Trivia: What are the quirkiest railway stations in Britain?

[MarlowDonkey]

Acton Main Line, Battersea Park, Earlsfield, Hatfield, New Cross, Stamford Brook, Surbiton, West Byfleet, all have platforms on three of the four lines. This is a very unusual layout. Every other four track station has platforms on just two lines or all four lines.

Not just Acton Main Line, many of the platforms on the Down Main out of Paddington were demolished or put out of use in the 1970s in the interests of getting the HSTs to Reading and beyond as quickly as possible. Some, at least, have been reinstated to be able to close the Reliefs for maintenance.

In London, there a couple of stations on the District and Picadilly lines between Hammersmith and Turnham Green with only 3 platform faces.

 

[Dr_Paul]

North Ealing is more like a countryside station than a stop on the London Underground.

In London, there a couple of stations on the District and Piccadilly lines between Hammersmith and Turnham Green with only 3 platform faces.

Stamford Brook has only three platforms, the up Piccadilly Line doesn't have one. This is because the station was originally built for double track with a platform for each track (it was a joint line, LSWR from Richmond through Gunnersbury, Shepherds Bush to Addison Road; and District). When the line was quadrupled with the Piccadilly extension, the two new tracks were built to the south, the old down District becoming the up Piccadilly. The existing up platform was kept, but the down was removed and a new island platform built, serving the two down lines, leaving the up Piccadilly without a platform. I don't know whether there were plans to rebuild the up side of the station so it would serve both up tracks in the same way as the two down tracks.

 

[Western Gaffer]

Following on from Kenilworth and its footbridges, the footbridge at Kew Gardens is unusual as it is external to the station, with the foot of the steps on both sides outwith the station buildings.

Isn't that a fairly common arrangement for stations adjacent to level crossings, where the footbridge is built 'landside' of the station infrastructure in order to facilitate use by (passing) pedestrians when the crossing is closed to them?

 

[Russel]

I'll add Moorgate / Old Street / Essex Road to this thread, if they haven't already been mentioned.

I visited them on Monday and found they had a really uneasy feeling... maybe it was the silence, maybe it was being alone, I don't know, but it was creepy I've got no interest in returning!

 

[A S Leib]

I was going to say that Cambridge South might be the station opening with the highest number of TOCs post-privatisation serving it as soon as it opens, if it gets Thameslink, Great Northern, Greater Anglia and CrossCountry from day one (I'm assuming it will open long before East West Rail from Bedford), but I think Liverpool South Parkway might beat it (LNR, Merseyrail, TfW, Northern, TPE and EMR now; I don't know which TOCs served it in 2006).

 

[Oxfordblues]

Bath Green Park has everything you might want to find at a well-appointed station: refreshment rooms, conveniences, waiting area, information office, bookstall, etc. all under an overall roof. There's just minor detail missing: trains!

 

[frodshamfella]

I've never been there but I've always found Mill Hill East querky, short London Underground branch.

 

[dtin]

Dalmarnock in the Glasgow area looks odd, it is between 2 tunnels and partially underground/in a tunnel.

 

[E27007]

The Marshlink line, Ashford to Hastings via Rye, has an aura of " time standing still".
Doleham Station , seemingly lost to civilisation, a ghostly 2-car single platform with a modest hut of a waiting room, how and why does it survive?

 

[duffield]

The Marshlink line, Ashford to Hastings via Rye, has an aura of " time standing still".
Doleham Station , seemingly lost to civilisation, a ghostly 2-car single platform with a modest hut of a waiting room, how and why does it survive?

Given the tiny usage figures, the minimal number of houses nearby and the total lack of offpeak daytime service, I'm guessing it's one of those stations where the cost and effort of the closure process just isn't worth the minimal amount it takes to keep it open. Either that, or someone very influential lives in Doleham and uses the station for commuting!

 

[GatwickDepress]

The Marshlink line, Ashford to Hastings via Rye, has an aura of " time standing still".
Doleham Station , seemingly lost to civilisation, a ghostly 2-car single platform with a modest hut of a waiting room, how and why does it survive?

Quite a good start/finishing point for walks. Doleham to Rye (and vice versa) was quite a popular route with rambler groups often arranging special stop orders at Doleham. I'm not sure if it still happens under Govia.

