Slow Train
Encyclopedia
"Slow Train" is a song by the British
duo Flanders and Swann
, written in 1963.
It laments the loss of British stations and railway lines in that era, due to the Beeching
cuts, and also the passing of a way of life, with the advent of motorways etc.
Several of these stations managed to survive the Beeching Axe
. These are Chester-le-Street
, Formby
, Ambergate
and Arram
. Gorton and Openshaw station also survives, but is now just called Gorton
. Chorlton-cum-Hardy station closed in January 1967, but re-opened in July 2011 as Chorlton Metrolink station.
Selby
and Goole
stations were not threatened by Beeching, though the railway line from Selby to Goole mentioned in the song was indeed closed to passengers. The other line specifically mentioned (from St. Erth
to St. Ives) was, however, reprieved, and both stations remain open.
Michael Flanders
' delivery of the lyrics seems to imply that Formby Four Crosses and Armley Moor Arram were single station names, but there never were stations with those names - in both cases Flanders combined two consecutive names from an alphabetical list of stations. It has been suggested that he took the names of the stations from The Guardian
, explaining at least some of the discrepancies between the names in the songs and the names of the stations.
classical quartet Quartetto Gelato
released a themed album called Quartetto Gelato Travels the Orient Express, celebrating the original journey of Orient Express
and featuring music from London to Istanbul. The album begins with a rendition of "Slow Train", though the final lines have been changed to reflect the route of the Orient Express.
A version of "The Slow Train" as performed by the King's Singers
is sampled on electronica duo Lemon Jelly
's track "'76 aka The Slow Train
" in which it is combined with a cover of the Albert Hammond
song "I'm a Train" also performed by the King's Singers. A live version by Stackridge
was also included on their 2009 DVD entitled 4x4.
Michael Williams' book "On the slow train" takes its name from the Flanders and Swann song. It celebrates 12 of the most beautiful and historic journeys in Britain which were saved from the Beeching axe
. It includes famous routes such as the Settle-Carlisle line, as well as less well-known pleasures, such as the four-hour Preston to Carlisle route along remote Cumbrian coastline.
English folk singer-songwriter Frank Turner
included a version of the song on his 2011 compilation album, The Second Three Years
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
duo Flanders and Swann
Flanders and Swann
The British duo Flanders and Swann were the actor and singer Michael Flanders and the composer, pianist and linguist Donald Swann , who collaborated in writing and performing comic songs....
, written in 1963.
It laments the loss of British stations and railway lines in that era, due to the Beeching
Richard Beeching
Richard Beeching, Baron Beeching , commonly known as Doctor Beeching, was chairman of British Railways and a physicist and engineer...
cuts, and also the passing of a way of life, with the advent of motorways etc.
Several of these stations managed to survive the Beeching Axe
Beeching Axe
The Beeching Axe or the Beeching Cuts are informal names for the British Government's attempt in the 1960s to reduce the cost of running British Railways, the nationalised railway system in the United Kingdom. The name is that of the main author of The Reshaping of British Railways, Dr Richard...
. These are Chester-le-Street
Chester-le-Street railway station
Chester-le-Street railway station serves the town of Chester-le-Street in County Durham, England. The station is on the East Coast Main Line south of Newcastle upon Tyne...
, Formby
Formby railway station
Formby railway station is a railway station in the town of Formby, Merseyside, England. The station is located on the Southport branch of the Merseyrail network's Northern Line.The station has a car park and a newsagent.-History:...
, Ambergate
Ambergate railway station
Ambergate railway station is a railway station owned by Network Rail and managed by East Midlands Trains Train operating company . It serves the village of Ambergate in Derbyshire...
and Arram
Arram railway station
Arram railway station serves the small village of Arram in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is located on the Yorkshire Coast Line and is operated by Northern Rail who provide all passenger train services...
. Gorton and Openshaw station also survives, but is now just called Gorton
Gorton railway station
Gorton railway station serves Gorton district of the city of Manchester, England. The station is on the Manchester-Glossop Line and the 4 km east of Manchester Piccadilly....
. Chorlton-cum-Hardy station closed in January 1967, but re-opened in July 2011 as Chorlton Metrolink station.
