Ruspidge Halt railway station

Ruspidge Halt railway station is a disused railway station opened by the Great Western Railway (GWR) on the former Bullo Pill Railway, later known as the GWR Forest of Dean Branch.

Ruspidge Halt
Site of the former station (now a linear park) in 2005.
General information
LocationRuspidge, Forest of Dean
England
Coordinates51°48′41″N 2°30′34″W / 51.8115°N 2.5094°W / 51.8115; -2.5094
Grid referenceSO649126
Platforms1
Other information
StatusDisused
History
Original companyGreat Western Railway
Pre-groupingGreat Western Railway
Post-groupingGreat Western Railway
Key dates
3 August 1907 (1907-08-03)Station opened
3 November 1958 (1958-11-03)Station closed

History

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A 1911 RCH map of railways in the vicinity of Ruspidge Halt

The Halt was located about 4 miles 4 chains from Newnham on a 1 in 201 gradient.[1]

The station opened for passenger services in August 1907. The low platform was constructed from stone and a stone building was provided from the outset.[2]

Before the commencement of passenger services, the Forest of Dean Branch was worked by train staff in two sections - Bullo to Ruspidge and Ruspidge to Bilson. In order for the passenger services to be introduced, the former goods office was converted for use as a booking office (it had both the railway and public telephones).[3]

The train staff working was also replaced by single line electric key token working and at this time a three-lever ground frame gave the porter control of the up and down distant signals and the gate bolts (which were interlocked).[4]

Services

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Preceding station   Disused railways   Following station
Staple Edge Halt
Line and station closed
  Great Western Railway
Bullo Pill Railway
  Bilson Halt
Line and station closed

References

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  1. ^ Pope, Ian; Karau, Paul (1997). The Forest of Dean Branch - Volume 2. Didcot: Wild Swan Publications Ltd. p. 235. ISBN 1-874103-36-4.
  2. ^ Pope, Ian; Karau, Paul (1992). The Forest of Dean Branch - Volume 1. Didcot: Wild Swan Publications Ltd. pp. 174, 176, 179, 182, 183. ISBN 1-874103-05-4.
  3. ^ Pope & Karau 1992, p. 174
  4. ^ Pope & Karau 1992, pp. 177, 179

Further reading

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