Preserved stations - which ones feel most "real"?

[jessy1692]

Bury Bolton Street always feels like walking back in time, admittedly before my time but it captures it well

[stewartingram]

Slightly o/t, as it is not a preserved station (hardly!), but Euston Square on the H&C/Met/Circle does it for me (!). Between trains, there are quiet periods of stillness. The station has 2 platforms either side of double track, and is straight. It is a Section 12 station, decorated with a black ceiling, and leads in either direction to a black tunnel. Platform stairs at the West end leave the East end quite empty. A train leaves, and it all goes quiet. Strangely, very few PA announcements. Reminds me of a still night (the blackness), chilly (draughty down there), on a small wayside station. Also a variety of destinations and routes served by the trains, you don't know what turns up next (the indicators can be a fair way down the platform). I've even sat there and had a freight go through - admittedly 2x battery locos on a maintenance train. Next time you are that way, just try it, outside of the rush hour. Quite amazing.

Anyway, back to preserved stations...

 

Stewart

Edited May 12, 2017 by stewartingram

[F-UnitMad]

Parkend, Dean Forest Railway.

[Oldddudders]

Not done so for too many years, but when I lived in Cranbrook I once or twice went and sat on the platform at Wittersham Road. This is deep country, and lush with growth. Birdsong, the block bells in the box, and the distant sound of a steam train gradually coming closer. Ok, cars on the level crossing, too, but not too many use that part of Maytham Lane. [NB - A couple of miles up that road is Great Maytham Hall, a Lutyens transformation.]

 

An interesting thread - well started, Kevin!

[Northroader]

Parkend, Dean Forest Railway.

Trouble with Parkend is you get off the train and head for the pub, then back down just before it goes, so the only atmosphere you're drinking is in the pub.

[Zomboid]

If it's the atmosphere you're drinking, you're doing the pub wrong.

[melmerby]

Slightly o/t, as it is not a preserved station (hardly!), but Euston Square on the H&C/Met/Circle does it for me (!). Between trains, there are quiet periods of stillness. The station has 2 platforms either side of double track, and is straight. It is a Section 12 station, decorated with a black ceiling, and leads in either direction to a black tunnel. Platform stairs at the West end leave the East end quite empty. A train leaves, and it all goes quiet. Strangely, very few PA announcements. Reminds me of a still night (the blackness), chilly (draughty down there), on a small wayside station. Also a variety of destinations and routes served by the trains, you don't know what turns up next (the indicators can be a fair way down the platform). I've even sat there and had a freight go through - admittedly 2x battery locos on a maintenance train. Next time you are that way, just try it, outside of the rush hour. Quite amazing.

Anyway, back to preserved stations...

 

Stewart

On the same lines (sic) is Birmingham Moor Street. It is "preserved" but not in preservation.

Most of what you see is restoration, some is reproduction (as on some preserved lines) and if there are no trains in sight, admittedly not often, it gives the air of a well kept Edwardian era station.

Even the Snow Hill lines that only gained platforms after Snow Hill reopened have been back dated to the same period.

 

Keith

 

Edit wrong king!

Edited May 12, 2017 by melmerby

[Nearholmer]

Maybe we can allow ourselves to wander off to our personal Addlestrops, even if they aren't preserved. Not much bird song at Euston Square, from what I recall, though!

 

Monks Risborough ...... lovely little halt, view over open fields, barely any road traffic, and when I was there a couple of weeks ago, a heritage class 121 in green livery providing the service ...... preserved railways have newer trains than that! http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4832045

 

And, yes, I miss Wittersham Road too. I've cycled all those lanes.

 

Kevin

Edited May 12, 2017 by Nearholmer

[Tim V]

Just changed my mind about Doniford, there are no telegraph poles and wires.

 

In which case, they virtually all fail to convince.

 

I remember though arriving at Medstead Four Marks in a snow storm, dived off the train into the waiting room where the stove was belting out heat - I was there!

[Zomboid]

Medstead & Four Marks was particularly good when they were crossing trains there (then it changed to Ropley, not sure how it is now), because you'd get a proper long time of nothing happening at all, then a load of activity and back to nothing.

Trains were too frequent when they crossed at Ropley.

 

Marylebone has an charming old time feel to it, being a bit of a backwater in a quiet part of London.

[melmerby]

Just changed my mind about Doniford, there are no telegraph poles and wires.

 

In which case, they virtually all fail to convince.

 

 

The webcam at Corfe castle definitely shows a telegraph pole (it's right next to it) and it has wires leading to, at least, the next one you can see!

 

Keith

[Tim V]

Oops, didn't explain clearly, none of the preserved stations convince me, the best was Doniford.

 

The station at Beamish has a convincing goods yard - that most preserved stations fail on, but it is very cramped.

