TRIVIA: Stations that used to have Excursion Platforms

[Scouseinmanc]

Scarborough Londesborough road

 

[d9009alycidon]

There was a racecourse station in Scotland, this was Lanark Racecourse on the Lanark to Muirkirk Line, the station and branch closed in 1964 and the Racecourse is itself long disused, closing in 1977

 

[John Luxton]

Aintree Sefton Arms has never been called 'Race Course'. It is now the only station at Aintree, and therefore gets all traffic including race excursions even though it only has two platforms. Now called Aintree.

For inland resorts:
Buxton (Midland), long demolished, had an excursion platform.

What I meant was the additional platforms at Aintree Sefton Arms which were provided for excursions and one for LOR Raceday Specials, I should have worded that differently.

 

[Jorge Da Silva]

Correct please see map.
View attachment 106963

can i ask where the map layer thing is from?

 

[Western 52]

Barry Island once had 4 platforms and was busy with excursions. Now just one short platform.

 

[HSP 2]

can i ask where the map layer thing is from?

This link should get you the map page you then change the transparency of the overlay to suit what you waint.

Explore georeferenced maps - Map images - National Library of Scotland (nls.uk)

 

[30907]

can i ask where the map layer thing is from?

Probably National Library of Scotland, frequently used by this forum - link to index page. https://maps.nls.uk/os/index.html

 

[181]

Yes the 2 excursion platforms at Esher existed, they even had stairs and subways to Lower Green Road,
https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=18&lat=51.37981&lon=-0.35836&layers=170&b=1

There's also a photo of one of them on ebay

RARE R.P. POSTCARD TRAIN-ESHER FOR SANDOWN PARK RACECOURSE RAILWAY STATION 1938 | eBay

SHOWING TRAIN AT "ESHER FOR SANDOWN PARK RAILWAY STATION", SIGNALS & SIGNAL BOX. 79 337 PASSING ESHER 31.7.38 WRITTEN ON THE BACK OF THE CARD.

www.ebay.co.uk

On Google street view older pictures (April 2012) show one of the subway entrances filled in (nearest one to the railway bridge crossing Lower Green Road), but leaving the top of the subway tunnel exposed.

Edit: Even better than that, the July 2008 and April 2012 street view photos show the disused superstructure of the northern bridge span over Lower Green Road, this bridge span was surplus to requirements when the excursion platforms closed and was removed entirely by August 2012.

Thankyou. It coud be that that bridge is all I genuinely remember seeing from passing trains, but it's in my mind that the remains of the platforms were visible as well, at least in the 1980s and possibly much more recently (I passed through Esher only a few weeks ago, but I wasn't looking out for them).

 

[billh]

Longsight had excursion platforms (probably still extant?) to serve the nearby Belle Vue Zoo and Fun Park, and apparently the GCR Hyde Road Station on the Fallowfield Loop Line also at one stage had a bay platform or two for the same purpose.

Belle Vue station had excursion platforms as well as an ancient PA system for train announcements, part of which I acquired in 1970 when the station buildings were being demolished.

 

[Ashley Hill]

Weston-Super-Mare had its Locking Road excursion station adjacent to what was then WSM General.

 

[The DJ]

Cleethorpes? Several disused platforms and evidence of long gone infrastructure along with stories of holiday expresses from far and wide heading for Cleethorpes.
Side question: All of today's services to Cleethorpes have to pass through Grimsby Town first but I've heard this was not always the case as there was a route which touched Grimsby but did not pass Grimsby Town Station.

 

[181]

Is Wikipedia correct that the current platforms at Saltburn were excursion platforms? From their position relative to the building it certainly appears that they weren't the main platforms.

 

[Jorge Da Silva]

Cleethorpes? Several disused platforms and evidence of long gone infrastructure along with stories of holiday expresses from far and wide heading for Cleethorpes.
Side question: All of today's services to Cleethorpes have to pass through Grimsby Town first but I've heard this was not always the case as there was a route which touched Grimsby but did not pass Grimsby Town Station.

I live in Cleethorpes and as far as i know they were regular platforms.

There was the East Lincolnshire Line which ran from Grimsby to Boston and there was a curve to Cleethorpes avoiding Grimsby Town but it went through what is now Peak parkway. As far as i know there is no other passenger line that avoided Town station

 

[Roger1973]

Two that may qualify -

Ascot Station has at least one disused platform on the north / down side. I have heard it suggested this was used for additional trains to / from Ascot Races, but not sure if this is correct.

I have read elsewhere that Ascot West Station was latterly used for major race days only.

Twickenham Station had two bay platforms (platforms 1 and 2) - I can't remember ever seeing these being used, and not sure if these were used for much other than extra trains for rugby matches. Platform 2 seemed to have some reinstatement work done on it in the months prior to the 2015 rugby world cup, but don't think it got finished in time, and seems to be abandoned again.

 

[billio]

Wetherby Racecourse Station. From 1924 to late 50's or early 60's race day excursions ran to this station.