List of private railway stations in Great Britain explained

This is a list of railway stations which at some time have been private halts. It details the name of the railway station, its location, dates where known, reason for its existence and any additional information that may aid the researcher. The station names in bold are still available for use today.

NameLocationDatesPurposeNotes
Aboyne Curling PondDeeside Railway1891-1925for curlers
Alton ParkBasingstoke and Alton Light Railway1898-1939To serve Treloar's Hospital.The film Oh, Mr Porter! was filmed on the line.[1]
Avon Lodge HaltBetween Ringwood and Christchurch1858-1935To allow Lord Malmesbury to stop any ordinary train.An Act of Parliament allowed him to do this.
BeasdaleWest Highland Line1901-1965to serve Arisaig HousePrivate until 1965 then became public station
Boreham House station1843- 1877A private station for Boreham House.
Broomielaw stationBarnard Castle branch1856- 1964A private halt for the Bowes-Lyon family.Private until 1942, John Bowes was so proud of Broomielaw station that he named one of his horses after it.
Butterton stationLeek and Manifold Valley Light Railway, Staffordshire1904-1934Private Halt for Sir Thomas Wardle.Wardle built a tunnel through his land to avoid spoiling his view!
Campbell's Platform railway stationFfestiniog railway1965-Trains stop when required for visitors to Dduallt ManorA siding from 1962 to 1966.
Castle Grant PlatformStrathspey, Scotland1863-1965For use of the Grant familyby request
Coed y BleiddiauFfestiniog Railway, Wales1862-For use of the residents of Ty Hovington.Not listed - driver stops at own discretion.
Ashton Hall haltGlasson Dock branch line, Lancashire1883-1930Private Halt for Lord Ashton, local businessmanServed Ashton Hall and the station is still standing
CrathesDeeside Railway
Crathes Castle, near Banchory, Aberdeenshire
1853-1966Private Halt for Sir Robert Leys.In return for leasing the land, even the Royal Train had to stop there.[2]
CroftonMaryport and Carlisle Railway1856-1954For Sir M.H.Brisco of Crofton HallStopped on request
Dovenby LodgeMaryport and Carlisle Railway1867- 1935For Dykes family of Dovenby Hall
Drummuir Curlers PlatformKeith and Dufftown Railway?For curlers
Dunrobin CastleDuke of Sutherland's Railway.
Near Golspie, Sutherland
1870-1965; re-opened 1985For Duke of Sutherland’s railway.Advertised in public timetable
Earl Fitzwilliam's private railway stationElsecar, South Yorkshire1870-?Private Halt to transport guests to Wentworth WoodhouseThe trains were known as "E.F.W. specials"
Fallodon railway stationNorthumberland1847-1934Private station for the Grey family and guests to Fallodon Halltrains stopped on request
Glencarron PlatformDingwall and Skye Railway1873-1887 and 1964-?Built for local landownertrains stopped on request
GortonWest Highland Line1894-1964Built at request of local landownerall trains stopped
Hoe FarmHundred of Manhood & Selsey Tramway1896-1934To transport farm produce to Chichester.Provided as part considerations in the conveyance of land for the tramway.
LanhydrockBodmin, Cornwall1859Private halt for Henry Agar-Ellis, 3rd Viscount ClifdenLater on a driveway from the Lanhydrock House to Bodmin Parkway railway station was built.
Lemsford Road Halt railway station.[3] St Albans, Hertfordshire1942-1951For workmen at De Havilland's.Did not appear on public time tables.
LlannerchVale of Clwyd Railway1858-1871A private station for Whitehall DodDirector of Vale of Clwyd Railway. Right to stop trains expired in 1871
LochluichartDingwall and Skye Railway1872-1887A private platform for Lady Ashburnton on the Lochluichart Lodge estate.New station opened 1954 when Conon Valley Hydro Electric Scheme raised the height of Loch Luichart.
Londesborough Park railway stationYork to Beverley Line(unknown) - 1867A short-lived private station for George Hudson of Londesborough Hall. The station building was renamed Avenue House and remained in-situ until the 1960s.[4]
Longwitton - opened as RothleyScotsgap to Rothbury1870-1952A private halt for the Trevelyan Estate.Became a public station in 1875.[5]
Luffness Platform[6] Aberlady, Gullane and North Berwick Railway
Near Gullane, East Lothian
1903-1932For members of New Luffness Golf Club .Golf club paid a rent to the North British Railway for the privilege.
Medina Wharf Halt railway station.[7] Isle of Wight1896-1966For workmen who unloaded the coal and merchandise.Did not appear in public time tables.
Mosney railway stationCounty Meath, Republic of Ireland1948-2000For customers of the nearby Butlins Holiday Camp.Added to the public time table in 1958.
Ox HouseHerefordshire1857-?Built for Lord Bateman of Shobdon CourtPrivate station
Parkhouse HaltWaverley Line
Near Carlisle
1941-1969Private halt for Air Force Depot workers
Philorth HaltFormartine and Buchan Railway
Near Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire
1865-1965Private halt for Lord Saltoun.The station building has been extended and is now used as a residential building.
Quainton RoadBuckinghamshiresince 1971On special gala days at Buckinghamshire Railway CentreNot in timetable. Advertised by special notices only
Rosehaugh Halt railway stationFortrose Branch.
Near Avoch, Black Isle
1894-1951Private Halt for James Douglas Fletcher.Redcastle Station is the only Black Isle Railway station still standing today.
Seaham DeneCounty Durham1875-1925To serve the estate of The Marquess of Londonderry.Described by Pevsner in Buildings of England (Penguin Books, 1957) as "small but decorative".
Watchingwell (Isle of Wight) railway stationIsle of Wight1897-1953Private halt for Sir John Barington Simeon, Southampton M.P.Positioned to serve his Swainston Estate.
Sometimes known as Upper Watchingwell Halt
Westmoor FlagHerefordshire1863-?

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: First Stop Buggleskelly. https://web.archive.org/web/20090416130828/http://web.ukonline.co.uk/cj.tolley/cjt-brhb.htm . 16 April 2009. Christopher Tolley . January 2001. 20 February 2015.
  2. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1894/02/11/106897756.pdf
  3. Web site: Disused Stations: Lemsford Road Halt.
  4. Web site: Disused Stations: Londesborough Park Station.
  5. Web site: Disused Stations: Long Witton Station.
  6. Web site: Branching Out . 21 October 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120206142916/http://www.eastlothianmuseums.org/exhibitions/nbr/branch.html . 6 February 2012 . dead .
  7. Web site: Disused Stations: Medina Whatf Halt.