St Leonards West Marina railway station
Encyclopedia
St Leonards West Marina is a disused railway station in the West St Leonards area of the borough of Hastings
, East Sussex
. Opened by the Brighton, Lewes & Hastings Railway in 1846 as part of what became the East Coastway Line
, it was the first permanent station to serve the area and became part of a feud between two rival railway companies over access to nearby Hastings. Although ultimately inconvenient for local services, the station became an important goods railhead and the location of a motive power depot
for locomotives working express services to London
. The station was closed in 1967 following dieselisation
and subsequently demolished, although remnants of it can still be seen.
via . Once a bridge over the River Asten had been completed Bulverhythe was replaced by a permanent station situated a short distance to the east which opened on 7 November 1846 and was named Hastings & St Leonards. The powers obtained by the railway company to construct the remaining 0.25 mile (0.402335 km) of line to Hastings were however transferred to the South Eastern Railway
whose proposed line from Ashford to Hastings
was seen by the government, especially the Duke of Wellington
, as an important means of transferring troops along a vulnerable section of coastline. As a consequence, ownership of the section passed to the SER, but the Brighton, Lewes & Hastings - later absorbed by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
- obtained running powers over it.
The SER would construct two tunnels from Hastings to join up with the LB&SCR line at Hastings & St. Leonards and form a junction with its own line to Battle
at Bo-peep where it would open its own St Leonards station
. The SER's line from Ashford and the link line to St Leonards opened simultaneously on 13 February 1851, coinciding with the renaming of Hastings & St. Leonards to simply St Leonards, but the SER was to make it difficult for LB&SCR services to use the new line. On the first day, an LB&SCR service was held for so long at Bo-peep junction that it was obliged to return to St Leonards and unload its passengers; later, the SER tore up track at Bo-peep and obstructed the line with wagons filled with earth. An injunction
obtained by the LB&SCR ensured the reopening of the line and the two companies began to share traffic receipts, culminating in an agreement in 1866 by which the SER's St Leonards station became a joint station and facilities were provided at the LB&SCR's St Leonards station and at Hastings station to allow joint operation of the line. LB&SCR services were not however allowed to call at the SER's station until December 1870 which resulted in the LB&SCR's station changing its name to St Leonards West Marina.
Although West Marina was inconvenient for local traffic, it was the only station in the area under the LB&SCR's exclusive control and for this reason, it was retained and even developed, and the station became the LB&SCR's railhead for goods traffic; a coal yard with sidings
, freight sheds and a turntable also existed.
The station's stock fell after the 1921 grouping
, although an increasing number of locomotives came to be stabled there. Even following the electrification
of the line in 1935, steam locomotives (the Schools class) used for working expresses to London on the SER's line were housed there. The motive power depot was demolished following dieselisation
and a new depot was opened to the west. Express trains ceased to call at West Marina, but remarkably it survived until 1967.
was established at the station by the LB&SCR in 1846, on the Down side of the line. An engine shed was built in 1872, which was enlarged in 1898, and again by British Railways in 1949. It was officially closed in 1958, but continued to be used for stabling locomotives until the mid 1960s.
Hastings
Hastings is a town and borough in the county of East Sussex on the south coast of England. The town is located east of the county town of Lewes and south east of London, and has an estimated population of 86,900....
, 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:...
. Opened by the Brighton, Lewes & Hastings Railway in 1846 as part of what became the East Coastway Line
East Coastway Line
East Coastway is the name used by the train operating company, Southern , for the routes it operates along the south coast of Sussex and Kent to the east of Brighton, England. Those to the West of Brighton are named the West Coastway Line...
, it was the first permanent station to serve the area and became part of a feud between two rival railway companies over access to nearby Hastings. Although ultimately inconvenient for local services, the station became an important goods railhead and the location of a motive power depot
Motive power depot
Motive power depot, usually abbreviated to MPD, is a name given to places where locomotives are stored when not being used, and also repaired and maintained. They were originally known as "running sheds", "engine sheds", or, for short, just sheds. Facilities are provided for refuelling and...
for locomotives working express services to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. The station was closed in 1967 following dieselisation
Dieselisation
Dieselisation or dieselization is a term generally used for the increasingly common use of diesel fuel in vehicles, as opposed to gasoline or steam engines.-Water Transport:...
and subsequently demolished, although remnants of it can still be seen.
