients may have changed.

I’m not sure on the legal side of things but the remnants of the platforms would need completely digging out and replacing from the foundations so I think you would struggle to call it resurfacing!

I didn’t mention it above, and you could say it’s not a major issue in the grand scheme of things but the foot crossing would either need relocating or a footbridge and crossing installing as part of a reopening to provide an accessible route for the footpath.

It could happen at some point, but until the main infrastructure projects underway now have been completed and the railway has enough money to build a new station from the ground up, its a few years off yet.

HehbI hear you on that. Maybe the station was levelled out a bit for the rebuilding of New Coombe Bridge.

But yes maybe I'd struggle to call re-doing the platforms a resurfacing (oh to be a fly on the wall in that meeting).

I'll be there at the weekend so hopefully I can get a good look once the train emerges from the tunnel.

John Luxton · 25 Jun 2025

Taunton said:
Didn't the Talyllyn used to have two or three stops on the lower section, essentially at farm gateways, which appeared in their earlier timetables as request stops, but not now.

Hendy Halt is near a farm which has some holiday accommodation. When I was on the TR on May a chap with his dog boarded at Dologoch and alighted at at Hendy. On other visits to the railway I have seen people board and alight there as well. from my observations seems to attract more users than Brynglas Station.

nanstallon · 26 Jun 2025

The Launceston Steam Railway has/ had a couple of halts between Launceston and the terminus.

rustbucket · 26 Jun 2025

AJM580 said:
Hardingham station on the MNR does see some use It is privately owned and the owner allows occasional use of the platforms - it was in use on the MNR Bus Day on May 11 this year

In use this weekend for the steam gala too

John Luxton · 27 Jun 2025

nanstallon said:
The Launceston Steam Railway has/ had a couple of halts between Launceston and the terminus.

They were as I recall the earlier terminals before New Mills was reached.

Closed heritage railway stations.

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