Trivia: Settlements where rail infrastructure is more well known than its namesake

[D365]

Although this idea emanated from a discussion about the Dartford Crossing, this lead me to thinking about examples of towns where the railway is more well-known than the town. My first thought was Folkstone (Eurotunnel terminal), but I imagine that there are more - and probably better-known - examples.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Ribblehead?

 

[gg1]

Definites:
Settle
Woodhead (though it's definitely not a town, it's questionable if you could even call it a hamlet)

A few possibles:
Kyle of Lochalsh
Clapham (again, arguably not a town)
Carstairs

 

[Essan]

I'd say that years back, Manningtree would have met the mark - because of the station bar: one of the few places in East Anglia you could get a pint all day, back when pubs closed every afternoon.

Not a town, but Glenfinnan Viaduct is definitely far more famous than the village!

 

[The exile]

Dawlish?

 

[Halish Railway]

Shap?

 

[HS2isgood]

Croydon?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Alan Williams made Effingham Junction famous.

 

[gg1]

Croydon?

Of the ones mentioned so far this is the only one I'd disgaree with.

I suspect that the majority of people who neither live in the area or who have an interest in trains (or transport more widely) are even aware Croydon has a tram system.

 

[Dai Corner]

Box (Tunnel)?

 

[mmh]

Of the ones mentioned so far this is the only one I'd disgaree with.

I suspect that the majority of people who neither live in the area or who have an interest in trains (or transport more widely) are even aware Croydon has a tram system.

Indeed. Unfortunately (I am a former resident) Croydon is well known across the country, not for transport, but for the riot, stabbings and the immigration office.

 

[Peregrine 4903]

I feel like Crewe might be one. You could also possibly argue Doncaster is one, but not so sure about that.

 

[Jorge Da Silva]

I feel like Crewe might be one. You could also possibly argue Doncaster is one, but not so sure about that.

Crewe definitely, Doncaster i would say no

 

[gg1]

I feel like Crewe might be one. You could also possibly argue Doncaster is one, but not so sure about that.

Crewe definitely, Doncaster i would say no

Just beat me too it.

In terms of history they're much the same but in 2021 Doncaster is a larger town than Crewe but less important as a railway interchange.

 

[Ken H]

Oxenholme? Its really part of Kendal.

Garsdale?

 

[Elecman]

Wolverton and Horwich

 

[Western 52]

Swindon? Not much there before the GWR arrived.

 

[Irascible]

I was going to say Swindon is pretty well defined by the railway. Westbury also, I can't remember anything ever happening there. Halwill Junction is an actual settlement - there are no longer any lines anywhere near it!

I'm not sold on Dawlish, although I've been vaguely local for a fair bit of my life.

 

[johnnychips]

I feel like Crewe might be one. You could also possibly argue Doncaster is one, but not so sure about that.

I think if you asked anyone south of Nottingham what they associated Doncaster with, it would be the St Leger horse race, if anything.

Edit: north of Nottingham it would be probably unjustified unpleasant things, but not the railway.

 

[vic-rijrode]

Verney Junction?

 

[Jorge Da Silva]

Verney Junction?

Not even a settlement? Surely it has to be a settlement to count

 

[adrock1976]

Carnforth, as that where Brief Encounter was set.

 

[D365]

Box (Tunnel)?

We floated this, but where is Box?!

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Carnforth, as that where Brief Encounter was set.

The film was set at a fictitious railway location 'Milford Junction' wasn't it?

 

[adrock1976]

We floated this, but where is Box?!

Box Hill, between Chippenham and Bath Spa on the Great Western Railway.

 

[philosopher]

Definites:
Settle
Woodhead (though it's definitely not a town, it's questionable if you could even call it a hamlet)

A few possibles:
Kyle of Lochalsh
Clapham (again, arguably not a town)
Carstairs

Although technically the area around Clapham Junction is in Battersea, most people now consider the area around the station to be a distinct Clapham Junction district of London, in the same manor as places like Highgate, Putney or Greenwich are. So in affect you have an area of London named after a railway station.

 

[vic-rijrode]

Not even a settlement? Surely it has to be a settlement to count

It is a "hamlet" with a pub (I believe now closed) and a handful of stone cottages. There are road signs to it on the A413 Aylesbury to Buckingham road. Certainly there was nothing there before the Buckinghamshire Railway was built. It was named after the local landowner Sir Harry Verney. Having walked over the old foot crossing a few years ago, I can confirm that there are folks living there still.

There used to be (before the First World War) a Pullman Service from Verney Junction to Baker Street and also regular services to Bletchley, Oxford and Banbury, which only ceased in the mid 60s.

 

[Ken H]

It is a "hamlet" with a pub (I believe now closed) and a handful of stone cottages. Certainly there was nothing there before the Buckinghamshire Railway was built. It was named after the local landowner Sir Harry Verney. Having walked over the old foot crossing a few years ago, I can confirm that there are folks living there still.

There used to be (before the First World War) a Pullman Service from Verney Junction to Baker Street!

Wasnt Brill the same?

 

[Dai Corner]

Box Hill, between Chippenham and Bath Spa on the Great Western Railway.

The hill in turn being named after the village of Box. The tunnel being a well-known piece of railway infrastructure through which, legend says, the sun shines on Brunel's birthday.

 

[david1212]

Crewe and Swindon are the two many people will think of but if the railway had not chosen the location for large scale workshops which other places would probably be far smaller now?
My first thoughts are Darlington and Eastleigh.