Grove Ferry and Upstreet railway station

Last updated

Grove Ferry and Upstreet
Grove Ferry Railway Station.jpg
Grove Ferry Railway Station 1907
Location Upstreet, City of Canterbury
England
Coordinates 51°19′27″N1°12′24″E / 51.32408°N 1.20675°E / 51.32408; 1.20675 Coordinates: 51°19′27″N1°12′24″E / 51.32408°N 1.20675°E / 51.32408; 1.20675
Grid reference TR 2352 6321
Platforms2
Other information
StatusDisused
History
Original company South Eastern Railway
Pre-grouping South Eastern and Chatham Railway
Post-grouping Southern Railway
Key dates
13 April 1846Opened as Grove Ferry
20 September 1954Renamed Grove Ferry and Upstreet
30 April 1960Station closed to freight
3 January 1966Station closed to passengers

Grove Ferry and Upstreet was a railway station in east Kent. It was opened by South Eastern Railway (SER), on the Ashford to Ramsgate (via Canterbury West) line between Sturry station and Minster station.

Contents

History

Grove Ferry station opened on 13 April 1846, [1] the rural station was built to serve the village of Upstreet and the ferry crossing of the Great Stour until 1966, when a bridge was built. [2] The nearby "Grove Ferry Inn" owned the rights to the ferry and farmed 17 acres (6.9 ha) of lavender, [3] creating a popular day trip destination up until the Second World War; this is now part of the Grove Ferry Picnic Area. The public level crossing and goods sidings leading to the ferry were operated from a small signal box. [4]

The station was renamed Grove Ferry & Upstreet in September 1954. [5] Goods traffic ceased on 30 April 1960, [6] The railway between Ashford and Minster was electrified on 9 October 1961. [1] A concrete footbridge was built at the station in preparation for this change. [5] The signal box closed on 14 March 1964, [6] and the level crossing was converted to automatic half barriers on 3 January 1966. The station closed the same day, [7] shortly before the introduction of a bus service over the new Grove Ferry Bridge, which would have undermined the low patronage.

Remains today

The station buildings and up platform have been demolished and only a few traces remain of the down platform. The broad steps leading to the footpath connecting the station to the village, although overgrown, can still be seen. Grove Ferry and Upstreet Station lives on in model form due to the efforts of the Ashford Model Railway Club, with the model occasionally being taken on tour. [8]

Preceding station Disused railways Following station
Chislet Colliery Halt   British Rail
Southern Region

Ashford to Ramsgate
(via Canterbury West) line
  Minster

Related Research Articles

East Coastway line Railway line

The East Coastway line is a railway line along the south coast of Sussex to the east of Brighton, England. Trains to the West of Brighton operate on the West Coastway line. Together with the West Coastway and the Marshlink line to the east, the line forms part of a continuous route from Havant to Ashford. The Brighton Main Line route to Eastbourne and Hastings, via Plumpton and Cooksbridge, shares the East Coastway line east of Lewes station.

Maidstone East railway station

Maidstone East railway station is one of three stations in the central area of Maidstone, Kent, England, but currently the only one with a regular direct service to London. The station is on the Maidstone East Line, 39 miles 76 chains (64.3 km) from London Victoria, and is served by trains operated by Southeastern.

Ashford International railway station

Ashford International railway station is a National Rail international and regional station in Ashford, Kent. It connects several railway lines, including High Speed 1 and the South Eastern main line. Domestic trains that call at Ashford are operated by Southeastern and Southern, and international services by Eurostar.

Marden railway station

Marden railway station is on the South Eastern Main Line in England, serving the village of Marden in the borough of Maidstone, Kent. It is 39 miles 31 chains (63.4 km) down the line from London Charing Cross. The station and all trains that call are operated by Southeastern. The station is often referred to as Marden (Kent), to distinguish itself between similarly-named villages across England.