History
On 24 June 1846, the Brighton, Lewes & Hastings Railway opened a temporary terminus at as part of its line from to AshfordAshford International railway station
Ashford International railway station serves Ashford in Kent, England. Services are provided by Southeastern, Southern and Eurostar.International services use platforms 3 & 4, whilst domestic trains use the original platforms 1 & 2, and a new island built when the Channel Tunnel opened...
via . Once a bridge over the River Asten had been completed Bulverhythe was replaced by a permanent station situated a short distance to the east which opened on 7 November 1846 and was named Hastings & St Leonards. The powers obtained by the railway company to construct the remaining 0.25 mile (0.402335 km) of line to Hastings were however transferred to the South Eastern Railway
South Eastern Railway (UK)
The South Eastern Railway was a railway company in south-eastern England from 1836 until 1922. The company was formed to construct a route from London to Dover. Branch lines were later opened to Tunbridge Wells, Hastings, Canterbury and other places in Kent...
whose proposed line from Ashford to Hastings
Marshlink Line
The Marshlink Line is the name given to services on the railway line linking Ashford with Hastings in the South East of England. The line was part of an original proposal by a company named the Brighton Lewes and Hastings Railway to extend its coast route to Hastings...
was seen by the government, especially the Duke of Wellington
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century...
, as an important means of transferring troops along a vulnerable section of coastline. As a consequence, ownership of the section passed to the SER, but the Brighton, Lewes & Hastings - later absorbed by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1846 to 1922. Its territory formed a rough triangle, with London at its apex, practically the whole coastline of Sussex as its base, and a large part of Surrey...
- obtained running powers over it.
Hastings Line
The Hastings Line is a railway line in Kent and East Sussex linking Hastings with the main town of Tunbridge Wells, and from there into London via Sevenoaks.-Openings:The line was opened by the South Eastern Railway in main three stages: – :...
at Bo-peep where it would open its own St Leonards station
St Leonards Warrior Square railway station
St Leonards Warrior Square railway station is one of four railway stations serving Hastings in East Sussex, England. It is on the Hastings Line and the East Coastway Line, and train services are provided by Southeastern and Southern.- History :...
. The SER's line from Ashford and the link line to St Leonards opened simultaneously on 13 February 1851, coinciding with the renaming of Hastings & St. Leonards to simply St Leonards, but the SER was to make it difficult for LB&SCR services to use the new line. On the first day, an LB&SCR service was held for so long at Bo-peep junction that it was obliged to return to St Leonards and unload its passengers; later, the SER tore up track at Bo-peep and obstructed the line with wagons filled with earth. An injunction
Injunction
An injunction is an equitable remedy in the form of a court order that requires a party to do or refrain from doing certain acts. A party that fails to comply with an injunction faces criminal or civil penalties and may have to pay damages or accept sanctions...
obtained by the LB&SCR ensured the reopening of the line and the two companies began to share traffic receipts, culminating in an agreement in 1866 by which the SER's St Leonards station became a joint station and facilities were provided at the LB&SCR's St Leonards station and at Hastings station to allow joint operation of the line. LB&SCR services were not however allowed to call at the SER's station until December 1870 which resulted in the LB&SCR's station changing its name to St Leonards West Marina.
Although West Marina was inconvenient for local traffic, it was the only station in the area under the LB&SCR's exclusive control and for this reason, it was retained and even developed, and the station became the LB&SCR's railhead for goods traffic; a coal yard with 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...
, freight sheds and a turntable also existed.
The station's stock fell after the 1921 grouping
Railways Act 1921
The Railways Act 1921, also known as the Grouping Act, was an enactment by the British government of David Lloyd George intended to stem the losses being made by many of the country's 120 railway companies, move the railways away from internal competition, and to retain some of the benefits which...
, although an increasing number of locomotives came to be stabled there. Even following the electrification
Railway electrification in Great Britain
Railway electrification in Great Britain started towards of the 19th century. A great range of voltages have been used in the intervening period using both overhead lines and third rails, however the most common standard for mainline services is now 25 kV AC using overhead lines and the...
of the line in 1935, steam locomotives (the Schools class) used for working expresses to London on the SER's line were housed there. The motive power depot was demolished following dieselisation
Dieselisation
Dieselisation or dieselization is a term generally used for the increasingly common use of diesel fuel in vehicles, as opposed to gasoline or steam engines.-Water Transport:...
and a new depot was opened to the west. Express trains ceased to call at West Marina, but remarkably it survived until 1967.
Motive Power Depot
Some form of motive power depotMotive power depot
Motive power depot, usually abbreviated to MPD, is a name given to places where locomotives are stored when not being used, and also repaired and maintained. They were originally known as "running sheds", "engine sheds", or, for short, just sheds. Facilities are provided for refuelling and...
was established at the station by the LB&SCR in 1846, on the Down side of the line. An engine shed was built in 1872, which was enlarged in 1898, and again by British Railways in 1949. It was officially closed in 1958, but continued to be used for stabling locomotives until the mid 1960s.