Britannia Points Halt railway station

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Britannia Points Halt
BlackPrincepass.JPG
Two trains pass at Britannia points
General information
Location Dungeness, Folkestone & Hythe
England
Platforms0
Other information
StatusDisused
History
Original company RHDR
Key dates
1929Opened
about 1930Station closed to passengers
Location
Britannia Points Halt railway station

Britannia Points Halt railway station was a short-lived conditional stop on the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway in Kent, England, for about two years from the start of 1929 to approximately 1930.

Contents

History

As a 'conditional stop' Britannia Points (or "The Britannia") has historically been referred to as a 'station' merely for convenience, as conditional stops are not really stations at all in any formal sense, but are simply trackside locations where trains will stop in response to a hand signal given to the driver.

The conditional stop at this location first appeared in the timetable for 1929, but working experience showed that very little use was made of the facility. The conditional stop was withdrawn from the railway's timetables about 1930.

The name "Britannia" was derived from a nearby public house. Although the original pub has been demolished, a replacement (bearing the same name) was constructed near to Dungeness station, and is still trading.

Britannia Points

Britannia Points are the points controlling the balloon loop at Dungeness. From 1928 until the end of World War II they marked the point of divergence of the two running lines. From 1946 (when the line was reduced to single track operation) to the present day they have taken the form of spring-loaded points allowing the single track to return onto itself through the loop.

Britannia Points now form a token section on Intensive Service Days, which enables three trains to be in the New Romney to Dungeness Section at any one time.

Photogallery

Preceding station HR icon.svg Heritage railways Following station
Former service
Dungeness
Line and station open
Terminus
Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway The Pilot Inn
Line open, station closed
towards Hythe

50°55′07″N0°58′25″E / 50.91873°N 0.97371°E / 50.91873; 0.97371