Maiden Newton railway station

Maiden Newton railway station is a railway station serving the village of Maiden Newton in Dorset, England. The station is located on the Heart of Wessex line between Castle Cary and Weymouth.

Maiden Newton
LocationMaiden Newton, Dorset
England
Coordinates50.780°N 2.569°W / 50.780; -2.569
Grid referenceSY599979
Managed byGreat Western Railway
Platforms2
Other information
Station codeMDN
ClassificationDfT category F1
History
Original companyGreat Western Railway
Key dates
1857Opened
1975Bridport branch closed
Passengers
2015/16 20,582
2016/17 20,714
2017/18 19,904
2018/19 19,536
2019/20 20,242
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

History
The old signal box

Opened on 20 January 1857 by the Great Western Railway with the section of their route from Yeovil Pen Mill to Weymouth. This completed the Wilts, Somerset and Weymouth line from Chippenham, the first part of which had opened in 1848.[1]

The station consisted of two platforms with a flint station building and goods shed at the south end. A signal box was added later. From 1857 to 1975 the station was the junction for the Bridport Railway and an extra bay platform was added at the north end of the station for these trains. This can still be seen at the west end of the station and this end of the trackbed is a footpath and cycleway.

Preceding station Historical railways Following station
Cattistock   Wilts, Somerset and Weymouth Railway   Grimstone and Frampton
Terminus   Bridport Railway   Toller

Description
Looking north

Although the signal box was closed during a rationalisation scheme, the station retains two platforms as it is a passing place on the single line between Dorchester and Yeovil. The entrance is on the northbound platform, the side closest to the village. Access to the southbound platform is normally by the footbridge but there is a level crossing at the south end of the station for passengers who are unable to use the bridge. The station building survives but is no longer used by the railway.

The electric key token instrument for the block section to Yeovil are now operated by the train crew under the supervision of the signal operator based at Yeovil Pen Mill. The block section to Dorchester West is operated under the 'tokenless single line' principle with track circuiting.

Scenes for the 'Station Closing' episode of the BBC series To the Manor Born were filmed at the station.

Services

Great Western Railway operate services from Great Malvern, Worcester Shrub Hill, Gloucester and Bristol Temple Meads to Weymouth.[2] South Western Railway runs additional services between Weymouth and Yeovil Junction on Summer Saturdays.[3]

Preceding station National Rail Following station
Chetnole   Great Western Railway
Heart of Wessex Line		   Dorchester West
  South Western Railway
Yeovil Junction to Weymouth
(Summer only)		  

References
  1. MacDermot, E T (1927). History of the Great Western Railway. 1 (1833-1863) (1 ed.). London: Great Western Railway.
  2. https://www.gwr.com/~/media/gwr/pdfs/timetables/2019/may/b01.pdf?la=en
  3. https://www.southwesternrailway.com/~/media/files/plan-my-journey/timetables/ptt20b-may-2019.pdf?la=en

Further reading
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