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Whitchurch Town railway station

Whitchurch Town railway station was a stop on the Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway between 1885 and 1960. It served the town of Whitchurch, in Hampshire, England.

History

The Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway (DN&SR) was opened in stages. The section between Enborne Junction (to the west of ) and Winchester was formally opened on 1 May 1885, public services beginning on 4 May; among the original stations was one named Whitchurch. It was from Enborne Junction, and from .

The town was already served by Whitchurch railway station (Hampshire) on the London and South Western Railway (LSWR), which survives to this day. The DN&SR had a choice of connecting to the LSWR and building a station nearby to aid interchange traffic; however, it decided to build the station further south, closer to the town.

Accidents and incidents

  • On 23 September 1954, a freight train hauled by BR Standard Class 4 2-6-0 No. 76017 overran signals and was derailed by trap points.
  • On 12 February 1960, a freight train hauled by BR Standard Class 4 2-6-0 No. 76026 overran signals and was derailed by trap points.

Facilities

The station was relatively large compared to others on this section of the line, including a larger station building on the northbound platform and a subway to link the two platforms. There was also a long passing loop and three sidings complete with a large goods shed. The station also had a water crane and water tower.

Operations

The DN&S was worked by the Great Western Railway (GWR) and, at the 1923 Grouping, the DN&S was absorbed by the GWR. The GWR had other stations also named Whitchurch and, to distinguish them, most were renamed; this one became Whitchurch (Hants) on 1 July 1924.

Closure

Like other stations on the former DN&S line, Whitchurch (Hants) station was closed temporarily on 4 August 1942, so that the line could be upgraded for wartime freight trains; it reopened on 8 March 1943.

Following the nationalisation of the railways in 1948, British Railways renamed the station Whitchurch Town on 26 September 1949, a name which it retained until closure to passengers on 7 March 1960. Goods services continued, but these ceased as from 6 May 1963.

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