Selby
Selby railway station
Selby railway station serves the town of Selby in North Yorkshire, England. The station is on the Hull-York Line south of York, Leeds-Hull Line east of Leeds and west of Hull....
and Goole
Goole railway station
Goole railway station serves the town of Goole in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England.The service is operated and the station is managed by Northern Rail...
stations were not threatened by Beeching, though the railway line from Selby to Goole mentioned in the song was indeed closed to passengers. The other line specifically mentioned (from St. Erth
St Erth railway station
St Erth railway station is situated at Rose-an-Grouse in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It serves the nearby village of St Erth, which is about away, and is the junction for the St Ives Bay Line to St Ives.-History:...
to St. Ives) was, however, reprieved, and both stations remain open.
Michael Flanders
Michael Flanders
Michael Henry Flanders OBE, was an English actor, broadcaster, and writer and performer of comic songs. He is best known to the general public for his partnership with Donald Swann performing as the duo Flanders and Swann....
' delivery of the lyrics seems to imply that Formby Four Crosses and Armley Moor Arram were single station names, but there never were stations with those names - in both cases Flanders combined two consecutive names from an alphabetical list of stations. It has been suggested that he took the names of the stations from The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, explaining at least some of the discrepancies between the names in the songs and the names of the stations.
Other versions
In 2004, CanadianCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
classical quartet Quartetto Gelato
Quartetto Gelato
Quartetto Gelato is a Canadian new classical quartet currently composed of Peter DeSotto, Liza McLellan, Alexander Sevastian and Colin Maier, and based in Toronto, Ontario...
released a themed album called Quartetto Gelato Travels the Orient Express, celebrating the original journey of Orient Express
Orient Express
The Orient Express is the name of a long-distance passenger train service originally operated by the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits. It ran from 1883 to 2009 and is not to be confused with the Venice-Simplon Orient Express train service, which continues to run.The route and rolling stock...
and featuring music from London to Istanbul. The album begins with a rendition of "Slow Train", though the final lines have been changed to reflect the route of the Orient Express.
A version of "The Slow Train" as performed by the King's Singers
King's Singers
The King's Singers is a British a cappella vocal ensemble who celebrated their 40th anniversary in 2008. Their name recalls King's College in Cambridge, England, where the group was formed by six choral scholars in 1968. In the United Kingdom, their popularity peaked in the 1970s and early 1980s...
is sampled on electronica duo Lemon Jelly
Lemon Jelly
Lemon Jelly is a British electronic music duo from London, formed in 1998. Since their inception, the band's line-up has included Fred Deakin and Nick Franglen. Lemon Jelly has been nominated for the Mercury Music Prize and BRIT Awards....
's track "'76 aka The Slow Train
'64 - '95
64–'95 is the second studio album by Lemon Jelly. The concept album contains tracks that take samples from songs recorded between the years 1964 and 1995...
" in which it is combined with a cover of the Albert Hammond
Albert Hammond
Albert Hammond OBE is a British singer, songwriter and record producer from Gibraltar.-Birth and early success:Hammond was born in London, England, where his family had been evacuated to from Gibraltar during World War II. His family returned to Gibraltar shortly after his birth, and there he grew...
song "I'm a Train" also performed by the King's Singers. A live version by Stackridge
Stackridge
Stackridge are a British folk, pop and progressive rock group who were at the height of their success during the early 1970s. The band's output is characterized by quirky humour and rhythmic catchy sing-along tunes....
was also included on their 2009 DVD entitled 4x4.
Michael Williams' book "On the slow train" takes its name from the Flanders and Swann song. It celebrates 12 of the most beautiful and historic journeys in Britain which were saved from the Beeching axe
Beeching Axe
The Beeching Axe or the Beeching Cuts are informal names for the British Government's attempt in the 1960s to reduce the cost of running British Railways, the nationalised railway system in the United Kingdom. The name is that of the main author of The Reshaping of British Railways, Dr Richard...
. It includes famous routes such as the Settle-Carlisle line, as well as less well-known pleasures, such as the four-hour Preston to Carlisle route along remote Cumbrian coastline.
