Trivia: Station names that do not reflect where they are

[NorthOxonian]

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 ....

South Bristol has historically been part of Somerset (for example, Brislington was an independent parish linked to Keynsham until 1933). The boundary seems to have traditionally been the river Avon, which means Temple Meads straddles the boundary.

 

[Dr_Paul]

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.

Middlesex as a county sadly expired in 1965 with the implementation of the 1963 Local Government Act, with most of it going into Greater London, and the remaining bits parcelled out to Surrey, Berkshire and Hertfordshire. However, it lives on in popular lore, and even today many inhabitants can't take seriously the idea of Staines, Ashford, Sunbury, etc, being in Surrey -- they're on the wrong side of the river. I was at Waterloo the other day and the tannoy announcement for 'Ashford, Surrey' seemed so wrong. Middlesex continued as a postal county until 1996, although considerable chunks had already been subsumed into the London postal area, set up in 1889. 'Staines-on-Thames' is a council publicity stunt that many inhabitants find risible. However, because of the frequency of flooding, 'Staines-in-Thames' is jokingly seen as a suitable name.

Kingston was the county town of Surrey until 1965, when it became part of Greater London, then Guildford became the county town. Oddly, much of the Surrey administration remained in Kingston until fairly recently. Kingston and neighbouring Richmond, also in Greater London from 1965, are still seen by older residents as being in Surrey.

 

[Grecian 1998]

The route of the River Avon through Bristol city centre was until 1809 the current route of the Floating Harbour i.e. what is effectively a canal, not the route of the New Cut which now carries the river. As the railway crosses the New Cut at the south end of Temple Meads and the Floating Harbour at the north end, it is on land which would have once been in Somerset rather than Gloucestershire. However, as Bristol has been its own county since 1373, and I'm pretty certain that the land between the Floating Harbour and the New Cut would have become part of Bristol by the time Temple Meads was built, Temple Meads would never have been part of Somerset during its existence.

The original city of Bristol was entirely situated on the north bank of the Avon so was part of Gloucestershire before it became a separate county. Similarly the city of London was once situated entirely on the north bank of the Thames, with Southwark being a separate authority. As lots of entertainments banned in London were permitted in Southwark it was a rather popular place for Londoners to have a day out.

It could therefore be argued that historically speaking London Waterloo and London Bridge are not actually in London, but I doubt many people would accept that.

 

[Mikey C]

The route of the River Avon through Bristol city centre was until 1809 the current route of the Floating Harbour i.e. what is effectively a canal, not the route of the New Cut which now carries the river. As the railway crosses the New Cut at the south end of Temple Meads and the Floating Harbour at the north end, it is on land which would have once been in Somerset rather than Gloucestershire. However, as Bristol has been its own county since 1373, and I'm pretty certain that the land between the Floating Harbour and the New Cut would have become part of Bristol by the time Temple Meads was built, Temple Meads would never have been part of Somerset during its existence.

The original city of Bristol was entirely situated on the north bank of the Avon so was part of Gloucestershire before it became a separate county. Similarly the city of London was once situated entirely on the north bank of the Thames, with Southwark being a separate authority. As lots of entertainments banned in London were permitted in Southwark it was a rather popular place for Londoners to have a day out.

It could therefore be argued that historically speaking London Waterloo and London Bridge are not actually in London, but I doubt many people would accept that.

Strictly speaking the only stations in the CITY of London are Blackfriars/City Thameslink, Cannon St, Fenchurch St, Liverpool St and Moorgate!

 

[NewClee153]

Dolgarrog

The station is on the east side of the river Conwy, the village can be accessed by a rural footpath through fields and footbridge over the river Conwy, about 25 minutes walk!

Not great in the winter or after dark!

