Trivia: Station names that do not reflect where they are

[southern442]

Least important? It's the home of Ann Summers don't ya know?!? (That was one of my most interesting temp jobs that I've held BTW )

My dad worked there part-time for a year, and he said it made him appreciate every other job he's ever had.

 

[Meole]

Tan y Bwich is well over a mile away.

 

[RH Liner]

There was a station, now closed but possibly to re-open, named Pinxton & Selston, which later became Pinxton North. But it is situated at Selston, Nottinghamshire, while Pinxton itself is in Derbyshire. It lay on the Midland Railway, but there was also a Pinxton South, which was the terminus of a Great Northern branch line. Meanwhile Newark North Gate is not on North Gate, although it is fairly close to the road that bears that name.

 

[Statto]

Looking at a map of Glasgow & Easterhouse station looks that it's wrongly named, feels like that should be called Baillieston North rather than Easterhouse

 

[Scotrail84]

Addiewell is a bit away from the village itself.

Leuchars station, fair hike into the town itself.

Dunkeld and Birnam is actually over the other side of the A9 and the river Tay to the station.

Carstairs station is actually at Carstairs Jn village. Carstairs itself further to the NW of the station.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Carstairs station is actually at Carstairs Jn village. Carstairs itself further to the NW of the station.

Surely the village (i.e. Carstairs Junction) only came into being and acquired that name after the railway junction and station had first opened in the late 1840s?

 

[py_megapixel]

Leuchars station, fair hike into the town itself.

Always amazes me that Leuchars isn't called "Leuchars for St Andrews" or something

 

[L401CJF]

I think Cressington's name is forgivable as Cressington Park really refers to the affluent housing area in which it is located although the suburb, as you say, is Grassendale. Cressington is a lovely station in a very nice area of town.

Conway Park's originally planned name was 'Birkenhead Market' which would have been much better. It is near enough to the market to make that a sensible choice.

Also on Merseyside and somewhat dubious: Brunswick refers to the nearby dock and business park but is in the Toxteth area while Leasowe station is in Moreton (albeit narrowly). Aintree station is closest to the racecourse but in fact Old Roan is the closest station to Aintree village itself, the latter station taking its name from the now-closed local pub. To the east of Liverpool, Lea Green is another poorly named station: Marshall's Cross, Sutton Leach or even Shirdley Park would be better reflective of the local area.

You beat me to Conway Park and Leasowe.

Heswall is another, although technically in Heswall (just), it is nowhere near Heswall town itself. I'm sure it used to be called Heswall Hills. The long gone Heswall station on the former Hooton to West Kirby railway wasn't any nearer either!

 

[Journeyman]

Always amazes me that Leuchars isn't called "Leuchars for St Andrews" or something

It was for a long time.

 

[backontrack]

Alnmouth for Alnwick isn't particularly close to Alnmouth, either. It's at Hipsburn.

Canterbury West and Canterbury East stations don’t really reflect the direction from the city centre.

Well, Canterbury West is just about what you could call west, and is near the Westgate.

Canterbury East would be more realistic if it was named Canterbury South.

I thought this might be ‘East’ rather than ‘South’ to avoid confusion with the South Canterbury station on the Elham Valley Railway (now long gone), however it appears it was renamed from Canterbury to Canterbury East on 1st July 1889 just 6 days before South Canterbury first opened (although the name was no doubt decided a while before it opened).

I've often thought that Canterbury North and Canterbury South would make more sense these days.

One interesting circumstance is Ben Ryhdding; prior to the opening of the station the village was known as Wheatley, however, it now goes by the name of Ben Ryhdding from the name of the Hydro, as well as the aforementioned station which was built with the foremost intention of serving the Hydro.

I think that WYPTE should do a compromise and name the station Ben Wheatley.

 

[RH Liner]

It was for a long time.

Wasn’t it Leuchars Junction for a while, its main purpose being the junction for the then branch line to St Andrews (now replaced by a bus service)? Without the St Andrews link it would surely be an unlikely stop for express and LNER services. I could well be wrong here but don’t the station name boards include ‘For St Andrews’?

 

[backontrack]

Seamer station is actually nearer to Crossgates and Eastfield.

 

[D6130]

Always amazes me that Leuchars isn't called "Leuchars for St Andrews" or something

St Andrews Parkway?

 

[RH Liner]

Yes, I’ve had that thought too.

 

[Bacon_BMW]

Any of the London Roads that aren’t anywhere near London—although this may be more of a case of misnamed roads.

 

[swt_passenger]

Alnmouth for Alnwick isn't particularly close to Alnmouth, either. It's at Hipsburn.
[…]

Opened as Bilton, 1850-1892. Bilton is the area west of the station, and would have been a bigger place than Hipsburn which was only a farm on the Warkworth Rd in the 19th century.
(although Alnmouth was already mentioned in post #63...)

 

[NorthOxonian]

Any of the London Roads that aren’t anywhere near London—although this may be more of a case of misnamed roads.

Both Guildford and Brighton are reasonably close to London, and of course both stations serve the communities around roads pointing towards London.