English folk singer-songwriter Frank Turner
Frank Turner
Frank Turner is an English folk/punk singer-songwriter from Meonstoke, Winchester. Initially the vocalist of post-hardcore band Million Dead, Turner embarked upon a primarily acoustic-based solo career following the band's split in 2005. To date, Turner has released four solo albums, two rarities...
included a version of the song on his 2011 compilation album, The Second Three Years
The Second Three Years
The Second Three Years is a compilation album by singer-songwriter Frank Turner, released 18 November 2011 through Xtra Mile Recordings and 16 January 2012 through Epitaph Records....
.
List of stations referred to in the lyrics
Where appropriate, the correct name of the station is shown in brackets.- Millers Dale for TideswellMillers Dale railway stationMillers Dale railway station was a station situated in Millers Dale in the Peak District. It was built in 1863 by the Midland Railway on its extension of the Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway from Rowsley....
(Millers Dale) — on the Midland RailwayMidland RailwayThe Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
between BuxtonBuxton railway stationBuxton railway station is a railway station that serves the town of Buxton in Derbyshire. It is managed and served by Northern Rail. The station is 25¾ miles south east of Manchester Piccadilly and is the terminus of the Buxton Line.-History:...
and MatlockMatlock railway stationMatlock Railway Station is a railway station owned by Network Rail and managed by East Midlands Trains. It is located in the Derbyshire town of Matlock in Derbyshire, England. The station is now currently the terminus of both the Derwent Valley Line from Derby and Peak Rail who operate heritage...
. - Kirby MuxloeKirby Muxloe railway stationKirby Muxloe railway station was a station on the Midland Railway line between and that bypassed part of the Leicester and Swannington Railway in Leicestershire, England.The Midland opened line through Kirby Muxloe in 1848...
— on the Midland Railway between LeicesterLeicester railway stationLeicester railway station serves the City of Leicester in Leicestershire, England.As of late 2009 Leicester is a Penalty fare station, a valid ticket or Permit to travel must be shown when requested.-Background:...
and Burton upon TrentBurton upon Trent railway stationBurton-on-Trent railway station serves the town of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England. It was known as simply Burton until 1903 when it became Burton-on-Trent, by which it has been known for many years, in spite of the town's charter of 1878 which was for "Burton upon Trent"...
. - Mow Cop and Scholar GreenMow Cop and Scholar Green railway stationMow Cop and Scholar Green railway station was a station on the North Staffordshire Railway between Stoke-on-Trent and Congleton. It served the village of Mow Cop....
— on the North Staffordshire RailwayNorth Staffordshire RailwayThe North Staffordshire Railway was a British railway company formed in 1845 to promote a number of lines in the Staffordshire Potteries and surrounding areas in Staffordshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire and Shropshire....
between Stoke-on-TrentStoke-on-Trent railway stationStoke-on-Trent Railway Station is a main-line railway station in central England. It is located on the Stafford to Manchester branch of the West Coast Main Line and serves the Staffordshire city of Stoke-on-Trent...
and CongletonCongleton railway stationCongleton railway station is a main line station serving the Cheshire town of Congleton. It lies on the Manchester to Stoke-on-Trent branch of the West Coast Main Line, in the United Kingdom....
. - Blandford ForumBlandford Forum railway stationBlandford Forum railway station was a station on the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway between Templecombe and Broadstone, England. It served the town of Blandford Forum...
— on the Somerset and Dorset Joint RailwaySomerset and Dorset Joint RailwayThe Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway – almost always referred to as "the S&D" – was an English railway line connecting Bath in north east Somerset and Bournemouth now in south east Dorset but then in Hampshire...
between TemplecombeTemplecombe railway stationTemplecombe railway station serves the town of Templecombe in Somerset, England. It is situated on the London Waterloo to Exeter line from London. The main station opened in 1860 but a smaller station on the lower line opened in 1862. It was closed in 1966 but was reopened in 1983 following local...
and Broadstone JunctionBroadstone, DorsetBroadstone is a town and suburb of Poole in Dorset, England. It is located from Hamworthy railway station and from Bournemouth International Airport. The town has a population of 10,256 according to the 2001 Census....
