Silloth Battery Extension railway station

Disused railway station in Cumbria, England

Silloth Battery Extension is located in the former Allerdale Borough
Silloth Battery Extension
Silloth Battery Extension
Location in present-day Allerdale, Cumbria
Show map of the former Allerdale Borough
Silloth Battery Extension is located in Cumbria
Silloth Battery Extension
Silloth Battery Extension
Location in present-day Cumbria, England
Show map of Cumbria
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Carlisle and Silloth
Bay Railway
Overview
LocaleCumbria
Dates of operation1854–1964
PredecessorCarlisle & Silloth
Bay Railway
SuccessorNBR
Technical
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in)
Legend
Silloth Battery Extension
Silloth Convalescent Home
Silloth Docks and Pier
Silloth
Causewayhead
Blackdyke Halt
Abbey Town
Left arrow
Solway Junction Railway
southbound
Sleightholme
Abbey Junction
Right arrow
Solway Junction Railway
northbound
Kirkbride
New Dykes Brow
Port Carlisle
Glasson
Drumburgh
Burgh-by-Sands
Kirkandrews
Right arrow
Waverley Line
northbound
Port Carlisle Junction
Carlisle Canal
Carlisle
Left arrow
West Coast Main Line
southbound│northbound
Right arrow


Silloth Battery Extension railway station was the terminus of the Blitterlees Branch, which turned southwards off the Carlisle and Silloth Bay Railway's Silloth Branch a short distance east of Silloth station.[3] The larger railway ran from Carlisle, England. The Bitterlees Branch does not appear on standard railway maps,[4] but it is clear on OS maps, though the station is not identifiable as such.[5]

The station's sole purpose was to serve the naval gun testing battery, built by Armstrong Whitworth.[6] Most trains to the site consisted of military supplies, the passenger station was built to carry battery personnel and visitors, including royalty on at least one occasion. In 1895 the Shalzada of Afghanistan and Suite observed naval firing, but was said to be especially impressed with the Maxim machine gun.[7][3]

Trains to the station were run on an ad hoc basis, the station never appeared on public timetables.

The station opened in 1886 and closed in 1928 when the battery closed, its operations being moved south to Eskmeals, near Drigg.

See also

References

  1. ^ The station, via Cumbrian Railways Association
  2. ^ Quick 2009, p. 353.
  3. ^ a b Suggitt 2008, p. 103.
  4. ^ Jowett 1989, Map 36.
  5. ^ Puxley 2009, p. 32.
  6. ^ Images of the battery, plus local talk, via BBC and others
  7. ^ Thomlinson 1983, p. 12.

Sources

  • Jowett, Alan (March 1989). Jowett's Railway Atlas of Great Britain and Ireland: From Pre-Grouping to the Present Day (1st ed.). Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 978-1-85260-086-0. OCLC 22311137.
  • Puxley, Chris (2009). The Port of Silloth 1858–2009: A Pictorial History Through 150 Years of a Solway Port. Portishead, Somerset: Bernard McCall. ISBN 978-1-902953-42-7.
  • Quick, Michael (2009) [2001]. Railway passenger stations in Great Britain: a chronology (4th ed.). Oxford: Railway & Canal Historical Society. ISBN 978-0-901461-57-5. OCLC 612226077.
  • Robinson, Peter W. (2002). Cumbria's Lost Railways. Catrine: Stenlake Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84033-205-6.
  • Suggitt, Gordon (2008). Lost Railways of Cumbria (Railway Series). Newbury, Berkshire: Countryside Books. ISBN 978-1-84674-107-4.
  • Thomlinson, G. (May 1983). Peascod, Michael (ed.). "Rails on the Solway". Cumbrian Railways. 2 (14). Pinner: Cumbrian Railways Association. ISSN 1466-6812.

Further reading

  • 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.
  • Edgar, Stuart; Sinton, John H. (1990). The Solway Junction Railway. Catrine: The Oakwood Press. ISBN 978-0-85361-395-4. LP176.
  • Liddell, H. M. (March 1984). Slater, John (ed.). "Shot at Silloth". The Railway Magazine. Vol. 130, no. 995. London: Tothill Press Limited. ISSN 0033-8923.
  • Marsh, John; Garbutt, John (1999). Cumbrian Railways. Alan Sutton Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7509-2043-8.
  • Mullay, Alexander J. (2006). Rails Across the Border. Stroud: Tempus. ISBN 978-0-7524-3666-1.
  • Robinson, Peter W. (August 1995). Peascod, Michael (ed.). "Maryport & Carlisle 150". Cumbrian Railways. 5 (12). Pinner: Cumbrian Railways Association. ISSN 1466-6812.
  • Robinson, Peter W. (1985). Railways of Cumbria. Clapham, North Yorkshire: Dalesman Books. ISBN 978-0-85206-815-1.
  • Webb, David R. (September 1964). Cooke, B.W.C. (ed.). "Between the Solway and Sellafield: Part One". The Railway Magazine. Vol. 110, no. 761. London: Tothill Press Limited. ISSN 0033-8923.
  • White, Stephen (1984). Solway Steam: The Story of the Sillath and Port Carlisle Railways, 1854-1964. Carlisle, Cumbria: Carel Press Limited. ISBN 978-0-9509096-1-5.

External links

  • The station on a navigable Edwardian OS map National Library of Scotland
  • The station on the branch, with mileages Railway Codes
  • The line with period photographs Holme St Cuthbert History Group
  • The line and station Cumbrian Railways Association
  • The convalescent home Its own website
  • The station Rail Map Online


Preceding station   Disused railways   Following station
Black Dyke Halt
Line and station closed
  North British Railway
Carlisle and Silloth Bay Railway
  Terminus
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Closed railway stations in Cumbria
Waverley Route
Caledonian main line
Solway Junction Railway
Port Carlisle Dock and Railway
Carlisle and Silloth Bay Railway
Maryport and Carlisle Railway
Newcastle & Carlisle Railway
Lancaster and Carlisle Railway
Ingleton branch line
Eden Valley Railway
South Durham and Lancashire Union Railway
Settle–Carlisle line
Cleator and Workington Junction Railway
Harrington and Lowca Light Railway
Gilgarran Branch
Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont Railway
Whitehaven Junction Railway
Whitehaven and Furness Junction Railway
Furness Railway
Cockermouth and Workington Railway
Cockermouth, Keswick and Penrith Railway
Coniston Railway
Other