The Railway
East Garston History
The
railway line formed the northern boundary to the village, providing
connections to Newbury and Lambourn, and was a key method of transport
for supplies to the village, particularly coal. A transport system
for the Lambourn Valley had been planned as early as 1873, when
a horse-drawn tramcar system was started, but it ran into difficulties
and was not completed. The Lambourn Valley Railway opened on 4th
April 1898, and was sold to the Great Western Railway in 1905 for
£50,000. The section from Lambourn to Welford Park closed
on 4th January 1960. |
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The
line from Great Shefford entered the village to the north of Maidencourt
Farm and Mabberleys Farm, then follows an embankment and bridge
over School Lane. The station was on the right-hand side of the
road to the church, and the line ran from the station south of the
church and on to Lambourn. There was a loop siding east of the platform
about the end of Burfords. The siding was used for the supply of
coal to the valley, and Tom Bates had a coal-yard in the village. |
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The
station consisted of a raised platform 150 feet long with a 25-foot
ramp at either end. It had a corrugated iron pagoda shelter and
a wooden ticket office. Opposite the platform was a loading dock,
which was used mainly for milk churns and horses. Horses were loaded
here for Eastbury, as Eastbury station did not have a loading dock. |
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... | ![]() |
(above
left).. Railway
workers Joe Green, Albert Barrett, Tom Liddiard and William Palmer
in 1926. ....East Garston station was kept in immaculate condition
by the station porter Tom Liddiard. It was well known for its flower
beds, and won several prizes for appearance. Tom spent all of his
working life in the station, being the porter from 1913 to 1957. |
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... | ![]() |
The
decision to close the line was taken on 9th July 1959. ....Mr
N. H. Brian! of British Railways informed Mr Gillespie, the parish
clerk, that the closing would save Western Region £13,418
a year. Market research had shown that on an average day eight passengers
were joining at East Garston and seven alighting. The daily average
passengers for the line was just over 200. The bus service, which
ran later into the evening, carried a similar number of passengers,
including around 20 to and from East Garston. ...The
last train left Lambourn with 73 passengers on board, at 7.10pm
on 4th January 1960. The track remained in place for over a year,
and was finally lifted in 1961. |
more on the railway can be found by visiting
www.lambournvalleyrailway.co.uk
main site menu : local history menu
.