Wantage railway station explained

Wantage
Status:Disused
Borough:Wantage, Vale of White Horse, Oxfordshire
Country:England
Grid Name:Grid reference
Platforms:1
Original:Wantage Tramway
Years:1 October 1875
Events:Station opens to freight
Years1:11 October 1875
Events1:Station opens to passengers
Years2:1 August 1925
Events2:Station closes to passengers
Years3:22 December 1945
Events3:Station closes to freight

Wantage railway station is a closed stone and brick built station located on Mill Street, Wantage in Oxfordshire on the Wantage Tramway line. The station closed fully in 1945 when Wantage Tramway ceased operations.

History

Formed in 1873 to link Wantage Road station with its terminus at Wantage the line was cheaply built[1] parallel to what was then the Besselsleigh Turnpike, and now the A338.

The line was opened for goods on 1 October 1875, and to passengers on 11 October.[2] The tramway junction was to the east of Wantage Road station; interchange passengers walked under the bridge to reach the tramway yard, where the westernmost siding (parallel to the road) was reserved for passenger tramcars.[3]

For most of its operation the line was well used and profitable but the advent of popular road transport saw a steady decline in passengers and freight.[1] The tramway closed to passengers on 1 August 1925, and to goods on 22 December 1945.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Atterbury, P. . 2006 . Branch Line Britain . David and Charles . Marlborough . 978-0-7153-2416-5 . 126 .
  2. Book: Mitchell . Vic . Smith . Keith . Branch Line to Wantage - The Wantage Tramway . 2003 . Middleton Press . Midhurst . 1-904474-25-X .
  3. Book: Mitchell . Vic . Smith . Keith . Didcot to Swindon . Western Main Lines . July 2002 . Middleton Press . Midhurst . 1-901706-84-2 . X. Wantage Road .
  4. http://www.wantage.com/museum/Local_History/Grove%20Village-%20No%20longer%20overshadowed%20by%20Wantage%20Town.pdf Wantage Museum