Lydd Town Station (formerly Lydd Station) (Closed) and Lydd Town Crossing
Lydd Town Station was a substantial facility, with a large goods yard and much passenger and freight traffic generated by nearby army camps. A branch ran south from the goods yard into the army camps, which were served by Lydd Military Railway. A passing loop was provided at the station, but this has subsequently been lifted. The station was closed to passenger traffic on 6 March 1967 and to freight on 4 October 1971. Part of the site is now used as a recycling facility. There is a possibility that gravel extraction will restart south of the station, and, if so, the passing loop may be reinstated to allow locomotives to change ends and shunt the train.
If open today Lydd Town Station would serve a growing town, which is just south west of the site, and a short extension to the line could also provide much improved transport facilities to Lydd Airport (also known as London Ashford), linking directly to Ashford International Station.
The branch actually runs south east from Appledore. The convention adopted in these collections is that Appledore is north, Dungeness is south, the New Romney side of the branch is east, and the Lydd side of the branch is west.
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Originally called Lydd Station, Lydd Town Station was renamed in 1937 when Lydd-on-Sea Station opened further to the east. This view looking south dates from 08.08.2005 and shows the exterior structure largely intact, but in a sad condition.
This more recent view, taken on 27.09.2008 and looking south towards Dungeness, shows the situation largely unchanged on the platform side of the station.
This view of Station Approach, looking south and taken on 08.08.2005, shows the station entrance and the old goods shed. Lydd Town Station had a large goods yard and the siding serving the goods shed entered from the far end of the station and ran to the left of the goods shed, with goods being unloaded through the red door. The siding contnued past the shed and terminated to the bottom right of the photo, following the line of the high grass.
The entrance side of the Lydd Town Station building looking south on 02.09.2005. The old shed beyond the station had lasted well, as it appears in a historical picture of the station dating from 1958.
In 2008 it was no longer possible to take a wide angle view of the station forecourt, as part of the forecourt and goods yard was being used as a weekend waste and recycling transfer area. This results in significant vehicular traffic. Unfortunately the dustcarts and waste bins do not enhance the photograph and have been avoided. Note the old shed shown in the previous picture has been demolished. 27.09.2008
Lydd Town station looking north on 27.09.2008. The old station building has been used by several firms since the station closed, including as a tyre fitting business. In consequence many of the interior walls have been removed. Additional secure boarding had been fitted nearest the camera to secure the building, perhaps as a consequence of the increased public visits to the waste transfer area of the forecourt. I assume the burnt area in the foreground is the remains of the old shed.
The platform side of Lydd Town Station looking west on 27.09.2008
This wider shot of Lydd Town Station, looking west, shows the level crossing and road bridge at the northern end of the station. The overbridge is the only one on the line, but was insufficiently robust to carry heavy vehicles en route to the nearby power station. The level crossing was, therefore, constructed to carry this traffic. 27.09.2008
The platform at Lydd Town Station is still in reasonable condition excluding the obvious problem with weeds. This view looks north on 27.09.2008
The remains of the canopy on the platform side of Lydd Town Station, in a very sad condition, although the supporting beams still appear very robust. They used good quality wood in the old days.... 27.09.2008
Looking east from the platform, across the line, this is the old Station Master's house at Lydd Town Station. A path led directly from the house across the track to the station, it's position being marked by the disused fence post in the foreground. The path passed to the left of the post and through a gate in the fence behind the bush. 27.09.2008
Looking south along the platform from the northern end of Lydd Town Station. 27.09.2008
Turning round, this is the view north from the northern end of Lydd Town Station platform. The new sign in the foreground gives a rather obvious instruction. One hopes that the driver could have worked out what to do...! (There is no sign telling him to stop beyond the crossing and shut the gates, but it can only be a matter of time before someone puts one up....) 27.09.2008
A closer view of Lydd Town goods shed taken on 02.09.2005. This is the railway side of the building and the siding was in the foreground.
The other side of Lydd Town goods shed also pictured on 02.09.2005. Vehicles collected goods from the double doors.
