Junction Road Halt railway station
Encyclopedia
Junction Road Halt, also known as Junction Road for Hawkhurst, was a halt station on the Kent and East Sussex Railway
. It was located on the eastern side of the level crossing
across the B2244 Junction Road
near the hamlet of Udiam in East Sussex
, England
. Closed for passengers in 1954 and freight in 1961 with the line, Junction Road Halt may yet be revived as the Rother Valley Railway
, a preservation society, is proposing to reopen the line from Robertsbridge
to Bodiam
, including the rebuilding of the intermediate stations.
of the adjoining fields who enjoyed shooting rights over the land. The station was situated on the eastern side of a level crossing
on the turnpike road from Hawkhurst
to Hastings
called Junction Road (now part of the B2244 road
). The crossing was originally gated, but cattle grid
s later replaced the gates to prevent livestock
from straying onto the line. After a brief closure, Colonel Stephens, the proprietor of the Kent and East Sussex Railway
(KESR) (then known as the Rother Valley Railway) formally applied in 1903 for permission to open the station to the public. Although it is unclear whether authorisation was actually granted, the station began to appear in the railway company's timetables later that year. The station's running-in board read Junction Road for Hawkhurst, even though the village of Hawkhurst
was some 4 miles (6.4 km) away and, in any event, had been served by its own railway station for the last eleven years. A lack of funds meant that no station buildings were provided at Junction Road, the station consisting merely of a single unsheltered platform constructed of wood and earth. In February 1910, a siding
was commissioned on the Robertsbridge side of the B2244.
Junction Road, which was convenient for the Guinness
hop
farm
, saw substantial passenger traffic during the hop-picking season, and this may have contributed towards the decision to renew the platform in 1948. The KESR had acquired the materials prior to nationalisation
, and the work was completed by British Railways
. The concrete parts had been made at the Exmouth
concrete works near Exeter
and supplied by the Southern Railway. The platform was sufficiently long to accommodate a two-carriage train.
Regular passenger services ceased in January 1954 but it continued to be used for special services. The last publicly-advertised service to pass through the station was a seven-carriage Locomotive Club of Great Britain special, worked by Nos. 32662 and 32670, which ran on 11 June 1961. After closure a preservation group was formed to reopen the line. After many years of negotiations the Ministry of Transport
however refused permission for the section of line west of Bodiam, on the basis of the level crossings at Junction Road and on the A21 road. The track was removed between Bodiam and Robertsbridge in the early 1970s however the section between Bodiam and Tenterden has been reopened. The platform was still in situ in 1987 but was removed a few years later.
, a preservation group set up in 1991, had by March 2009 laid track from Bodiam to within 200 yards (182.9 m) of the site of Junction Road Halt at a cost of £200,000. The owner of Udiam Farm, whose land incorporates the original railway alignment, has agreed for the line to be rebuilt through his garden along its historic route. The previous owner of Udiam Farm had not been willing for the line to cross his land. Track was relaid through the site of the halt in June 2010. KESR services ran as far as Junction Road on the weekend of 19/20 March 2011, although passengers were not able to alight or board at this point. There are no plans to reinstate Junction Road Halt and arrangements have not yet been made for continuation of the line towards Robertsbridge.
Kent and East Sussex Railway
The Kent & East Sussex Railway refers to both an historical private railway company in Kent and Sussex in England, as well as a heritage railway currently running on part of the route of the historical company.-Historical Company:-Background:...
. It was located on the eastern side of the level crossing
Level crossing
A level crossing occurs where a railway line is intersected by a road or path onone level, without recourse to a bridge or tunnel. It is a type of at-grade intersection. The term also applies when a light rail line with separate right-of-way or reserved track crosses a road in the same fashion...
across the B2244 Junction Road
A229 road
The A229 is a major road running north-south through Kent.The road begins in the Medway town of Rochester at the foot of Star Hill forming a junction with the A2 road. It then climbs up through the built-up area of Chatham, passing Troy Town and Rochester Airport before descending the slope of the...
near the hamlet of Udiam in East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Closed for passengers in 1954 and freight in 1961 with the line, Junction Road Halt may yet be revived as the Rother Valley Railway
Rother Valley Railway
The Rother Valley Railway is the original name of what became the Kent and East Sussex Railway. Nowadays, the Rother Valley Railway refers to the ‘Missing Link’ between Robertsbridge, a station on the Tonbridge to Hastings mainline, and Bodiam on the Kent and East Sussex Railway, a heritage...
, a preservation society, is proposing to reopen the line from Robertsbridge
Robertsbridge railway station
Robertsbridge railway station is on the Hastings Line in East Sussex in England, and serves Robertsbridge. Train services are provided by Southeastern.- History :...
to Bodiam
Bodiam railway station
Bodiam is a heritage railway station on the Kent and East Sussex Railway in Bodiam, East Sussex.- History :Situated half a mile from the Bodiam village itself and its fourteenth century castle, the station opened in 1900 in a rather remote and rural location...
, including the rebuilding of the intermediate stations.
