Little Somerford railway station explained

Little Somerford
Status:Disused
Borough:Little Somerford, Wiltshire
Country:England
Coordinates:51.5563°N -2.0478°W
Grid Name:Grid reference
Platforms:2
Original:Great Western Railway
Years:[1]
Events:Opened
Years1:3 April 1961
Events1:Closed to passengers
Events2:Closed completely

Little Somerford railway station served the village of Little Somerford, Wiltshire, England from 1903 to 1963. It was on the South Wales Main Line and served as the junction for the Malmesbury branch line from 1933.

History

When the Malmesbury branch line was opened in 1877, it left the Great Western Main Line at and had one intermediate station just north of Great Somerford. In 1903 the Great Western Railway opened the South Wales Main Line which provided a more direct route to South Wales, passing close to the south of Little Somerford village and to the north of the earlier line. A small station at Little Somerford[2] was opened on the day the line was opened to passengers, 1 July 1903.[3]

In 1933 the connection of the branch to the main line network was altered so that the branch began at Little Somerford, and the section south to Dauntsey was closed. Thus from 17 July 1933 Little Somerford became a junction, until the branch was closed (to passengers in September 1951 and completely in November 1962). Main line passenger service at the station was withdrawn in April 1961 and goods traffic in June 1963.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Quick, M E. Railway passenger stations in England, Scotland and Wales - a chronology. 2002. Railway and Canal Historical Society. Richmond. 253. 931112387.
  2. Web site: Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 maps of Great Britain, sheet ST98. 1959. National Library of Scotland. 8 September 2017.
  3. Book: Wiltshire Railway Stations. Oakley. Mike. 2004. The Dovecote Press. 1-904349-33-1. Wimborne. 77–79.
  4. Web site: Little Somerford. Wiltshire Community History. Wiltshire Council. 7 September 2017.