Ahh yes, I had a lovely walk along the nearby A road in order to access the station, during January 2020, when it was closed, without any warnings from national rail

Sandwell & Dudley isn't in Dudley, it’s not even in walking distance, I don’t understand why the station name isn’t changed to Oldbury

 

[Djgr]

Ahh yes, I had a lovely walk along the nearby A road in order to access the station, during January 2020, when it was closed, without any warnings from national rail

Sandwell & Dudley isn't in Dudley, it’s not even in walking distance, I don’t understand why the station name isn’t changed to Oldbury

Because it was rebranded as a park and ride type Inter city station serving a wide area (i.e. Dudley borough, Sandwell borough)

 

[Gathursty]

Middlesex as a county sadly expired in 1965. Today many inhabitants can't take seriously the idea of Staines, Ashford, Sunbury, etc, being in Surrey -- they're on the wrong side of the river.

My friends new girlfriend told me she came from Surrey and I was about to say I've recently been on the train through Redhill and Oxted to which she said 'Oh, I'm from Ashford near Heathrow.'

I keep forgetting that Middlesex doesn't exist anymore.

 

[Sprinter107]

Ahh yes, I had a lovely walk along the nearby A road in order to access the station, during January 2020, when it was closed, without any warnings from national rail

Sandwell & Dudley isn't in Dudley, it’s not even in walking distance, I don’t understand why the station name isn’t changed to Oldbury

It was Oldbury up until 1984, then when developed as a Parkway, i believe some funding came from both Sandwell Council and Dudley Council, hence the name. Oldbury Town centre is a few minutes walk up the hill, or one stop on the bus . It must be one of the most misleading station names.

 

[Dave W]

It was Oldbury up until 1984, then when developed as a Parkway, i believe some funding came from both Sandwell Council and Dudley Council, hence the name. Oldbury Town centre is a few minutes walk up the hill, or one stop on the bus . It must be one of the most misleading station names.

Yes and with Dudley Port and Tipton both in Sandwell I always find it bizarre that Dudley is considered as having a station. In fact only Stourbridge Town/Junction, Lye and Coseley - all settlements of their own - are in the borough of Dudley at all.

Sandwell and Dudley is a 3.5 mile drive from the town centre - and if Burnt Tree Island gets involved all bets are off...

 

[Journeyman]

Station names can be a political decision. Many East Berlin U-bahn stations built in the 70s and 80s were named after prominent communists, rather than their actual locations. They were renamed after reunification.

 

[bramling]

Yes and with Dudley Port and Tipton both in Sandwell I always find it bizarre that Dudley is considered as having a station. In fact only Stourbridge Town/Junction, Lye and Coseley - all settlements of their own - are in the borough of Dudley at all.

Sandwell and Dudley is a 3.5 mile drive from the town centre - and if Burnt Tree Island gets involved all bets are off...

Another vote from me for Sandwell & Dudley. One wonders how many non-locals have arrived there to find themselves nowhere near Dudley.

When the tram network reaches Dudley is definitely the time to revisit this one, as it will be even less appropriate then.

 

[Class800]

And for me, because if I had a meeting in Dudley, and wanted to go by rail, without checking the map in detail, I'd go to Sandwell and Dudley

 

[The exile]

Station names can be a political decision. Many East Berlin U-bahn stations built in the 70s and 80s were named after prominent communists, rather than their actual locations. They were renamed after reunification.

In most cases they were named after the roads they were in, which were themselves named after some Socialist Hero or another. When the road named changed, so did the station name. Those on the U5 extension to Hönow only enjoyed their Socialist names for two years. The real German classic for this was the city of Chemnitz, which was "Karl-Marx-Stadt" from 1953 to 1990 - but the station name always matched the name of the city. (Though the odd faded "Karl-Marx-Stadt" can still be seen on buildings - particularly where later signs have been removed / fallen off)

 

[The Albion]

And for me, because if I had a meeting in Dudley, and wanted to go by rail, without checking the map in detail, I'd go to Sandwell and Dudley

If any sense was to be applied it would be renamed 'Oldbury and West Bromwich'.

 

[Sprinter107]

If any sense was to be applied it would be renamed 'Oldbury and West Bromwich'.

That would be perfect. 5 minutes walk to Oldbury, 15 - 20 minutes walk to West Bromwich.

 

[vlad]

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

True - but that's because the street is named after the Earl of Oxford (who owned the land), not the city. Liverpool Street is similar.

 

[BrianW]

True - but that's because the street is named after the Earl of Oxford (who owned the land), not the city. Liverpool Street is similar.