[bike2steam]

My favourite 'get away from it all, quiet spot' used to be Highley on the SVR - before they spoilt it with the additions they built there !! 

[Fenman]

Some good nominations so far. I'd add County School, in the middle of nowhere, Norfolk.

 

It's a bit of a cheat, I suppose, because while the MNR has bought the trackbed (and station) it has not yet extended running to there; so the station sits, as if it was open just yesterday, in the middle of open Norfolk countryside - no massive car parks, no new sheds, nothing. Just alternating bird song and silence. Utterly blissful.

 

Paul

[melmerby]

Oops, didn't explain clearly, none of the preserved stations convince me, the best was Doniford.

 

The station at Beamish has a convincing goods yard - that most preserved stations fail on, but it is very cramped.

But that is a complete fabrication using bits from elsewhere, mainly Rowley!

This is the real Beamish:

 

http://southpelawjunction.co.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/post-508-0-69573900-1378647816_thumb.jpg

 

Keith

Edited May 12, 2017 by melmerby

[PhilH]

Medstead & Four Marks was particularly good when they were crossing trains there (then it changed to Ropley, not sure how it is now), because you'd get a proper long time of nothing happening at all, then a load of activity and back to nothing.

Trains were too frequent when they crossed at Ropley.

 

Marylebone has an charming old time feel to it, being a bit of a backwater in a quiet part of London.

 

 

We still cross at Medstead as well as Ropley

[dhjgreen]

....and Bury Bolton Street interestingly different from your typical preserved railway thanks to being a town centre station, although I'm guessing that the car park is former goods yard.

The car park was previously the old ELR headquarters, and its own parcels handling area I believe. Pictures here (scroll down)

Edit to add: in 1964 the space behind the headquarters was cobbled.

http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/b/bury_bolton_street/

BTW Do you not need period rolling stock for the vibe?

If so L&Y or 504 lecky needed.

Edited May 12, 2017 by dhjgreen

[Zomboid]

We still cross at Medstead as well as Ropley

I see things have changed since I was a volunteer there (10+ years ago). Back then the 2 train service crossed at Ropley every time.

Looks like Alton signalling has been commissioned too? That was way off in the future last time I was there.

[jonny777]

I find that none of the 'heritage' stations do it for me, in regard to the feel of the 1950s atmosphere. However, I don't really expect that, because there is far too much commercialism now.

 

Nowhere seems to capture the days when the signalman tended the flowerbeds between trains and the local coal merchant chatted with customers ordering coal, or the local delivery driver picked up various items brought in by the previous service. The pick-up goods does not spend 45 minutes shunting the yard, with the wonderful clanking of buffers and squealing of wheels on tight curvature turnouts; or the possibility of a invite onto the footplate, if the station master is not looking.

[37114]

Hayles abbey halt on the G&WR is probably a new one to add on the list, a lovely recreation.

[caradoc]

Quainton Road; Sit on the Up platform facing towards the single running line and away from the Railway Centre, and it's back to the rationalised BR of the 1970s !

[Nearholmer]

Here's one for you, Caradoc.

 

Sorry the weather wasn't better.

 

K

Edited May 12, 2017 by Nearholmer

[Chris116]

Medstead & Four Marks was particularly good when they were crossing trains there (then it changed to Ropley, not sure how it is now), because you'd get a proper long time of nothing happening at all, then a load of activity and back to nothing.

Trains were too frequent when they crossed at Ropley.

The current Mid Hants standard two train timetable has the trains alternating where they pass so both Ropley and Medstead & Four Marks have one passing manoeuvre and two single trains every two hours.

 

I love Medstead & Four Marks but would also give mention to Kingscote, Hampton Lode, Oakworth and Bury Bolton Street.

[PhilH]

I see things have changed since I was a volunteer there (10+ years ago). Back then the 2 train service crossed at Ropley every time.

Looks like Alton signalling has been commissioned too? That was way off in the future last time I was there.

 

 

Yep, all colour light, can be run either by Alton box when it's manned or in auto working whereby the points and signals are set off the track circuitry.

[PhilH]

I find that none of the 'heritage' stations do it for me, in regard to the feel of the 1950s atmosphere. However, I don't really expect that, because there is far too much commercialism now.

 

Nowhere seems to capture the days when the signalman tended the flowerbeds between trains and the local coal merchant chatted with customers ordering coal, or the local delivery driver picked up various items brought in by the previous service. The pick-up goods does not spend 45 minutes shunting the yard, with the wonderful clanking of buffers and squealing of wheels on tight curvature turnouts; or the possibility of a invite onto the footplate, if the station master is not looking.

 

That would be a multi zillionaire's private 12"/ft private train set, not a preserved railway which has to pay the bills...