Greatstone-on-Sea Halt railway station
Encyclopedia
Greatstone-on-Sea Halt was a railway station which served the modern village of Greatstone-on-Sea
in Kent
, England
. The station opened in 1937 and closed in 1967.
development in the area, the Southern Railway decided to realign its branch line to New Romney
(which had been opened in 1884) closer to the sea and to open two intermediate stations - Lydd-on-Sea
and Greatstone-on-Sea. Greatstone was convenient for Greatstone Camp and Maddieson's Holiday Camp and competed with services provided by the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway
(RHDR) which had already been operating in the area for a decade. The station was equipped with basic facilities consisting of a long single platform on the up side with a simple shelter. An extensive concrete forecourt was, however, provided for the coaches which were expected to ferry in crowds of holidaymakers.
The failure of Greatstone to develop into a substantial holiday resort, coupled with the inconvenient siting of the station by comparison with the RHDR's Greatstone Dunes
and Romney Sands
stations, led to it being downgraded to an unstaffed halt in 1954. As passenger traffic continued to dwindle and freight became insignificant, the New Romney branch fell into decline and was listed for closure in the Beeching Report. In 1966 the Minister of Transport
Barbara Castle
announced her intention of closing the Appledore to New Romney Branch and passenger services ceased on 6 March 1967.
Greatstone Website
Greatstone-on-Sea
Greatstone is a beach-side town, the third town up from the "point" of the Romney Marsh area.It is situated near the largest town there, New Romney in Kent, England. Permission was given in the 1920s for a company to construct large numbers of homes and facilities; only a small number were built...
in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, 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...
. The station opened in 1937 and closed in 1967.
History
The station came about in 1937 when, in response to holiday campHoliday camp
Holiday camp, in Britain, generally refers to a resort with a boundary that includes accommodation, entertainment and other facilities.As distinct from camping, accommodation typically consisted of chalets – small buildings arranged either individually or in blocks. Some had three or four storeys,...
development in the area, the Southern Railway decided to realign its branch line to New Romney
New Romney and Littlestone-on-Sea railway station
New Romney and Littlestone-on-Sea was a railway station which lay in between the villages of New Romney and Littlestone-on-Sea in Kent, England. The station opened in 1884 and closed in 1967.- Early years :...
(which had been opened in 1884) closer to the sea and to open two intermediate stations - Lydd-on-Sea
Lydd-on-Sea Halt railway station
Lydd-on-Sea Halt was a railway station which served the modern village of Lydd-on-Sea in Kent, England. The station opened in 1937 and closed in 1967.- History :...
and Greatstone-on-Sea. Greatstone was convenient for Greatstone Camp and Maddieson's Holiday Camp and competed with services provided by the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway
Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway
The Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway is a gauge light railway in Kent, England. The line runs from the Cinque Port of Hythe via Dymchurch, St...
(RHDR) which had already been operating in the area for a decade. The station was equipped with basic facilities consisting of a long single platform on the up side with a simple shelter. An extensive concrete forecourt was, however, provided for the coaches which were expected to ferry in crowds of holidaymakers.
The failure of Greatstone to develop into a substantial holiday resort, coupled with the inconvenient siting of the station by comparison with the RHDR's Greatstone Dunes
Greatstone Dunes railway station
Greatstone Dunes railway station was a station on the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway in Kent, England.Opened on 24 May 1928, and bearing the attractive name 'Greatstone Dunes' this station served little obvious purpose, particularly as it was located only 1.3 miles south of the station at New...
and Romney Sands
Romney Sands railway station
Romney Sands Railway Station is a station on the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway in Kent, England. It is located on the bleakest part of the Romney Marsh, a shingle peninsula.-Station history:...
stations, led to it being downgraded to an unstaffed halt in 1954. As passenger traffic continued to dwindle and freight became insignificant, the New Romney branch fell into decline and was listed for closure in the Beeching Report. In 1966 the Minister of Transport
Secretary of State for Transport
The Secretary of State for Transport is the member of the cabinet responsible for the British Department for Transport. The role has had a high turnover as new appointments are blamed for the failures of decades of their predecessors...
Barbara Castle
Barbara Castle
Barbara Anne Castle, Baroness Castle of Blackburn , PC, GCOT was a British Labour Party politician....
announced her intention of closing the Appledore to New Romney Branch and passenger services ceased on 6 March 1967.
Greatstone Website