Good response vlad- thank you

 

[450.emu]

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...

A6 finishes in Luton, but the A1081 continues from it into Barnet, north London

Meridian Water station (after Northumberland Park in Tottenham) is nowhere near any water...

 

[Bevan Price]

My friends new girlfriend told me she came from Surrey and I was about to say I've recently been on the train through Redhill and Oxted to which she said 'Oh, I'm from Ashford near Heathrow.'

I keep forgetting that Middlesex doesn't exist anymore.

Except as a cricket club.........

 

[Dave W]

A6 finishes in Luton, but the A1081 continues from it into Barnet, north London

Meridian Water station (after Northumberland Park in Tottenham) is nowhere near any water...

I don’t want to be that guy but Pymmes Brook runs - admittedly partially culverted - underneath the railway just off the north end of the platforms.

The original vision for Meridian Water incorporated the River Lea and fronted on to Banbury reservoir. But even pre-COVID I understand all was not well with the development. So perhaps Pymmes Brook is as close to water as Meridian Water will ever get...

 

[MadMac]

Except as a cricket club.........

There’s also the still-extant Middlesex Football Association which astrologer Russell Grant is a supporter of.

 

[Mogz]

Heswall station is a very long walk from the town centre and tucked away such that, without the signage it would be easy to assume Heswall had no railway station.

It was originally “Heswall Hills”, of course. The nearer Heswall station having been on the West Kirby-Hooton line and closed in 1956.

 

[OhNoAPacer]

Bootle in Cumbria is actually at Hycemoor, but then again so is Bootle village hall.

If you get off the train at Brampton in Cumbria then expect a long walk to actually get to Brampton.

Leighton Buzzard is in Linslade, but as the it often referred to as Leighton-Linslade parish then I will let them off.

 

[Ianno87]

Meridian Water station (after Northumberland Park in Tottenham) is nowhere near any water...

There is a murky-looking stream that passes under the north end of the platforms somewhere.

 

[Djgr]

Heswall station is a very long walk from the town centre and tucked away such that, without the signage it would be easy to assume Heswall had no railway station.

It was originally “Heswall Hills”, of course. The nearer Heswall station having been on the West Kirby-Hooton line and closed in 1956.

And there is still one shop by the station that uses Heswall Hills (the pharmacy).

It's probably in Barnston, although I would only use that to refer to the village itself (i.e. where the Fox and Hounds is)

 

[Dave W]

There is a murky-looking stream that passes under the north end of the platforms somewhere.

I don’t want to be that guy but Pymmes Brook runs - admittedly partially culverted - underneath the railway just off the north end of the platforms.

The original vision for Meridian Water incorporated the River Lea and fronted on to Banbury reservoir. But even pre-COVID I understand all was not well with the development. So perhaps Pymmes Brook is as close to water as Meridian Water will ever get...

 

[leytongabriel]

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.


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

Abbey Rd DLR isn't very helpful either, at least they've put a sign up for tourists saying you are at the wrong Abbey Rd

The GOBLIN station Wanstead Park is in Forest Gate close to Wanstead Flats, Wanstead (Central Line) is much nearer the park.
Once voted the worst station in London for the state of neglect it got into.
Gunnislake is in Drakewalls, the village of Gunnislake being a stiff trot down the hill as I remember it from a wet holiday nearby.
On the GE mainline, Brentwood is in Hutton and used to be called Brentwood and Hutton.
On the London underground Central Line, Fairlop and Hainault seem a bit arbitary too - somewhere near, so let's call it that. Fairlop is closer to Fulwell Cross.

 

[444045]

Beaulieu Road is 7 miles from the village of Beaulieu.

 

[SargeNpton]

Beaulieu Road is 7 miles from the village of Beaulieu.

Any station outside of a main conurbation with "Road" in the name is quite often on the road to that place rather than at that place.

 

[johnnychips]

Abbey Rd DLR isn't very helpful either, at least they've put a sign up for tourists saying you are at the wrong Abbey Rd

As a matter of interest, which station would you use to find the iconic Abbey Rd zebra crossing, if indeed it still exists?