. - MortehoeMortehoe and Woolacombe railway stationMortehoe and Woolacombe railway station was a station on the London and South Western Railway Ilfracombe Branch Line between Barnstaple and Ilfracombe in North Devon, England .-History:...
(Mortehoe and Woolacombe) — on the LSWRLondon and South Western RailwayThe London and South Western Railway was a railway company in England from 1838 to 1922. Its network extended from London to Plymouth via Salisbury and Exeter, with branches to Ilfracombe and Padstow and via Southampton to Bournemouth and Weymouth. It also had many routes connecting towns in...
branch lineIlfracombe Branch LineThe Ilfracombe Branch of the London & South Western Railway , ran between Barnstaple and Ilfracombe in North Devon. The branch opened as a single-track line in 1874, but was sufficiently popular that it needed to be upgraded to double-track in 1889....
between BarnstapleBarnstaple railway stationBarnstaple railway station is the terminus of a long branch line, known as the Tarka Line, north west of Exeter St Davids, in Devon.It was known as Barnstaple Junction from 1874 to 1970 as it was the junction between lines to , , and Exeter-History:...
and IlfracombeIlfracombeIlfracombe is a seaside resort and civil parish on the North Devon coast, England with a small harbour, surrounded by cliffs.The parish stretches along the coast from 'The Coastguard Cottages' in Hele Bay toward the east and 4 miles along The Torrs to Lee Bay toward the west...
. - Midsomer NortonMidsomer Norton railway stationMidsomer Norton railway station was a station on the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway between and Shepton Mallet. It served the town of Midsomer Norton. The station was immortalised in 1964 in the song "Slow Train" by Flanders and Swann...
— on the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway between Bath Green ParkBath Green Park railway stationGreen Park railway station is a former railway station in Bath, Somerset, England. For some of its life, it was known as Bath Queen Square.-Architecture and opening:...
and Shepton MalletShepton MalletShepton Mallet is a small rural town and civil parish in the Mendip district of Somerset in South West England. Situated approximately south of Bristol and east of Wells, the town is estimated to have a population of 9,700. It contains the administrative headquarters of Mendip District Council...
. - Mumby RoadMumby Road railway stationMumby Road railway station was a station on the Great Northern Railway between Willoughby and Mablethorpe. It served the village of Bilsby. It opened in 1888 and closed in 1970. The station was immortalised in 1964 in the song "Slow Train" by Flanders and Swann. -External links:*...
— on the Great Northern RailwayGreat Northern Railway (Great Britain)The Great Northern Railway was a British railway company established by the Great Northern Railway Act of 1846. On 1 January 1923 the company lost its identity as a constituent of the newly formed London and North Eastern Railway....
between WilloughbyWilloughby, LincolnshireWilloughby is a village in the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England, on the edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds. It lies within the civil parish of Willoughby with Sloothby, and south of the town of Alford...
and MablethorpeMablethorpeMablethorpe is a small seaside town in East Lindsey on the coast of Lincolnshire, England.-Geography:Several small caravan parks exist around Mablethorpe. The town is administered with Sutton-on-Sea and Trusthorpe, as the civil parish of Mablethorpe and Sutton...
. - Chorlton-cum-HardyChorlton-cum-Hardy railway stationChorlton Metrolink station is a Manchester Metrolink station built on the former Cheshire Lines Committee line. The station is one of the first stations opened as part of Phase 3A of the Big Bang extension plans and is built on the site of the former railway station...
— on the Cheshire Lines CommitteeCheshire Lines CommitteeThe Cheshire Lines Committee was the second largest joint railway in Great Britain, with 143 route miles. Despite its name, approximately 55% of its system was in Lancashire. In its publicity material it was often styled as the Cheshire Lines Railway...
joint railway between Manchester CentralG-MexManchester Central, , formerly known as the GMEX centre and Manchester International Conference Centre , is an exhibition and conference centre built in and around the former Manchester Central railway station in Manchester, North West England...
and StockportStockportStockport is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on elevated ground southeast of Manchester city centre, at the point where the rivers Goyt and Tame join and create the River Mersey. Stockport is the largest settlement in the metropolitan borough of the same name...