History
Junction Road station was first opened in 1900 as a private platform for the benefit of the tenantLeasehold estate
A leasehold estate is an ownership of a temporary right to land or property in which a lessee or a tenant holds rights of real property by some form of title from a lessor or landlord....
of the adjoining fields who enjoyed shooting rights over the land. The station was situated on the eastern side of a level crossing
Level crossing
A level crossing occurs where a railway line is intersected by a road or path onone level, without recourse to a bridge or tunnel. It is a type of at-grade intersection. The term also applies when a light rail line with separate right-of-way or reserved track crosses a road in the same fashion...
on the turnpike road from Hawkhurst
Hawkhurst
Hawkhurst is a village and civil parish in the borough of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England. The parish lies to the south-east of Tunbridge Wells. Hawkhurst itself is virtually two villages...
to Hastings
Hastings
Hastings is a town and borough in the county of East Sussex on the south coast of England. The town is located east of the county town of Lewes and south east of London, and has an estimated population of 86,900....
called Junction Road (now part of the B2244 road
A229 road
The A229 is a major road running north-south through Kent.The road begins in the Medway town of Rochester at the foot of Star Hill forming a junction with the A2 road. It then climbs up through the built-up area of Chatham, passing Troy Town and Rochester Airport before descending the slope of the...
). The crossing was originally gated, but cattle grid
Cattle grid
A cattle grid or cattle guard – also known as a vehicle pass, Texas gate, stock gap A cattle grid (or stock grid)(British English) or cattle guard (American English) – also known as a vehicle pass, Texas gate, stock gap A cattle grid (or stock grid)(British English) or cattle guard (American...
s later replaced the gates to prevent livestock
Livestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
from straying onto the line. After a brief closure, Colonel Stephens, the proprietor of the Kent and East Sussex Railway
Kent and East Sussex Railway
The Kent & East Sussex Railway refers to both an historical private railway company in Kent and Sussex in England, as well as a heritage railway currently running on part of the route of the historical company.-Historical Company:-Background:...
(KESR) (then known as the Rother Valley Railway) formally applied in 1903 for permission to open the station to the public. Although it is unclear whether authorisation was actually granted, the station began to appear in the railway company's timetables later that year. The station's running-in board read Junction Road for Hawkhurst, even though the village of Hawkhurst
Hawkhurst
Hawkhurst is a village and civil parish in the borough of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England. The parish lies to the south-east of Tunbridge Wells. Hawkhurst itself is virtually two villages...
was some 4 miles (6.4 km) away and, in any event, had been served by its own railway station for the last eleven years. A lack of funds meant that no station buildings were provided at Junction Road, the station consisting merely of a single unsheltered platform constructed of wood and earth. In February 1910, a siding
Rail siding
A siding, in rail terminology, is a low-speed track section distinct from a running line or through route such as a main line or branch line or spur. It may connect to through track or to other sidings at either end...
was commissioned on the Robertsbridge side of the B2244.
Junction Road, which was convenient for the Guinness
Guinness
Guinness is a popular Irish dry stout that originated in the brewery of Arthur Guinness at St. James's Gate, Dublin. Guinness is directly descended from the porter style that originated in London in the early 18th century and is one of the most successful beer brands worldwide, brewed in almost...
hop
Hop (plant)
Humulus, Hop, is a small genus of flowering plants native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The female flowers of H. lupulus are known as hops, and are used as a culinary flavoring and stabilizer, especially in the brewing of beer...
farm
Farm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
, saw substantial passenger traffic during the hop-picking season, and this may have contributed towards the decision to renew the platform in 1948. The KESR had acquired the materials prior to nationalisation
Transport Act 1947
The Transport Act 1947 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Under it the railways, long-distance road haulage and various other types of transport were acquired by the state and handed over to a new British Transport Commission for operation...
, and the work was completed by British Railways
Southern Region of British Railways
The Southern Region was a region of British Railways from 1948. The region ceased to be an operating unit in its own right in the 1980s and was wound up at the end of 1992. The region covered south London, southern England and the south coast, including the busy commuter belt areas of Kent, Sussex...
. The concrete parts had been made at the Exmouth
Exmouth
Exmouth is a town in Devon. It may also refer to:Places*Exmouth Peninsula in Southern Chile*Exmouth, Western AustraliaPeople*Edward Pellew, 1st Viscount Exmouth , a British naval officerShips...
concrete works near Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
and supplied by the Southern Railway. The platform was sufficiently long to accommodate a two-carriage train.
Regular passenger services ceased in January 1954 but it continued to be used for special services. The last publicly-advertised service to pass through the station was a seven-carriage Locomotive Club of Great Britain special, worked by Nos. 32662 and 32670, which ran on 11 June 1961. After closure a preservation group was formed to reopen the line. After many years of negotiations the Ministry of Transport
Department for Transport
In the United Kingdom, the Department for Transport is the government department responsible for the English transport network and a limited number of transport matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which are not devolved...
however refused permission for the section of line west of Bodiam, on the basis of the level crossings at Junction Road and on the A21 road. The track was removed between Bodiam and Robertsbridge in the early 1970s however the section between Bodiam and Tenterden has been reopened. The platform was still in situ in 1987 but was removed a few years later.
Present day
The Rother Valley RailwayRother Valley Railway
The Rother Valley Railway is the original name of what became the Kent and East Sussex Railway. Nowadays, the Rother Valley Railway refers to the ‘Missing Link’ between Robertsbridge, a station on the Tonbridge to Hastings mainline, and Bodiam on the Kent and East Sussex Railway, a heritage...
, a preservation group set up in 1991, had by March 2009 laid track from Bodiam to within 200 yards (182.9 m) of the site of Junction Road Halt at a cost of £200,000. The owner of Udiam Farm, whose land incorporates the original railway alignment, has agreed for the line to be rebuilt through his garden along its historic route. The previous owner of Udiam Farm had not been willing for the line to cross his land. Track was relaid through the site of the halt in June 2010. KESR services ran as far as Junction Road on the weekend of 19/20 March 2011, although passengers were not able to alight or board at this point. There are no plans to reinstate Junction Road Halt and arrangements have not yet been made for continuation of the line towards Robertsbridge.