Headcorn railway station

Headcorn railway station is on the South Eastern Main Line in England, serving the village of Headcorn, Kent. It is 45 miles 20 chains (72.8 km) down the line from London Charing Cross. The station and all trains that call are operated by Southeastern.

Pluckley railway station

Pluckley railway station is on the South Eastern Main Line in England, serving the village of Pluckley, Kent, which is approximately 1.2 miles (2 km) to the north. It is 50 miles 35 chains (81.2 km) down the line from London Charing Cross. The station and all trains that call are operated by Southeastern.

Lenham railway station

Lenham railway station serves Lenham in Kent, England. It is 49 miles 11 chains (79.1 km) down the line from London Victoria.

Harrietsham railway station

Harrietsham railway station serves Harrietsham in Kent, England. It is 47 miles 36 chains (76.4 km) down the line from London Victoria.

Hollingbourne railway station

Hollingbourne railway station serves Hollingbourne in Kent, England. It was opened in 1884 and is 45 miles 2 chains (72.5 km) down the line from London Victoria.

Bearsted railway station

Bearsted railway station serves Bearsted in Kent, England. The station and all trains serving it are operated by Southeastern. It is 42 miles 59 chains (68.8 km) down the line from London Victoria via Herne Hill.

Barming railway station

Barming railway station is located in Tonbridge and Malling Borough, west of Maidstone in Kent, England, and approximately 1 mile from Barming and Maidstone Hospital. It is 37 miles 43 chains (60.4 km) down the line from London Victoria.

West Malling railway station

West Malling railway station lies to the east of West Malling, Kent, England, and is close to Kings Hill, Larkfield and Leybourne. It is 34 miles 61 chains (55.9 km) down the line from London Victoria.

Borough Green & Wrotham railway station

Borough Green & Wrotham railway station is located in Borough Green in Kent, England. It is 29 miles 46 chains (47.6 km) down the line from London Victoria. Train services are provided by Southeastern.

Rye railway station (East Sussex)

Rye railway station is a Grade II listed station, serving Rye, East Sussex, England. It is on the Marshlink line between Hastings and Ashford International and is the principal station between those two terminals. The station is a passing place between two single track sections. Services are provided by Southern, usually between Eastbourne and Ashford with an additional shuttle from Rye to Ashford at peak times.

Canterbury and Whitstable Railway Early British railway line, opened in 1830

The Canterbury and Whitstable Railway, sometimes referred to colloquially as the "Crab and Winkle Line", was an early British railway that opened in 1830 between Canterbury and Whitstable in the county of Kent, England.

Ashford–Ramsgate line

The Ashford–Ramsgate line is a railway that runs through Kent from Ashford to Ramsgate via Canterbury West. Its route mostly follows the course of the River Great Stour.

Elham Valley Railway Former railway in England, now closed.

The Elham Valley Railway was a line connecting Folkestone and Canterbury in Kent, England. It opened between 1887 and 1889 and closed in 1947.

Canterbury South was a station on the Elham Valley Railway. It opened in 1889 and closed to passengers in 1940 and freight in 1947.

Bridge railway station

Bridge was a station on the Elham Valley Railway. It opened in 1889 and closed to passengers in 1940 and freight in 1947.

Chislet Colliery Halt was a minor station on the Ashford to Ramsgate line. It opened in 1920 and closed in 1971.

References

Citations
  1. 1 2 Mitchell & Smith 1995, Historical Background.
  2. Mitchell & Smith 1995, Illustration 64.
  3. Mitchell & Smith 1995, Illustration 62.
  4. Mitchell & Smith 1995, Illstration 63.
  5. 1 2 Mitchell & Smith 1995, Illustration 66.
  6. 1 2 Mitchell & Smith 1995, Illustration 65.
  7. Mitchell & Smith 1995, Illustrations 64 & 66.
  8. "Layouts - Grove Ferry & Upstreet". Ashford Model Railway Club. 2009. Archived from the original on 30 December 2009. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
Sources