Brayton railway station

Brayton was a railway station which served as the interchange for the Solway Junction Railway (SJR) with the Maryport and Carlisle Railway (M&CR); it also served nearby Brayton Hall and district in Cumbria. The station was opened by the M&CR and became a junction station in 1870 on the 25 mile long SJR line.[1]

Brayton railway station
Brayton station in 1961
General information
LocationBrayton Hall, Allerdale
England
Coordinates54°46′51″N 3°17′53″W / 54.7808°N 3.2980°W / 54.7808; -3.2980
Grid referenceNY166436
Platforms3
Other information
StatusDisused
History
Pre-groupingMaryport & Carlisle Railway
Post-groupingLondon Midland and Scottish Railway
Key dates
1844Opened as private station
1 March 1848Opened to public passengers
5 June 1950Station closed to passengers
27 September 1965Closed to goods

History

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Brayton station was opened by the Maryport & Carlisle Railway in 1844. Originally a private station it opened to the public on 1 March 1848.[2] At grouping in 1923 the M&CR became a part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway. The main Carlisle-Maryport line (completed in 1845) remains open and forms part of the Cumbrian Coast Line between Carlisle and Barrow in Furness.

A shed opened to the east of Brayton at the 21 mile post on 13 September 1869 with two roads, sidings and a 42 ft turntable in the junction between the Solway Junction Railway and the Maryport and Carlisle Railway, used by both companies.[3] On the north side of the station were extensive Solway Junction sidings and on the other side was a through loop that allowed shunting operations to be carried out.[4]

The passenger service via the Solway Junction Railway was never very successful and declined to being just one carriage at the front of an occasional goods train and in September 1917 this was suspended,[5] but was reinstated in 1920.[6] One mid morning train used to run mixed between Kirtlebridge and Bowness, continuing as freight only to Brayton.[7] Passenger services were finally withdrawn in 1921 and the line south of Annan over the Solway Viaduct was closed completely. The line remained open to through traffic until 14 February 1933 and the track was lifted on the S&JR in 1937.[8] The station closed to passengers on the Carlisle route on 5 June 1950[2] and to all traffic in 1965.

The station had three platforms, two through and one bay, with substantial station buildings and a signal box.[9]

The Brayton Dominion Colliery (Pit No. 4) was located nearby with an extensive railway network.[9]

References

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Notes
  1. ^ Edgar & Sinton 1990, p. 12.
  2. ^ a b Quick 2009, p. 98.
  3. ^ Edgar & Sinton 1990, p. 66.
  4. ^ Edgar & Sinton 1990, p. 68.
  5. ^ Edgar & Sinton 1990, p. 58.
  6. ^ "The Solway Viaduct - Southern End". Retrieved 2 August 2012.
  7. ^ Edgar & Sinton 1990, p. 21.
  8. ^ Edgar & Sinton 1990, p. 57.
  9. ^ a b Edgar & Sinton 1990, p. 52.
Sources
Further reading
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Preceding station Historical railways Following station
Bromfield
Line and station closed
  Caledonian Railway
Solway Junction Railway
  Connection with
M&CR
Leegate
Station closed, line open
  Maryport & Carlisle Railway
Maryport and Carlisle Railway
  Aspatria
Line and station open