Gotherington railway station

Gotherington railway station is a railway station serving the village of Gotherington in Gloucestershire, England. The station is located just to the north of the village.

Gotherington
Station on heritage railway
LocationGotherington, Tewkesbury
England
Coordinates51.9672°N 2.0378°W / 51.9672; -2.0378
Grid referenceSO974298
Operated byGloucestershire Warwickshire Railway
Platformswas 2 now 1
History
Original companyGreat Western Railway
Pre-groupingGreat Western Railway
Post-groupingGreat Western Railway
Key dates
1 June 1906 (1906-06-01)Station opened as Gotherington
1 December 1940Renamed Gotherington Halt
13 June 1955Station closed
1997Reopened in preservation

It is located on the former Cheltenham to Stratford-upon-Avon line, which was opened by the Great Western Railway in 1906.[1] The station opened as Gotherington on 1 June 1906; it was renamed Gotherington Halt on 1 December 1940,[2] and was closed on 13 June 1955.[3] It was the first station to close on this route (most of the other stations closed in 1960). The line itself remained open until 1976. The track was later lifted by 1979.

Preservation

The line was relaid by the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, during the mid-1990s reaching Gotherington in 1997. Trains recommenced the same year, and were extended to Cheltenham Racecourse in April 2003.[4]

The station buildings are privately owned, so trains use the opposite platform. During major events the private garden is opened to passengers and the station house becomes a tea room. A short length of track in the garden allows rides on a Wickham or pump trolley.

Signalling

Just south of Gotherington station is a passing loop controlled by a new signal box.[5] When the box is switched in, it breaks the very long section between Winchcombe and Cheltenham Racecourse, then short section token working is in use from Cheltenham Racecourse Station to Gotherington, and Gotherington to Winchcombe. There is also a provision for Down trains to terminate at the Gotherington, use the loop to run round the train and return to Winchcombe.[6]

References
  1. "Gotherington Railway station". UK Railways. Archived from the original on 28 August 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  2. "Gotherington Village Hall". Gotherington Village Hall. Archived from the original on 3 February 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  3. Butt, R.V.J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations. Yeovil: Patrick Stephens Ltd. p. 107. ISBN 1-85260-508-1. R508.
  4. "Railway Chronology". GWSR. Archived from the original on 2 August 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  5. "Gotherington signalbox opens". Archived from the original on 3 July 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  6. "Gotherington Signals Go Live". Archived from the original on 4 July 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
Preceding station   Heritage railways Following station
Winchcombe   Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway   Cheltenham Racecourse
  Historical railways  
Gretton Halt
Line open, station closed		   Great Western Railway
Honeybourne Line		   Bishop's Cleeve
Line open, station closed
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