Wheathampstead railway station
Encyclopedia
Wheathampstead railway station was a railway station serving Wheathampstead
on the Great Northern Railway
branch line to Dunstable
. While little of it remains now, east of Wheathampstead
is the Ayot Greenway
which follows what was the line towards Welwyn Garden City
.
The station opened with the rest of the Hatfield
section of the line on 1 September 1860. Although a small goods yard and cattle dock were built, the close proximity of the road and housing meant that it remained a single platform only, with no passing loop
unlike the stations at Harpenden East
and Ayot
. The station closed to passengers in 1965 with the track lifted a short time afterwards.
To celebrate what would have been its 150th anniversary, local volunteers cleared away vegetation around the original platform on 1 September 2010. It features new station signs and a bench.
Wheathampstead
Wheathampstead is a village and civil parish in the City and District of St Albans, in Hertfordshire, England. It is north of St Albans and in the Hitchin and Harpenden parliamentary constituency....
on the Great Northern Railway
Great 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....
branch line to Dunstable
Dunstable Branch Lines
The Dunstable Branch Lines were railway branch lines that joined the English town of Dunstable to the main lines at Leighton Buzzard and Welwyn. The two lines were under separate ownership, and they joined just east of the Dunstable North station....
. While little of it remains now, east of Wheathampstead
Wheathampstead
Wheathampstead is a village and civil parish in the City and District of St Albans, in Hertfordshire, England. It is north of St Albans and in the Hitchin and Harpenden parliamentary constituency....
is the Ayot Greenway
Ayot Greenway
The Ayot Greenway is a rail trail which extends from Ayot St. Peter, just west of Welwyn Garden City and the A1 Motorway to Wheathampstead in Hertfordshire...
which follows what was the line towards Welwyn Garden City
Welwyn Garden City
-Economy:Ever since its inception as garden city, Welwyn Garden City has attracted a strong commercial base with several designated employment areas. Among the companies trading in the town are:*Air Link Systems*Baxter*British Lead Mills*Carl Zeiss...
.
The station opened with the rest of the Hatfield
Hatfield
- Places :Hatfield is the name of several places around the world. It comes from O.E. Haeth field , meaning field of heather.In Australia*Hatfield, New South Wales, located in the Electoral district of Murray-DarlingIn England:...
section of the line on 1 September 1860. Although a small goods yard and cattle dock were built, the close proximity of the road and housing meant that it remained a single platform only, with no passing loop
Passing loop
A passing loop is a place on a single line railway or tramway, often located at a station, where trains or trams in opposing directions can pass each other. Trains/trams in the same direction can also overtake, providing that the signalling arrangement allows it...
unlike the stations at Harpenden East
Harpenden East railway station
Harpenden East was one of two stations serving the town of Harpenden, the other station which remains open being Harpenden Central. Originally named Harpenden, the East suffix was added in 1950 to distinguish it from the Midland Railway station.- Layout :...
and Ayot
Ayot railway station
Ayot was a railway station serving Ayot St Peter near Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire, England. It was on the branch line to Dunstable.-History:...
. The station closed to passengers in 1965 with the track lifted a short time afterwards.
To celebrate what would have been its 150th anniversary, local volunteers cleared away vegetation around the original platform on 1 September 2010. It features new station signs and a bench.
Routes
External links
- Wheathampstead railway station entry on Subterranea Britannica Disused Sites website
- Wheathampstead station on navigable 1946 O. S. map