In 1948 there were some 6,685 passenger railway stations on the British Railways network.
By 2015 their numbers were down to just 2552 on the Network Rail network but although the origins of the majority of our stations lie in the Victorian age, the nation still boasts an immense variety of station buildings - from grand termini located in our largest cities, to small town station and remote country stops, the 20th century in all its variety makes its presence felt, as well as today's modern designs in the new century.
Sometimes a mixture of periods are combined in one station.In choosing this representative selection the author shows the huge variety of stations over the years, from the humblest halt to the largest metropolitan terminus, their existence dependent on a wide variety of factors.
Using examples from all regions of BR, many still with us but some now closed, this is a portrait of one of the key elements that has gone to make up the fabric of British society from the 19th century through to the present day, including some quirkier elements in their histories.This book is a celebration of the diversity of Britain's railway stations over the years.
The author has selected 101 of the nation's most remarkable railway stations around the country from the earliest years to today.
For each of these stations the author recounts the history of the station and what makes it special, accompanied by a mixture of historical or present day photographs.The author has proposed a draft list of railway stations by theme, representing the different types and functions of the stations:SOME SUGGESTED LOCATIONS London terminus BROAD STREET capital casualtyBranch line terminus ALDEBURGH Seaside branch terminus SIDMOUTH HORNSEA WITHERNSEAUnstaffed halt THORNFORD BRIDGEMainline Junction CREWE TRENTCountry Junction THREE COCKS20th.c Latecomer HATHERLEIGHDuplicate facility GREAT CENTRAL - LEICESTER CENTRAL/LOUGHBOROUGHCommuter CATERHAMHopeless lossmaker GOLDEN VALLEY LINE Unfulfilled ambition ABERAERON extension to CardiganIsland centre discrete isolated network NEWPORT IOW Withered Arm gnarled fingers ASHBURY for Northlew John Betjeman tv programmeFarflung outpost WHITHORNGoods only PARKHEAD co DurhamCutoff by new line FROMELight Rly MACHRIHANISHBlocking line WHERWELLMilitary CATTERICK CAMPOil terminal FAWLEY Tourist attraction CRYSTAL PALACEFerry terminal LYMINGTON PIERPetered out WINGHAM EKRCoal ?Dockyard PORTSMOUTHRacecourse LINGFIELDElectrification oversight STEYNINGElectrification failure HORSTED KEYNES LANCASTER GREEN AYREHigh & Low level TAMWORTHFlag station I think there was one on the Severn Valley line somewhere Reopened TEMPLECOMBENew station CAM & DURSELYClay MEETHPlatform to generate new traffic WINNERSH TRIANGLEStately home SHEFFIELD PARKTourist attraction ALTON TOWERSCross country line against the grain SAVERNAKE HLRoad station miles from anywhere LLANBISTER ROAD MAENTWROG ROADLight Rly.station SEAHOUSESAirport SHOREHAM RAF WRAFTONQuarry FOXDALE IOM LONGRIDGE nr Preston Poor road alternative survivor BERE ALSTONJunction no road access BALA JUNCTIONMilitary facility Commando LYMPSTONE COMMANDO End on junction for extension never built DORCHESTER SOUTH Exeter extensionFormer importance gone SOUTHAMPTON TERMINUS linersFootball ground ST JAMES PARK EXETER ashton gate Bristol City FCCemetery BROOKWOODLocal station closure with line remaining open DINTON Where raison d'etre gone SEATON JUNCTIONWhere original terminus bypassed CHARD CENTRALWhere connecting line closed ?No Sunday service CARDIGAN BRANCH Welsh sabbatariansCommuter belt failure PALACE GATES BRANCH GERStaff halt MELDON QUARRY Excursions only BARLOWBus competition won KEMP TOWN WESTON BATHThrough traffic diverted S&D Flanders and Swann song Slow TrainTruncated line GUNNISLAKE Early casualty MARGATE SANDSRecent casualty SILVERTOWN Replaced by tramway SEATONPoor relation SWANSEA ST THOMAS Midland RailwayAbsorption ?Attempt to cut costs basic railway ALSTON BRIDPORT OKEHAMPTONJust out of reach today BIDEFORDStation moved position ?Locked away NEWHAVEN HARBOUR WEDGWOOD BARLASTON NORTON BRIDGE nb Ian Nolan has some shots of Newhaven harbour stn.Closed then reopened then closed again - make up your mind ! CLIDDESDEN Loch steamers LOCH TAY LAKESIDE WindermereReplaced ferry with bridge NEW HOLLAND PIERParkway concept BRISTOLConcentration on 1 station BATHDecimation of services all 4 routes closed BRECONFilm locations MIDHURST BAYNARDS CARNFORTH CLIDDESDENDr Beeching regrets - station that should never have closed GALASHIELS new Waverley lineRequest stop AVONCLIFFCountry house for sale with station FESTINIOG CAMPBELLS PLATFORMLeast used in UK TEESSIDE AIRPORT The last general WREXHAM Accident blackspot PENISTONE Preserved station HAWORTHNever lived up to expectations RAVENSCAR hotel built but never prospered WEYBOURNE hotelMetroland in response to suburban extension and new housing QUAINTON ROAD VERNEY JUNCTIONLight railways act where standard gauge line would not have been built ST COMBESStation with own shed/waiting room landowner DUNROBINBombed HUDDERSFIELD MIDDLESBROUGHBeauty spot SUGAR LOAFBefore the bus shelters PONTYPOOL ROAD drastic contraction Excursion platforms WESTON S MARE LOCKING ROADStations with subtitles known only by the suffix HULL EDINBURGH LIME STREET BRISTOLPlurality of stations duplication of facilities MANCHESTER 7 stations GLASGOW 4 stationsjoint station CARLISLE many different companiesFurthest reaches all points of the compass HELSTON THURSO LOWESTOFT MALLAIGFerry across river BARTON ON HUMBERBattlefield CULLODEN SHENTON (BOSWORTH)Butlins PENYCHAIN HEADS OF AYRHighest stn in England WANLOCKHEADRan out of steam EAST KENT RLY WINGHAM ROAD LAXFIELD Infiltrator BATH GREEN PARKSpecial traffic only LLAN FESTINIOG TRAWSFYNYDDParliamentary train G & S quote one or minimal train service TEESSIDE AIRPORT Tv series CALLANDER DR FINLAY TannochbraeOne train a day NORTHERN PART OF MSWJRPrivate waiting room MELTON CONSTABLE WOLFERTONWeird names THE MOUNDWorks Halt AMPRESS ACROWLT too far ONGARDual lines to nowhere special RAMSEY E/N over the top provision of 2 railways to small town Rump Station GC NOTTINGHAM - RUGBYBiggest unstaffed halt BIRMINGHAM SNOW HILLTram INCHTURE similar to Fintona in Ireland the Irish connectionRacecourse LINGFIELD NEWBURYSugarbeet STOKE FERRY 105 locations tbc