 

[Hey 3]

Dudley Port. It is nearer to Tipton and Oldbury than Dudley.

 

[40129]

Dudley Port. It is nearer to Tipton and Oldbury than Dudley.

Dudley Port station is directly off a main road named Dudley Port. Tipton already has its own station as does Oldbury (although this was renamed Sandwell & Dudley c. 1983/4)

 

[soccermad]

Acton I think holds the UK record for the number of stations with its name - seven. But none of them are convenient for what is generally regarded as the centre of Acton, on the Uxbridge Road.

Acton Central is the closest

 

[urbophile]

Any of the London Roads that aren’t anywhere near London—although this may be more of a case of misnamed roads.

Why would they be misnamed? London Road (anywhere) is usually a road that leads to London.

 

[AndyW33]

Why would they be misnamed? London Road (anywhere) is usually a road that leads to London.

Absolutely. Today's Leicester station was Leicester London Road in earlier years, it fronts onto London Road, and London Road locally is the A6 which does indeed go all the way to London. There's even a London Road in Carlisle, again on the A6...

 

[mike57]

Seamer station is actually nearer to Crossgates and Eastfield.

I am told Seamer was named to avoid confusion with Crossgates near Leeds, as I assume right from the early days trains would have travelled from Leeds to Scarborough potentially calling at both stations. I think Eastfield as an area is much newer than the railway or the station. Can you imagine "This is the 09:40 departure from Scarborough calling at Crossgates, Malton, York, Garforth, Crossgates..."

 

[backontrack]

A good thing no-one has mentioned Coulsdon North, Coulsdon South, Smitham and Coulsdon Town!

They should've renamed Smitham as Coulsdon North.

I am told Seamer was named to avoid confusion with Crossgates near Leeds, as I assume right from the early days trains would have travelled from Leeds to Scarborough potentially calling at both stations. I think Eastfield as an area is much newer than the railway or the station. Can you imagine "This is the 09:40 departure from Scarborough calling at Crossgates, Malton, York, Garforth, Crossgates..."

Ah, I see. Thanks

 

[southern442]

They should've renamed Smitham as Coulsdon North.

It would've been a fitting tribute to the old station, especially as it too is now the terminus for a stopping service from London.

 

[unlevel42]

St Andrews Parkway?

St Andrews Fairway or even
St Andrews Fairway Away

 

[norbitonflyer]

Absolutely. Today's Leicester station was Leicester London Road in earlier years, it fronts onto London Road, and London Road locally is the A6 which does indeed go all the way to London. There's even a London Road in Carlisle, again on the A6...

And Manchester Piccadilly, formerly London Road - again the A6. Manchester's stations still include Oxford Road (the A34).

I have heard of tourists confusing Edgware Tube station with Edgware Road station - the American habit of omitting the second word in street names being the usual cause. Confusion also occurs at places like Norwich and Ely, which have trains to both (London) Liverpool Street and Liverpool Lime Street (although in this case, Liverpool Street is named after a nobleman, not the destination of the thoroughfare).

The City of London is, of course, the last place to look for a "London Road" - the nearest is, I think, at the Elephant & Castle.

I am told Seamer was named to avoid confusion with Crossgates near Leeds, as I assume right from the early days trains would have travelled from Leeds to Scarborough potentially calling at both stations. I think Eastfield as an area is much newer than the railway or the station. Can you imagine "This is the 09:40 departure from Scarborough calling at Crossgates, Malton, York, Garforth, Crossgates..."

In a recent timetable, Northern ran at least one Stoke to Preston service, calling at both Adlington stations

 

[Zamalek]

I was going to mention that Bristol Temple Meads is is in Somerset (or Avon) whereas Bristol Parkway is in the parish of Stoke Gifford, which is in Gloucestershire.

Also, at the western side of the platforms at Parkway where the Temple Meads line diverges, that I believe is called Stoke Gifford Junction.

Actually, Bristol is a County in its own right - so Temple Meads is in the City & County of Bristol. Bristol has, however, historically been associated with Gloucestershire (and was part of the long-abolished Avon), but has NEVER been part of Somerset ....

 

[geoffk]

St Andrews Parkway?

But then there's possible confusion with St. Andrews Road and woe betide anyone who gets sent there by mistake!

 

[BrianW]

Actually, Bristol is a County in its own right - so Temple Meads is in the City & County of Bristol. Bristol has, however, historically been associated with Gloucestershire (and was part of the long-abolished Avon), but has NEVER been part of Somerset ....

That post-modern 'Bible' wikipedia seems to suggest parts of Bristol became Somerset in the 14th Century- before my time! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bristol

Regarding today, what is a county now? For instance does Berkshire exist, or dare I suggest- Yorkshire? The Post Office still recognises Middlesex, which disappeared in 1963, despite Ernie Marples' postcodes, and which at that time included Staines before it was Staines-on-Thames.

Is Kingston upon Thames in Surrey or (Greater) London.

Oxford is a long walk down Oxford Street from Oxford Circus.

I guess the Great Central had a lot of eccentrically located Central Stations.