Tiviot Dale. It re-opened in July 2011, re-named Chorlton, as part of the Manchester MetrolinkManchester MetrolinkMetrolink is a light rail system in Greater Manchester, England. It consists of four lines which converge in Manchester city centre and terminate in Bury, Altrincham, Eccles and Chorlton-cum-Hardy. The system is owned by Transport for Greater Manchester and operated under contract by RATP Group...
). - Chester-le-StreetChester-le-Street railway stationChester-le-Street railway station serves the town of Chester-le-Street in County Durham, England. The station is on the East Coast Main Line south of Newcastle upon Tyne...
— on the North Eastern RailwayNorth Eastern Railway (UK)The North Eastern Railway , was an English railway company. It was incorporated in 1854, when four existing companies were combined, and was absorbed into the London and North Eastern Railway at the Grouping in 1923...
between DurhamDurham railway stationDurham railway station serves the city of Durham on the East Coast Main Line. The railway station is managed by East Coast. Despite its small functional capacity the station is a principal stop on the East Coast Main Line and is called at by many intercity services travelling the route.The travel...
and Newcastle. (remains open) - Littleton BadseyLittleton and Badsey railway stationLittleton and Badsey railway station was a station on the Great Western Railway's Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton line, near the town of Evesham, Worcestershire in England...
(Littleton and Badsey) — on the Great Western RailwayGreat Western RailwayThe Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
between EveshamEvesham railway stationEvesham railway station is in the town of Evesham in Worcestershire, England. It is operated by First Great Western, and is between Honeybourne and Pershore stations on the Cotswold Line from Oxford to Worcester, Great Malvern and Hereford...
and HoneybourneHoneybourne railway stationHoneybourne railway station serves the village of Honeybourne in Worcestershire, England. It is on the Cotswold Line and was formerly a junction with four platforms.-History:...
. - OpenshawGorton railway stationGorton railway station serves Gorton district of the city of Manchester, England. The station is on the Manchester-Glossop Line and the 4 km east of Manchester Piccadilly....
(Gorton and Openshaw) — on the Great Central RailwayGreat Central RailwayThe Great Central Railway was a railway company in England which came into being when the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway changed its name in 1897 in anticipation of the opening in 1899 of its London Extension . On 1 January 1923, it was grouped into the London and North Eastern...
between Manchester London Road and Guide BridgeGuide Bridge railway stationGuide Bridge railway station serves Guide Bridge, a part of Audenshaw, Tameside in Greater Manchester, England and is operated by Northern Rail. The station is 4¾ miles east of Manchester Piccadilly on the Glossop Line.-History:...
. - Long StantonLong Stanton railway stationLong Stanton railway station was a station on the Great Eastern Railway, between Cambridge and Huntingdon. It served the villages of Longstanton and Willingham , until closure in October 1970...
— on the Great Eastern RailwayGreat Eastern RailwayThe Great Eastern Railway was a pre-grouping British railway company, whose main line linked London Liverpool Street to Norwich and which had other lines through East Anglia...
between CambridgeCambridge railway stationCambridge railway station is a railway station serving the city of Cambridge in Cambridgeshire, England. It is located at the end of Station Road, off Hills Road, 1 mile south-east of the city centre...
and HuntingdonHuntingdon railway stationHuntingdon Railway Station serves the town of Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire. The station is on the East Coast Main Line and has three platforms; one bay and two through platforms...
. - FormbyFormby railway stationFormby railway station is a railway station in the town of Formby, Merseyside, England. The station is located on the Southport branch of the Merseyrail network's Northern Line.The station has a car park and a newsagent.-History:...
— on the Lancashire and Yorkshire RailwayLancashire and Yorkshire RailwayThe Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway was a major British railway company before the 1923 Grouping. It was incorporated in 1847 from an amalgamation of several existing railways...
between Liverpool ExchangeLiverpool Exchange railway stationLiverpool Exchange railway station was a railway station located in the town centre of Liverpool, England.- Station construction and opening :...
and SouthportSouthport railway stationSouthport railway station serves the town of Southport, Merseyside, England. It is at the end of one of the branches of the Northern Line of the Merseyrail network, and at the end of the Manchester-Southport Line which runs via Wigan...