When I visited last year, I was very surprised Doleham had one of those new-fangled digital departure boards. It must get quite bored of displaying the 'please refer to timetable' message.

 

[BeijingDave]

I'll add Moorgate / Old Street / Essex Road to this thread, if they haven't already been mentioned.

I visited them on Monday and found they had a really uneasy feeling... maybe it was the silence, maybe it was being alone, I don't know, but it was creepy I've got no interest in returning!

I understand Essex Road, but I have never been to Moorgate when there weren't at least some people around.

What time of day was it?

 

[Russel]

I understand Essex Road, but I have never been to Moorgate when there weren't at least some people around.

What time of day was it?

About 11am and I'd not long missed a train.

 

[D6130]

Isn't that a fairly common arrangement for stations adjacent to level crossings, where the footbridge is built 'landside' of the station infrastructure in order to facilitate use by (passing) pedestrians when the crossing is closed to them?

Yes....but there's no level crossing at Kenilworth.

 

[stadler]

Quite a good start/finishing point for walks. Doleham to Rye (and vice versa) was quite a popular route with rambler groups often arranging special stop orders at Doleham. I'm not sure if it still happens under Govia.

When I visited last year, I was very surprised Doleham had one of those new-fangled digital departure boards. It must get quite bored of displaying the 'please refer to timetable' message.

In addition to the new departure board Doleham even has full automated announcements now. Plus a ticket machine. It must be the least used ticket machine on the network. It has amazing facilities for such a little served and little used station.

The thing that makes keeping Doleham open more baffling is that Three Oaks is only a fifteen to twenty minute walk away from Doleham station. A fast walker can easily do it in around fifteen minutes and an average or slower walker in around twenty to twentyfive minutes. So there is an alternative station with an hourly service in each direction in walking distance so close by. I am always so surprised they never bothered closing it or at least reducing it to a Denton or Reddish South style one train a week.

I do wonder if Doleham would get used more if it got an hourly service in each direction. Three Oaks and Winchelsea used to get the same extremely limited service that Doleham gets but they now get an hourly service in each direction and usage statistics have gone up massively. Perhaps people in the nearby villages such as Guestling and Westfield may use it. But then again they have Three Oaks so close by so it is probably pointless.

 

[DM352]

Thorpe Le Soken felt strange with the disused platform next to the station building when visited 20 years ago.

Though no longer relevant, old Bradford Forster Square with one-two lines before the final downgrade to the truncated more basic setup we have now was unique for its time. There was a Minder episode with a clip done around that time.

 

[Russel]

Thorpe Le Soken felt strange with the disused platform next to the station building when visited 20 years ago.

The station time forgot...

I've used it a couple of times in the evening in November last year after dark, the big, abandoned building outside the station and the quiet, rural surroundings makes the station feel creepy, rather than quirky!

 

[Howardh]

Been again to Seaford station, just how long is the platform there?? It extends so much at the end you can see the cricket/rugby field and beyond to the sea! I know "small" stations on main-line have long platforms, eg. Oxenholme, but this is a terminal station on a kind-of branch line. Wonder if every single inch of that platform has ever been needed? Very nice, but quirky, station indeed!

 

[D6130]

Been again to Seaford station, just how long is the platform there?? It extends so much at the end you can see the cricket/rugby field and beyond to the sea! I know "small" stations on main-line have long platforms, eg. Oxenholme, but this is a terminal station on a kind-of branch line. Wonder if every single inch of that platform has ever been needed? Very nice, but quirky, station indeed!

When I was a guard at Brighton in the mid-1980s Seaford had a twelve car morning and evening peak hour direct service to/from Victoria....and not too long ago another one to/from London Bridge. At that time Seaford was still a train crew depot and overnight and at weekends both platforms and the adjacent carriage siding would be full of stock.

 

[birchesgreen]

I'll add Moorgate / Old Street / Essex Road to this thread, if they haven't already been mentioned.

I visited them on Monday and found they had a really uneasy feeling... maybe it was the silence, maybe it was being alone, I don't know, but it was creepy I've got no interest in returning!

