Pans Lane Halt railway station
Encyclopedia
Pans Lane Halt railway station was the railway station serving the south easterly suburbs of Devizes
in Wiltshire
, England. The station was on the Devizes Branch Line, in between Devizes Station and the Reading-Taunton Line
.
were increasing the number of halts in the South West. The station name was simplified to Pans Lane Halt later in 1929. After completion of the eastern section of track, the Devizes line was a main line from London to Bristol, which meant passing through Pans Lane. However the Devizes line lost to competition and returned to a branch line whilst being used as back up line to the west country in case of emergency.
-Westbury
line, that by-passed Devizes
to reduce the London to Bristol journey time by 5 miles.
Pans Lane Halt station was closed on 18 April 1966 and the entire Devizes Branch Line in 1966 under the Beeching Act. Both Devizes Station and Pans Lane Halt were largely destroyed in 1970, however, at Pans Lane the clay-surfaced platform and retaining sleepers, stone walling and the brick chimney stack belonging to the permanent way hut situated at the down end of the platform survived until the site was infilled and used for gardens. Prior to this there was also the remains of one of the gas lamps that lined the pathway down from the gate at the side of Pans lane overbridge, however, this disappeared in mysterious circumstances. During the infilling process the original gas pipes leading to these lamps were damaged resulting in an emergency call out for the local gas board.
The 1960s rebuilt roadbridge over the Pans Lane Halt is still in use today but the past presence of a track is no longer visible after infilling in the late 1980s.
Devizes
Devizes is a market town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. The town is about southeast of Chippenham and about east of Trowbridge.Devizes serves as a centre for banks, solicitors and shops, with a large open market place where a market is held once a week...
in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, England. The station was on the Devizes Branch Line, in between Devizes Station and the Reading-Taunton Line
Reading to Taunton line
The Reading to Taunton line also known as the Berks and Hants is a major branch of the Great Western Main Line that diverges at Reading, running to Cogload Junction near Taunton, where it joins the Bristol to Exeter line....
.
Opening
The station, originally named Pans Lane Bridge Halt, opened on 4 March 1929 for the residents of south Devizes but more importantly for the nearby Isolation Hospital during a time when GWRGWR
GWR is an acronym that can stand for:* Great Western Railway , the name of several different railway operators* The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway — a heritage railway that has taken the initials of the former Great Western Railway Company* Great Whipsnade Railway* GWR Group, former...
were increasing the number of halts in the South West. The station name was simplified to Pans Lane Halt later in 1929. After completion of the eastern section of track, the Devizes line was a main line from London to Bristol, which meant passing through Pans Lane. However the Devizes line lost to competition and returned to a branch line whilst being used as back up line to the west country in case of emergency.
Closure
Much like the Devizes station, Pans Lane Halt lane suffered from reduced traffic after the completion of the ChirtonChirton
Chirton is a village and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. The 2001 Census recorded a parish population of 393.-Local government:Chirton is a civil parish with an elected parish council. It is in the area of Wiltshire Council and is represented at that level by Brigadier Robert Hall...
-Westbury
Westbury, Wiltshire
Westbury is a town and civil parish in the west of the English county of Wiltshire, most famous for the Westbury White Horse.-Name:The most likely origin of the West- in Westbury is simply that the town is near the western edge of the county of Wiltshire, the bounds of which have been much the same...
line, that by-passed Devizes
Devizes
Devizes is a market town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. The town is about southeast of Chippenham and about east of Trowbridge.Devizes serves as a centre for banks, solicitors and shops, with a large open market place where a market is held once a week...
to reduce the London to Bristol journey time by 5 miles.
Pans Lane Halt station was closed on 18 April 1966 and the entire Devizes Branch Line in 1966 under the Beeching Act. Both Devizes Station and Pans Lane Halt were largely destroyed in 1970, however, at Pans Lane the clay-surfaced platform and retaining sleepers, stone walling and the brick chimney stack belonging to the permanent way hut situated at the down end of the platform survived until the site was infilled and used for gardens. Prior to this there was also the remains of one of the gas lamps that lined the pathway down from the gate at the side of Pans lane overbridge, however, this disappeared in mysterious circumstances. During the infilling process the original gas pipes leading to these lamps were damaged resulting in an emergency call out for the local gas board.
The 1960s rebuilt roadbridge over the Pans Lane Halt is still in use today but the past presence of a track is no longer visible after infilling in the late 1980s.
External links
- Great Western Railway Devizes Branch at Well House Consultants
- The Borough of Devizes at British History Online
- Railways at British History Online