. (remains open) - Four CrossesFour Crosses railway stationFour Crosses railway station was a station on the former Cambrian Railway between Oswestry and Welshpool.It opened in 1860 as part of the Oswestry and Newtown Railway and served the village of Four Crosses in Powys, Wales until closure in 1965. The station was immortalised in 1964 in the song "Slow...
— on the Cambrian Railway between OswestryOswestryOswestry is a town and civil parish in Shropshire, England, close to the Welsh border. It is at the junction of the A5, A483, and A495 roads....
and Buttington. - Dunstable TownDunstable Town railway stationDunstable Town railway station was a station on the Great Northern Railway branch line from Hatfield. It served the town of Dunstable until the passenger service ceased in 1965 under the Beeching axe.-History:...
— on a joint line between HatfieldHatfield railway stationHatfield railway station serves the town of Hatfield in Hertfordshire, England. The station is managed by First Capital Connect.It is located approximately north of London Kings Cross on the East Coast Main Line.- History :...
on the Great Northern RailwayGreat Northern Railway (Great Britain)The Great Northern Railway was a British railway company established by the Great Northern Railway Act of 1846. On 1 January 1923 the company lost its identity as a constituent of the newly formed London and North Eastern Railway....
and Leighton BuzzardLeighton Buzzard railway stationLeighton Buzzard railway station serves the Leighton Buzzard and Linslade area of Bedfordshire and nearby parts of Buckinghamshire. Actually situated in Linslade, the station is north west of London Euston and is served by London Midland local services from Northampton to London on the West Coast...
on the London and North Western Railway. - DogdykeDogdyke railway stationDogdyke railway station was a station on the former Great Northern Railway between Boston and Lincoln.The station, and essentially the hamlet of Dogdyke itself, served a transhipment point at the confluence of the rivers Bain and Witham. Principal traffic was agricultural, but also included coals...
— on the Great Northern Railway between BostonBoston railway stationBoston railway station serves the town of Boston in Lincolnshire, England. Services are operated by East Midlands Trains.-History:The station has declined in importance since the 1960s. In its heyday the station employed over 50 staff and had two through tracks and cover over the platform tracks...
and Lincoln. - Tumby WoodsideTumby Woodside railway stationTumby Woodside railway station was a station on the former Great Northern Railway between Firsby and Lincoln.It served the village of Tumby Woodside in Lincolnshire, England until closure in 1970. The station was immortalised in 1964 in the song "Slow Train" by Flanders and Swann.Former...
— on the Great Northern Railway between FirsbyFirsbyFirsby is a small rural linear village and civil parish in Lincolnshire, England, 36 miles east from the county town of Lincoln, 4 miles south east of the nearest market town of Spilsby and 8 miles inland from the holiday resort town of Skegness.The village lies on the northern side of the...
and Lincoln. - Trouble House HaltTrouble House Halt railway stationTrouble House Halt was a small station on the Tetbury branch line between Kemble and .-History:Diesel railbus services were introduced by British Railways Western Region on the Tetbury branch line on 2 February 1959, and on the same day two halts were opened on that line, at Church's Hill and at...
— on the Great Western Railway between KembleKemble railway stationKemble railway station is a railway station that serves the village of Kemble in Gloucestershire. The station is located on the Swindon to Gloucester "Golden Valley" line. Despite its rural location, Kemble station has a high number of passengers, due mainly to the proximity of...
and TetburyTetburyTetbury is a town and civil parish within the Cotswold district of Gloucestershire, England. It lies on the site of an ancient hill fort, on which an Anglo-Saxon monastery was founded, probably by Ine of Wessex, in 681. The population of the parish was 5,250 in the 2001 census.In the Middle Ages,...
. - AudlemAudlem railway stationAudlem railway station was a station on the former Great Western Railway between Market Drayton and Nantwich, opened in 1863.It served the village of Audlem in Cheshire, England until closure in 1963...