I was at Essex Road a couple of saturdays ago, very quiet and eerie. I enjoyed it personally, i was able to sit and look at the NSE signage without being disturbed.

 

[sh24]

I was at Essex Road a couple of saturdays ago, very quiet and eerie. I enjoyed it personally, i was able to sit and look at the NSE signage without being disturbed.

And yet is has over 500,000 entries and exits a year, putting it around 700 in the national usage list!

 

[birchesgreen]

And yet is has over 500,000 entries and exits a year, putting it around 700 in the national usage list!

On the saturday afternoon i was there i doubt there were 5 in the whole station!

 

[Cricketer8for9]

Seaford gets 8 car trains when Brighton and Hove Albion are playing at home.

 

[Howardh]

When I was a guard at Brighton in the mid-1980s Seaford had a twelve car morning and evening peak hour direct service to/from Victoria....and not too long ago another one to/from London Bridge. At that time Seaford was still a train crew depot and overnight and at weekends both platforms and the adjacent carriage siding would be full of stock.

Seaford gets 8 car trains when Brighton and Hove Albion are playing at home.

Thanks, I assumed that in the past longer trains were necessary for collecting passengers on the way. Are there no direct services to Victoria now?

The position of Brighton's ground is interesting, think parking's limited and they must rely on trains and buses a lot. To avoid crowds and excessive waiting, wonder if any fans travel to Newhaven, then then the bus from there back to Brighton? Would be something I'd consider if I lived in the SE of Brighton!

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Are there no direct services to Victoria now?

Everything to/from Seaford runs from/to Brighton now. Need to change at Lewes (or Brighton) to get to/from London Victoria.

 

[Howardh]

Everything to/from Seaford runs from/to Brighton now. Need to change at Lewes (or Brighton) to get to/from London Victoria.

Thanks. In the 2000's I had a day out at Seaford from Bolton, I do recall having to change at Lewes as part of my itinery! Lewes is a bit quirky, with lines separating; it's almost two stations in one, it is a pretty station too!

 

[norbitonflyer]

Stamford Brook has only three platforms, the up Piccadilly Line doesn't have one. This is because the station was originally built for double track with a platform for each track (it was a joint line, LSWR from Richmond through Gunnersbury, Shepherds Bush to Addison Road; and District). When the line was quadrupled with the Piccadilly extension, the two new tracks were built to the south, the old down District becoming the up Piccadilly. The existing up platform was kept, but the down was removed and a new island platform built, serving the two down lines, leaving the up Piccadilly without a platform. I don't know whether there were plans to rebuild the up side of the station so it would serve both up tracks in the same way as the two down tracks.

The line was quadruple long before the Picadilly extension, and the southern pair of tracks were electrified for the use of the District in about 1905, when Stamford Brook, and its island platform, were built at that time.
The eastbound platform is a 1930s concrete construction dating from the Picadilly extension, and the associated change to paired by direction, and the electrification of the northern (formerly LSWR, now eastbound, pair.

 

[yorksrob]

Thanks, I assumed that in the past longer trains were necessary for collecting passengers on the way. Are there no direct services to Victoria now?

The position of Brighton's ground is interesting, think parking's limited and they must rely on trains and buses a lot. To avoid crowds and excessive waiting, wonder if any fans travel to Newhaven, then then the bus from there back to Brighton? Would be something I'd consider if I lived in the SE of Brighton!

It's a shame they removed Falmer's up platform canopy as a rationalisation back in the day - would have been very useful nowadays.

 

[stadler]

Thanks, I assumed that in the past longer trains were necessary for collecting passengers on the way. Are there no direct services to Victoria now?

The position of Brighton's ground is interesting, think parking's limited and they must rely on trains and buses a lot. To avoid crowds and excessive waiting, wonder if any fans travel to Newhaven, then then the bus from there back to Brighton? Would be something I'd consider if I lived in the SE of Brighton!

The direct service to and from London Victoria stopped in March 2019 when covid started and have never returned. They were one of the many covid cancellations (along with the peak hour Guildford line services and the peak hour Wimbledon loop services) that never came back. It was only two trains from Seaford to London Victoria in the morning peak and two trains from London Victoria to Seaford in the evening peak.

 

[Henffordd]

Covid started in March 2020, didn't it?