Northiam railway station
Encyclopedia
Northiam is a railway station on the Kent and East Sussex Railway
. It is located to the west of the level crossing
on the A28 road
linking the Kent
ish village of Newenden and the East Sussex
village of Northiam
. Having served the area for over sixty years, the station closed with the line in 1961, but was later reopened in 1990 by the Kent and East Sussex Railway
heritage organisation.
and Robertsbridge
in 1900. All the original three stations were slightly removed from the villages which they were purporting to serve; Northiam, which was in fact closer to Newenden, lay 1.75 miles (2.8 km) to the north of Northiam village. As with all K&ESR stations except , Northiam had a simple wooden-frame, corrugated iron clad station building.
A long curving passing loop
ran between two platform faces; Northiam was the only station south of Tenterden to be afforded such facilities, possibly on account of its location half-way between and Tenterden. Two sidings
led into a small goods yard and cattle dock to the south of the station. This saw use when, during the early part of the 20th century, Howse & Co. held fortnightly livestock sales in a nearby field. Two simple wooden bungalow
s were later erected in Northiam's goods yard as staff accommodation. By the 1950s, the second platform had fallen into disuse and British Railways
had installed catch points to the goods yard sidings to prevent wagons rolling on to the main line. Regular passenger services on the line were withdrawn on Saturday 2 January 1954, the line between Tenterden and Robertsbridge remaining open for goods traffic until 12 June 1961.
extended its operating line to the station. The project had required extensive repairs to the bridge over the River Rother
on the Kent/East Sussex county boundary which, at 66 feet (20.1 m), is the longest bridge on the line. The extension project featured in a July 1989 episode of Challenge Anneka
, the challenge being to restore the extant station building and lay sufficient track to allow a train to enter within 48 hours. The deadline was met and at 6.15pm on Sunday 23 July 1989, SECR P class
locomotive no. 1556 was the first locomotive to return to Northiam station. The extension was officially inspected on 14 May 1990 after completion of the track layout, installation of a water crane, surfacing of the platforms, rebuilding of the level crossing and erection of a new toilet block. The first services ran on 19 May 1990, and on 4 June 1990 the station was officially reopened by the Duke of Gloucester
. The Northiam extension led to a record number of passengers using the line—81,934—the highest since 1913. Initially only the Up platform was brought into use, it having been decided to reinstate the unrestored Down platform once the extension to Bodiam had been completed.
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 is located to the west 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...
on the A28 road
A28 road
The A28 is a trunk road in southern England. It runs south-west from the seaside resort of Margate in Kent via Westgate and Birchington, reaching open countryside at Sarre. The road continues via Upstreet and Hersden to Sturry, and on to the cathedral city of Canterbury...
linking the 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...
ish village of Newenden and the 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:...
village of Northiam
Northiam
Northiam is a village and civil parish in the Rother District of East Sussex, England. The village is located thirteen miles north of Hastings in the valley of the River Rother. The main road that passes through it is the A28 which goes to Canterbury and Hastings.-Governance:The lowest level of...
. Having served the area for over sixty years, the station closed with the line in 1961, but was later reopened in 1990 by 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:...
heritage organisation.
History
Northiam was one of the original stations on the 12 miles (19.3 km) line opened by the Rother Valley Railway between RolvendenRolvenden railway station
Rolvenden railway station is a heritage railway station on the Kent and East Sussex Railway in Tenterden, Kent, in the United Kingdom.- History :...
and 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 :...
in 1900. All the original three stations were slightly removed from the villages which they were purporting to serve; Northiam, which was in fact closer to Newenden, lay 1.75 miles (2.8 km) to the north of Northiam village. As with all K&ESR stations except , Northiam had a simple wooden-frame, corrugated iron clad station building.
A long curving passing loop
Passing loop
A passing loop is a place on a single line railway or tramway, often located at a station, where trains or trams in opposing directions can pass each other. Trains/trams in the same direction can also overtake, providing that the signalling arrangement allows it...
ran between two platform faces; Northiam was the only station south of Tenterden to be afforded such facilities, possibly on account of its location half-way between and Tenterden. Two sidings
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...
led into a small goods yard and cattle dock to the south of the station. This saw use when, during the early part of the 20th century, Howse & Co. held fortnightly livestock sales in a nearby field. Two simple wooden bungalow
Bungalow
A bungalow is a type of house, with varying meanings across the world. Common features to many of these definitions include being detached, low-rise , and the use of verandahs...
s were later erected in Northiam's goods yard as staff accommodation. By the 1950s, the second platform had fallen into disuse and 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...
had installed catch points to the goods yard sidings to prevent wagons rolling on to the main line. Regular passenger services on the line were withdrawn on Saturday 2 January 1954, the line between Tenterden and Robertsbridge remaining open for goods traffic until 12 June 1961.
Present day
Passenger services returned to Northiam on 19 May 1990 when the Kent and East Sussex Railway Preservation SocietyKent 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:...
extended its operating line to the station. The project had required extensive repairs to the bridge over the River Rother
River Rother (Eastern)
The River Rother , at 35 miles , is a river flowing through both East Sussex and Kent, England. Its source is near Rotherfield , and its mouth is on Rye Bay, part of the English Channel....
on the Kent/East Sussex county boundary which, at 66 feet (20.1 m), is the longest bridge on the line. The extension project featured in a July 1989 episode of Challenge Anneka
Challenge Anneka
Challenge Anneka is a British television programme, produced by the independent production company Mentorn for the BBC, which aired on Friday, later Saturday evenings on BBC One between 8 September 1989 and 15 October 1995. It was announced in 2006 that the series is returning, but this time on...
, the challenge being to restore the extant station building and lay sufficient track to allow a train to enter within 48 hours. The deadline was met and at 6.15pm on Sunday 23 July 1989, SECR P class
SECR P Class
The South Eastern and Chatham Railway P Class is a class of 0-6-0T steam locomotive designed by Harry Wainwright.They were inspired by, and loosely based on, the more successful LB&SCR A1 Class "Terriers" and eight were built in 1909 and 1910. They were originally intended for lightweight...
locomotive no. 1556 was the first locomotive to return to Northiam station. The extension was officially inspected on 14 May 1990 after completion of the track layout, installation of a water crane, surfacing of the platforms, rebuilding of the level crossing and erection of a new toilet block. The first services ran on 19 May 1990, and on 4 June 1990 the station was officially reopened by the Duke of Gloucester
Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester
Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester is a member of the British Royal Family. Prince Richard is the youngest grandchild of King George V and Queen Mary. He has been Duke of Gloucester since his father's death in 1974. He is currently 20th in the line of succession...
. The Northiam extension led to a record number of passengers using the line—81,934—the highest since 1913. Initially only the Up platform was brought into use, it having been decided to reinstate the unrestored Down platform once the extension to Bodiam had been completed.