— on the Great Western Railway between Market DraytonMarket DraytonMarket Drayton is a small market town in north Shropshire, England. It is on the River Tern, between Shrewsbury and Stoke-on-Trent, and was formerly known as "Drayton in Hales" and earlier simply as "Drayton" ....
and NantwichNantwich railway stationNantwich railway station, which was opened on 2 September 1858, serves the town of Nantwich in Cheshire, and is on the Crewe to Shrewsbury line...
. - AmbergateAmbergate railway stationAmbergate railway station is a railway station owned by Network Rail and managed by East Midlands Trains Train operating company . It serves the village of Ambergate in Derbyshire...
— on the Midland Railway between DerbyDerby Midland railway stationDerby railway station , also known as Derby Midland Station, is a main line railway station serving the city of Derby in England. Owned by Network Rail and managed by East Midlands Trains, the station is also used by CrossCountry services and one Northern Rail service...
and ChesterfieldChesterfield railway stationEntrance to the station is on Crow Lane and includes a car park, taxi rank and bus stop. There is also a small car park on the other side of Crow Lane which does not have a parking charge. The main entrance leads to the station concourse, which is very spacious and was built in the late 1990s. It...
. (remains open, albeit reduced in size and importance). - Chittening PlatformChittening Platform railway stationChittening Platform railway station was a station on the former Great Western Railway between Filton and Avonmouth.The station was opened on 5 March 1917 to serve a large government munitions factory at Chittening. The factory project was abandoned when the United States entered the First World...
— on the Great Western Railway between FiltonFilton Abbey Wood railway stationFilton Abbey Wood railway station, was opened on 11 March 1996, replacing the original Filton station which stands to the north of the current site....
and AvonmouthAvonmouth railway stationAvonmouth railway station is a railway station serving the suburb of Avonmouth in Bristol, north-west from Bristol Temple Meads on the Severn Beach Line. All trains serving it are operated and the station is managed by First Great Western. The station is managed by First Great Western.Five...
. - Cheslyn HayWyrley and Cheslyn Hay railway stationWyrley and Cheslyn Hay railway station was opened by the LNWR to serve the villages of Great Wyrley and Cheslyn Hay in Staffordshire, England. It also served the Bridgetown area. Bridgetown is situated on the A5 next to Churchbridge...
(Wyrley and Cheslyn Hay) — on the London and North Western Railway between WalsallWalsall railway stationWalsall railway station is the principal railway station of Walsall, West Midlands, England and situated in the heart of the town. It is operated by London Midland, who run all of its train services...
and Rugeley TownRugeley Town railway stationRugeley Town railway station serves the town of Rugeley in Staffordshire, England. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by London Midland.-History:...
. - SelbySelby railway stationSelby railway station serves the town of Selby in North Yorkshire, England. The station is on the Hull-York Line south of York, Leeds-Hull Line east of Leeds and west of Hull....
— on the North Eastern Railway between DoncasterDoncaster railway stationDoncaster railway station serves the town of Doncaster, in South Yorkshire, England. It is situated on the East Coast Main Line north of London Kings Cross, and is about five minutes walk from Doncaster town centre. The station is managed by East Coast...
and YorkYork railway stationYork railway station is a main-line railway station in the city of York, England. It lies on the East Coast Main Line north of London's King's Cross station towards Edinburgh's Waverley Station...
. - GooleGoole railway stationGoole railway station serves the town of Goole in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England.The service is operated and the station is managed by Northern Rail...
— on the North Eastern Railway between Doncaster and HullHull Paragon railway stationHull Paragon Interchange is a transport complex in the centre of the city of Kingston upon Hull , England, which opened in September 2007. It integrates the city's railway station with the formerly separate bus and coach station...
. (both Selby and Goole remain open, but the line between them was closed). - St. ErthSt Erth railway stationSt Erth railway station is situated at Rose-an-Grouse in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It serves the nearby village of St Erth, which is about away, and is the junction for the St Ives Bay Line to St Ives.-History:...
— on the Great Western Railway between TruroTruro railway stationTruro Station serves the city of Truro, Cornwall, UK. It is the situated on the Cornish Main Line and is the junction for the Maritime Line to Falmouth. The station is operated by First Great Western....
and PenzancePenzance railway stationPenzance railway station serves the town of Penzance, Cornwall, UK. The station is the western terminus of the Cornish Main Line from London Paddington station. The current journey time to or from London is about five hours....
