The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject.(February 2014) |
Private railway stations were a logical development of the rapid growth in railway transportation during the 19th century. Whereas financiers looked to place their stations so as to balance the cost of the construction with expected revenue from the nearby populace, wealthy people utilised this new mode of transport by creating a halt solely for the use of their family, guests and staff.
The earliest recorded such halt is Crathes Station [1] in Aberdeenshire, built for Sir Robert Burnett of Leys in 1853. Such was his family's authority that even messenger trains run when Queen Victoria was in residence at Balmoral had to stop there, just in case he wanted to get on. [2] There were many such lairds, [3] although some were rather less willing to pay for their station once it was safely constructed.[ citation needed ] Some wealthy land-owners wanted the convenience of a bespoke station but did not want an unsightly intrusion onto their land, [4] [ failed verification ] while others wanted their station to be seen from far and wide. [5] The practice spread to Ireland [6] and abroad: both Bermuda [7] and Austria [8] creating exclusive stations for upmarket hotels. Some such stations exist in rural Wales [9] [ unreliable source? ] but others designed to ferry the more budget-conscious to holiday camps have disappeared [10] as increasingly such customers ventured abroad. The uses for private halts was as diverse as their appearance: to transport farm produce, [11] access a golf club, [12] a remote firing range, [13] [ unreliable source? ] hospital [14] or an aircraft factory. [15] [ unreliable source? ] Many took great pride in their private fiefdoms [16] and most are remembered with great affection.[ citation needed ]
"One of the stops on the Black Isle Railway line was a private halt opened in 1894 at Rosehaugh, near Avoch for the estate owner, Mr James Douglas Fletcher. In its early days it was a great success. The only alternatives, even for a laird, were horse, bicycles or Shanks Pony but once the motor car came into its own however, the station’s use dwindled and it eventually closed in 1951".
- Elizabeth Marshall, The Black Isle-Portrait of the Past [17]
Today the term is often used jokingly for an underused station such as Emerson Park [18] [ unreliable source? ] or mistakenly about remote highland stations,[ citation needed ] where it would be uneconomic to stop for the minuscule number of per annum passengers, unless requested. Many are now only remembered because of the diligent recording of railway enthusiasts [19]
The Tube map is a schematic transport map of the lines, stations and services of the London Underground, known colloquially as "the Tube", hence the map's name. The first schematic Tube map was designed by Harry Beck in 1931. Since then, it has been expanded to include more of London's public transport systems, including the Docklands Light Railway, London Overground, the Elizabeth line, Tramlink, the London Cable Car and Thameslink.
A train operating company (TOC) is the term used on the railway system of Great Britain for a railway undertaking operating passenger trains under the collective National Rail brand. TOCs have existed since the privatisation of the network under the Railways Act 1993.
The London Transport Museum is a transport museum based in Covent Garden, London. The museum predominantly hosts exhibits relating to the heritage of London's transport, as well as conserving and explaining the history of it. The majority of the museum's exhibits originated in the collections of London Transport, but, since the creation of Transport for London (TfL) in 2000, the remit of the museum has expanded to cover all aspects of transportation in the city and in some instances beyond.
Dunbar railway station serves the town of Dunbar in East Lothian, Scotland. It is located on the East Coast Main Line and is a two platform station. It is 29 miles 5 chains (46.8 km) from Edinburgh Waverley and 364.092 miles (585.950 km) from London King's Cross.
Accrington railway station serves the town of Accrington in Lancashire, England. It is a station on the East Lancashire line 6+1⁄4 miles (10.1 km) east of Blackburn railway station operated by Northern.
Caersws railway station is a railway station on the Cambrian Line in mid-Wales, serving the village of Caersws. It is notable that there is a distance of 22 miles (35 km) between this station and Machynlleth, the longest distance between two intermediate stations in Wales.
Bodorgan railway station serves the hamlet of Bodorgan and the village of Bethel on the Isle of Anglesey, Wales. The stop is an unmanned halt, and serves as a request stop for Chester and Holyhead-bound local trains along the North Wales coast.
Lenzie railway station is a railway station serving Lenzie and Kirkintilloch in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland. It is located on the Croy Line, 6+1⁄4 miles (10.1 km) northeast of Glasgow Queen Street. Trains on the Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk Line pass Lenzie by. The station is served by ScotRail.
Culrain railway station serves the village of Culrain in Kyle of Sutherland in the Highland council area of Scotland. It is located on the Far North Line. It is 61 miles 0 chains (98.2 km) from Inverness, between Ardgay and Invershin. ScotRail, who manage the station, operate all services.
Rogart railway station is a railway station serving the villages of Rogart and Pittentrail, in the Highland council area of Scotland. The station is on the Far North Line, 77 miles 1 chain (123.9 km) from Inverness, between Golspie and Lairg. ScotRail, who manage the station, operate all services.
Partick is an interchange station in the Partick area of Glasgow, Scotland. Along with the adjacent bus station, it forms one of the main transport hubs in Glasgow. As of 2022, it is the fifth-busiest station in Scotland. The station is served by Glasgow Subway and ScotRail services and was one of the first to receive bilingual English and Gaelic signs, due to the significant Gaelic-speaking population in the surrounding Partick area.
Gleneagles railway station serves the town of Auchterarder in Perth and Kinross, Scotland.
Bowling railway station serves the village of Bowling in the West Dunbartonshire region of Scotland. This station is on the North Clyde Line, 12¼ miles (20 km) west of Glasgow Queen Street.
Huntly railway station is a railway station serving the town of Huntly in Scotland. The station is managed by ScotRail and is on the Aberdeen to Inverness Line, between Insch and Keith, 40 miles 67 chains (65.7 km) from Aberdeen.
Dyce railway station is a railway station serving the suburb of Dyce, Aberdeen, Scotland. The station is managed by ScotRail and is on the Aberdeen to Inverness Line, with some trains operating on the Edinburgh to Aberdeen Line and Glasgow to Aberdeen Line also extended to call at Dyce and Inverurie. It is sited 6.25 miles from Aberdeen, being the first stop north of the station.
Kilwinning railway station is a railway station serving the town of Kilwinning, North Ayrshire, Scotland. The station is managed by ScotRail and is on the Ayrshire Coast Line 26 miles (42 km) south of Glasgow Central, as well as the Glasgow South Western Line 69 miles (111 km) north of Stranraer. British Transport Police maintain an office here.
Dalgety Bay railway station serves the town of Dalgety Bay in Fife, Scotland. Lying on the Fife Circle and EdinburghーDundee lines, it is managed by ScotRail. It is currently the nearest railway station to Fordell Firs Camp site, the Scottish national headquarters for The Scout Association in Scotland, part of Scouting in Scotland.
Nitshill railway station is situated in Nitshill, a district of Glasgow, Scotland. The station is managed by ScotRail and is on the Glasgow South Western Line, 5+3⁄4 miles (9.3 km) southwest of Glasgow Central.
Alnmouth is a railway station on the East Coast Main Line, which runs between London King's Cross and Edinburgh Waverley. The station, situated 34 miles 69 chains north of Newcastle, serves the villages of Alnmouth and Lesbury and the neighbouring market town of Alnwick in Northumberland, England. It is owned by Network Rail and managed by Northern Trains.
A train station, railway station, railroad station, or railway depot is a railway facility where trains stop to load or unload passengers, freight, or both. It generally consists of at least one platform, one track, and a station building providing such ancillary services as ticket sales, waiting rooms, and baggage/freight service. If a station is on a single-track line, it often has a passing loop to facilitate traffic movements.