TRIVIA: Longest station names

[paddington]

In Japan, there are Minamiaso Mizu-no-Umareru-Sato Hakusui-Kōgen and Chōjagahamashiosaihamanasukōenmae (yes, one word!) stations.

The concept of "words" in Japanese is different from that in European languages. Spaces are not used, but can be, for example for the benefit of children.

Anyway these are kind of just gimmicks like Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.

The first means "South Aso Water-source Village Hakusui Plateau", where South Aso is the name of the line so not sure why it is part of the station name. The second means "In front of Elderly/Senior Beach Shiosai Hamanasu Park"; there is a Shiosai Hamanasu (Tidal Rose) Park nearby but no Pensioner's Beach so that part of the name is a mystery.

 

[Taunton]

On the narrow gauge Vivaris (still operating) in mid-southern France is the little wayside station of ...

Colombier le Vieux-Saint Barthelemy le Plain . 38 characters

https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&id=E1F286B3DEDD093C0C5CE26DC1DF2DF8BF85626E&thid=OIP.NWJOXKkparW1PCJ7tyNRngHaFj&mediaurl=http://static.panoramio.com/photos/large/76561948.jpg&exph=768&expw=1024&q=colombier+le+vieux+saint+barthelemy+le+plain&selectedindex=0&ajaxhist=0&vt=0

Old TV aficionados will recognise it as the station used in the 1970s BBC TV production of Gabriel Chevalier's classic French comedy novel "Clochemerle", along with the two adjacent villages it is named after.

An honourable mention should be given, not to a station but to a signalbox, in Bristol, which in GWR tradition had the full name on a brass plate outside. This was :

"DOCTOR DAY'S BRIDGE JUNCTION SIGNAL BOX" . 33 characters. I don't think we count the apostrophe, because in French we don't count all the hyphens. Was there a longer one? And why was Dr Day so famous? (Day is a common Bristol name).

** Edit - I just realised I was beaten to it with Colombier.