Whittington High Level railway station

Whittington High Level railway station is one of two former railway stations in the village of Whittington, Shropshire, England.

Whittington High Level
General information
Location	Whittington, Shropshire England
Coordinates	52.8758°N 3.0091°W / 52.8758; -3.0091
Grid reference	SJ322313
Platforms	2
Other information
Status	Disused
History
Original company	Cambrian Railways
Pre-grouping	Cambrian Railways
Post-grouping	GWR Western Region of British Railways
Key dates
27 July 1864	Station opened as "Whittington"
1 Jul 1924	Renamed "Whittington High Level"
October 1937	Closed to goods
4 January 1960	Closed completely
1963	Line transferred to London Midland Region of British Railways
18 January 1965	Line closed

Oswestry, Ellesmere & Whitchurch Railway
Crewe and Shrewsbury Railway to Crewe Whitchurch and Tattenhall Railway to Chester Whitchurch Crewe and Shrewsbury Railway to Shrewsbury England Wales Fenn's Bank Bettisfield Wales England Welshampton Ellesmere Wrexham and Ellesmere Railway Frankton Whittington High Level Tinkers Green Halt Shrewsbury and Chester Railway (GWR) Great Western Railway to Gobowen Oswestry Tanat Valley Light Railway Oswestry and Newtown Railway to Welshpool

History

Whittington High Level railway station was opened as plain "Whittington" by the Cambrian Railways, on their single-track Oswestry to Whitchurch line. The Oswestry, Ellesmere and Whitchurch Railway were in the process of building the station when the company was absorbed into the newly created Cambrian Railways in 1864. The Cambrian itself was incorporated into the GWR at the grouping of 1923. In 1948 both of Whittington's lines and stations became part of the Western Region of British Railways.

In 1924 the two "Whittington" stations in the village were renamed. This station gained the suffix "High Level" and its neighbour on the GWR's Paddington to Birkenhead main line became Whittington Low Level.

The line was generally single track with passing loops, one of which was at Whittington High Level station, which was on an embankment. The platforms, station buildings and signalbox were made of wood. The station was damaged by fire in 1958.

The line and station have been demolished.

Passenger services

In 1922 passenger services calling at Whittington High Level were at their most intensive, with trains serving several long-distance destinations as well as locals plying between Whitchurch and Oswestry:

• On Sundays just one Down train called:
  • the overnight Euston to Aberystwyth via Whitchurch departed from Whittington High Level at 03:15. Passengers for Aberystwyth would have ample opportunity to catch up on their sleep as it did not arrive there until 09:25. The return left Aberystwyth at 18:10, arriving at Whittington at 21:28.
• On Mondays to Saturdays seven Down trains called:
  • three through trains to Aberystwyth, one of which contained through carriages from Paddington.
  • two locals to Oswestry, plus one "Motor Car" service; whether this was on road or rail is unclear
  • one stopping service to Welshpool
  • these were all balanced by Up workings.

Preceding station	Historical railways			Following station
Tinkers Green Halt Line and station closed		Cambrian Railways Oswestry, Ellesmere and Whitchurch Railway		Frankton Line and station closed

References

Sources

• Bradshaw, George (1985) [July 1922]. Bradshaw's General Railway and Steam Navigation guide for Great Britain and Ireland: A reprint of the July 1922 issue. Newton Abbot: David & Charles. ISBN 978-0-7153-8708-5. OCLC 12500436.
• Butt, R. V. J. (October 1995). The Directory of Railway Stations: details every public and private passenger station, halt, platform and stopping place, past and present (1st ed.). Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 978-1-85260-508-7. OCLC 60251199. OL 11956311M.
• Clinker, C. R. (1988) [1978]. Clinker's Register of Closed Passenger Stations and Goods Depots in England, Scotland and Wales 1830–1980 (2nd ed.). Bristol: Avon-Anglia Publications & Services. ISBN 978-0-905466-91-0. OCLC 655703233.

Further reading

• Mitchell, Vic; Smith, Keith (2010). Oswestry to Whitchurch. Midhurst: Middleton Press. figs. 17-18. ISBN 978-1-906008-81-9. OCLC 751631667.

External links

• Whittington High and Low Level stations on old O.S. map npe Maps