. (remains open, including the line to St Ives) - St. Ives— terminus of the Great Western Railway branch from St. Erth. (remains open)
- Cockermouth for ButtermereCockermouth railway stationCockermouth railway station was situated on the Cockermouth, Keswick and Penrith Railway and served the town of Cockermouth, Cumbria, England. The station opened to passenger traffic on 2 January 1865, and closed on 18 April 1966. The station was the second to be built in the town...
(Cockermouth) — on the London and North Western Railway between WorkingtonWorkington railway stationWorkington railway station serves the town of Workington in Cumbria, England. The railway station is a stop on the scenic Cumbrian Coast Line south west of Carlisle. Some through trains to the Furness Line and to Sunderland stop here. It is operated by Northern Rail who provide all passenger train...
and KeswickKeswick railway stationKeswick railway station was situated on the Cockermouth, Keswick and Penrith Railway between Penrith and Cockermouth in Cumbria, England. The station served the town of Keswick. The station opened to passenger traffic on 2 January 1865, and closed on 6 March 1972. The station building still exists...
. - Armley MoorArmley Moor railway stationArmley Moor railway station was a station on the former Great Northern Railway between Leeds and Bramley. The location was between Carr Crofts and Wortley Road bridges, accessed via Station Road....
— on the Great Northern Railway between LeedsLeeds City railway stationLeeds railway station is the mainline railway station serving the city centre of Leeds in West Yorkshire, England...
and BramleyBramley (West Yorkshire) railway stationBramley railway station serves the suburb of Bramley, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It lies on the Caldervale Line west from Leeds.The present station off Stanningley Road opened on 12 September 1983 by Metro . It replaced a station on the same site, opened on 1 August 1854 and closed on 2 July...
. - ArramArram railway stationArram railway station serves the small village of Arram in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is located on the Yorkshire Coast Line and is operated by Northern Rail who provide all passenger train services...
— on the North Eastern Railway between DriffieldDriffield railway stationDriffield railway station serves the town of Driffield in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is located on the Yorkshire Coast Line and is operated by Northern Rail, providing all passenger train services.-History:...
and BeverleyBeverley railway stationBeverley railway station serves the town of Beverley in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is located on the Yorkshire Coast Line and is operated by Northern Rail who provide all passenger train services...
. - Pye Hill and SomercotesPye Hill and Somercotes railway stationPye Hill and Somercotes railway station was a railway station on the Great Northern Railway on its Derbyshire Extension on the branch between Kimberley and Pinxton....
— on the Great Northern Railway between KimberleyKimberley, NottinghamshireKimberley is a town in Nottinghamshire, England, lying 6 miles northwest of Nottingham along the A610. The town grew as a centre for coal mining, brewing and hosiery manufacturing...
and PinxtonPinxtonPinxton is a village on the eastern boundary of Derbyshire in the Bolsover district, England.In Anglo-Saxon times it was a small agricultural community, thought to have been recorded in the Domesday Book as "Esnotrewic." It is also thought that it was known as "Snodeswic," given by Wulfric Spott to...
. - Windmill EndWindmill End railway stationWindmill End railway station was a station on the former Great Western Railway's Bumble Hole Line between Blowers Green and Old Hill.It opened in 1878, was destaffed in 1952 and closed in 1964. It was immortalised in that year as the closing words of the song "Slow Train" by Flanders and Swann...
— on the Great Western Railway's Bumble Hole Line between DudleyDudleyDudley is a large town in the West Midlands county of England. At the 2001 census , the Dudley Urban Sub Area had a population of 194,919, making it the 26th largest settlement in England, the second largest town in the United Kingdom behind Reading, and the largest settlement in the UK without...
and Old HillOld Hill railway stationOld Hill railway station serves the Old Hill area of Sandwell, in the West Midlands of England. The station is managed by London Midland, who provide the majority of train services; Chiltern Railways also operate a small number of trains. It is situated on the Birmingham-Stourbridge...
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