Parkend railway station

Last updated

Parkend station
Station on heritage railway
Parkend railway station MMB 10 3717 "City of Truro".jpg
"City of Truro" stands at Parkend in 2010
General information
Location Parkend, Forest of Dean
England
Coordinates 51°46′03″N2°33′23″W / 51.76756°N 2.55647°W / 51.76756; -2.55647
Grid reference SO617078
Operated by Dean Forest Railway
Platforms2
History
Original company Severn and Wye Railway
Key dates
23 September 1875opened
8 July 1929closed for passengers
19 May 2006reopened

Parkend railway station is located in the village of Parkend, in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. It is currently the northern terminus of the Dean Forest (heritage) Railway.

Contents

History

A 1911 Railway Clearing House map of railways in the vicinity of Parkend Bilson, Cinderford, Coleford, Lydbrook & Lydney RJD 86.jpg
A 1911 Railway Clearing House map of railways in the vicinity of Parkend

In 1864 the Severn and Wye Railway began operating small mineral trains on its existing tramroad, but they were not satisfactory and, in 1868, the company added a broad-gauge steam railway line. However, both were removed and replaced with standard gauge tracks by 1874. The station was constructed in 1873, and subsequently opened in 1875, to enable the company to also offer passenger services alongside its freight operations which, by now, had given the railway a sizeable presence in the village, including several sidings. [1]

A decline in mineral traffic and passenger numbers saw regular passenger services cease in 1929. [2] The last goods train left Parkend on 26 March 1976 and much of the track was dismantled.

The line was bought by the Dean Forest Railway Preservation Society, now based at Norchard. In 2004-2005 Parkend station was extensively reconstructed, and it reopened 26 December 2005. Diesel Railcars ran the service in December 2005 and then Steam services have run into Parkend since 25 March 2006. It was then officially opened, by the Princess Royal, on 19 May 2006.

The station has two platforms, a water column, footbridge, goods shed , level crossing and a signal box (ex Maesmawr). On the 'Down' Platform there is the main station building which has a ticket office and also sells some food & drink along with some gifts. Toilets are also part of this building. The level crossing gates at the north end of the station are reputedly the longest in Britain.

Services

An extension to Beechenhurst is currently planned. [3]

Preceding station HR icon.svg Heritage railways Following station
Terminus Dean Forest Railway Whitecroft
Proposed extension
Beechenhurst
towards Cinderford
Dean Forest Railway Whitecroft
Disused railways
Milkwall   Severn and Wye Railway
Later Severn and Wye Joint Railway (MR and GWR)
  Whitecroft

See also

References

  1. Butt, R.V.J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations. Yeovil: Patrick Stephens Ltd. p. 248. ISBN   1-85260-508-1. R508.
  2. Quick, M. E. (2002). Railway passenger stations in England, Scotland and Wales – a chronology. Richmond: Railway and Canal Historical Society. p. 333. OCLC   931112387.
  3. "Northern Extension 2025". Dean Forest Railway Society. Lydney. Archived from the original on 27 July 2025. Retrieved 27 July 2025.