Milton Range Halt railway station
Encyclopedia
Milton Range Halt was a halt between Denton Halt
and Hoo Junction Staff Halt on the Hundred of Hoo Railway
. It opened in July 1906 and closed on to public use on 17 September 1932, although it remained open by special arrangement after that date until some time after 1956.
The station was constructed on a low embankment to the south of the Thames and Medway Canal
beyond Higham
, where the line climbs at 1 in 215 and then falls in a short cutting at 1 in 267. Initially, an island platform
was provided, but this was removed in 1914 to be replaced by 400 ft (121.9 m) wooden facing platforms. These were later rebuilt in concrete and survived beyond official closure to passenger traffic in 1932. At the eastern end of the platforms was a gated sleeper crossing which carried a public footpath over the line.
Ostensibly provided to serve the adjoining rifle range, Milton Range Halt was more frequently used by platelayer
s and railway workmen who would unload tools and materials at this desolate spot. The station took on greater importance early in the First World War when around 200 soldiers travelled on weekdays to Milton Range Halt from on the 0750 service from , returning on the 1325 to , which had three extra third class carriages attached for the use of the soldiers. By May 1915, special calls at the halt were being made by six Down and five Up services when requested; the stationmaster was informed when special calls were to be made by Down trains, whilst the stationmaster was responsible for Up trains. These stations had to telephone Milton Range Halt every time that a train was to call, with three minutes being allowed for the stop. This arrangement remained in force for the duration of the war.
The station was the site of an accident in August 1922 when a Down passenger train held at the halt was struck from behind by another train, resulting in the death of five passengers. After the arrival of the 0540 workmen's train from Charing Cross to Strood at 0630, a number of workmen employed in the construction of the A2 road
to the south alighted and crossed the line in front of the engine. They proceeded along the Up line when they were struck in dense river fog by an Up train, killing one workman and seriously injuring another. The accident caused the first train to be delayed at the halt where it was run into by the next workmen's special, timed to leave at 0555 and to arrive at Milton Range Halt ten minutes after the first train. The collision resulted in the death of a third workman and fatal injuries to two others. The driver of the second train was found to be primarily responsible for the accident by passing a signal without observing its position.
The last remains of the derelict platforms survived until 2009.
Denton Halt railway station
Denton Halt was a halt between Milton Road Halt and Milton Range Halt on the Hundred of Hoo Railway. It opened on July 1906 and closed on 4 December 1961. The halt was about 1¼ miles from Gravesend Central.-External links:*...
and Hoo Junction Staff Halt on the Hundred of Hoo Railway
Hundred of Hoo Railway
The Hundred of Hoo Railway is a railway line in Kent, England, following the North Kent Line from Gravesend before diverging at Hoo Junction near Shorne Marshes and continuing in an easterly direction across the Hoo Peninsula, passing near the villages of Cooling, High Halstow, Cliffe and Stoke...
. It opened in July 1906 and closed on to public use on 17 September 1932, although it remained open by special arrangement after that date until some time after 1956.
The station was constructed on a low embankment to the south of the Thames and Medway Canal
Thames and Medway Canal
The Thames and Medway Canal is a disused canal in Kent, south east England, also known as the Gravesend and Rochester Canal. It was originally some long and cut across the neck of the Hoo peninsula, linking the River Thames at Gravesend with the River Medway at Strood...
beyond Higham
Higham, Kent
Higham is a small village bordering the Hoo Peninsula, in Kent, between Gravesend and Rochester. The civil parish of Higham is in Gravesham district and as at the 2001 UK Census, had a population of 3,938.-History:...
, where the line climbs at 1 in 215 and then falls in a short cutting at 1 in 267. Initially, an island platform
Island platform
An island platform is a station layout arrangement where a single platform is positioned between two tracks within a railway station, tram stop or transitway interchange...
was provided, but this was removed in 1914 to be replaced by 400 ft (121.9 m) wooden facing platforms. These were later rebuilt in concrete and survived beyond official closure to passenger traffic in 1932. At the eastern end of the platforms was a gated sleeper crossing which carried a public footpath over the line.
Ostensibly provided to serve the adjoining rifle range, Milton Range Halt was more frequently used by platelayer
Platelayer
A platelayer or trackman is a railway employee whose job is to inspect and maintain the permanent way of a railway installation.The term derives from the plates used to build plateways, an early form of railway....
s and railway workmen who would unload tools and materials at this desolate spot. The station took on greater importance early in the First World War when around 200 soldiers travelled on weekdays to Milton Range Halt from on the 0750 service from , returning on the 1325 to , which had three extra third class carriages attached for the use of the soldiers. By May 1915, special calls at the halt were being made by six Down and five Up services when requested; the stationmaster was informed when special calls were to be made by Down trains, whilst the stationmaster was responsible for Up trains. These stations had to telephone Milton Range Halt every time that a train was to call, with three minutes being allowed for the stop. This arrangement remained in force for the duration of the war.
The station was the site of an accident in August 1922 when a Down passenger train held at the halt was struck from behind by another train, resulting in the death of five passengers. After the arrival of the 0540 workmen's train from Charing Cross to Strood at 0630, a number of workmen employed in the construction of the A2 road
A2 road (Great Britain)
The A2 is a major road in southern England, connecting London with the English Channel port of Dover in Kent. This route has always been of importance as a connection between the British capital of London and sea trade routes to Continental Europe...
to the south alighted and crossed the line in front of the engine. They proceeded along the Up line when they were struck in dense river fog by an Up train, killing one workman and seriously injuring another. The accident caused the first train to be delayed at the halt where it was run into by the next workmen's special, timed to leave at 0555 and to arrive at Milton Range Halt ten minutes after the first train. The collision resulted in the death of a third workman and fatal injuries to two others. The driver of the second train was found to be primarily responsible for the accident by passing a signal without observing its position.
The last remains of the derelict platforms survived until 2009.