A general view of Lydd Town goods yard looking north. At some stage the majority of the goods yard was surfaced with concrete slabs. There were extensive goods facilities at the station including four sidings and a branch to the Lydd Army camps which were established to the south and west of the town. There is no obvious trace of this branch which curved away to the left of the picture. The army camps generated substantial goods and passenger traffic, especially during both World Wars. 27.09.2008
On a 1907 map of the area this building was called the Station Hotel, but on 27.09.2008, when pictured, it was carrying a rather faded Bridge Inn sign. Bridges are quite rare in this very flat area, no doubt meriting the name.
Moving the camera slightly to the right, but still looking north, this is the old cattle dock in Lydd Town goods yard, which was served by it's own siding. The adjacent cattle pens have long gone. 27.09.2008
A closer view of the cattle dock, with the goods shed behind the hedge. 27.09.2008
This view, looking north, shows Lydd Town level crossing, which was provided in 1961 for heavy vehicles en route to the power station. This is known as a Trainman Operated Crossing (TMO). Beyond is the line's only overbridge (Bridge 1853), which currently carries the main road. Other sources state that the small brick building contains a ground frame, but I am unable to say whether this is true. It clearly had some function relating to the crossing, but now seems in a poor state of repair, with broken windows. 27.09.2008
This is the reason that the main road still uses the bridge rather than the level crossing. On a visit some years ago (before the days of digital cameras) I was bemused to find signs at the station saying that it was a Prohibited Place, but these have since disappeared. The apparently severe regulations which control access to the level crossing now make no sense as the station goods yard is used as a weekend waste transfer and recycling centre, and vehicles use the road all the time. Perhaps the local authority officers did not read the signs before approving the use.... 27.09.2008
Lydd Town level crossing, looking west. The unmade road on the left gives access to a farm. 27.09.2008
Lydd Town level crossing, looking east. The former Station Master's house is just beyond the crossing. 27.09.2008
Looking south towards Lydd Town Station from the level crossing. When the station was functioning the land on the right of the track was occupied by an iron shed for the permanent way trolley, and by a water tower to supply the steam engines. 27.09.2008
Looking south towards Lydd Town Station from the level crossing with a longer lens. On the left the area of raised ground is the site of the former Down platform. A signal box stood at the far end of this platform. A passing loop was provided at the station and remained in situ after the station closed. However it was subsequently lifted. There is a suggestion that gravel extraction might resume, and, if so, the passing loop may be reinstated to allow the gravel train locomotives to change ends and shunt the stock. 27.09.2008
This shot looks north from Lydd Town level crossing, through the overbridge. Old maps suggest that there was only ever a single track under the bridge, but it appears to have been built to cater for double track. It is assumed that the additional support is a later addition. 27.09.2008
Still looking north from Lydd Town level crossing, but with a much longer lens, this shot looks through the bridge towards Brookland Halt and Appledore. The railings at the centre of the photograph protect Culvert 1852, which carries Kitewell Petty Sewer. 27.09.2008
The same view north as the previous picture, but this time taken from the top of the overbridge at Lydd Town Station. 27.09.2008
Looking north from the overbridge with a long lens, Caldicott Crossing can be seen in the distance. 27.09.2008
A general view of Lydd Town Station and level crossing looking south from the overbridge. The goods yard is on the right behind the trees (the roof of the goods shed can just be seen). 27.09.2008
The same view south from the overbridge at Lydd Town Station but with a long lens. The line curves left past the water tower and then sweeps right in an arc to terminate at the compound where the overhead crane can just been seen in the haze (arrowed). There are a number of features in this section (not currently photographed and listed north to south): the site of Bakers Accommodation Crossing (closed and removed); an unnamed Public Footpath Crossing; Bridge 1854 (over a drainage ditch); Blacklocks Accommodation Crossing; the original junction and alignment of the railway to New Romney (closed and lifted); the site of Stanfords Accommodation Crossing (closed and removed); the site of a siding for gravel extraction (lifted but possibly to be reinstated); the site of a private siding for the waterworks (closed and lifted); Folkestone Waterworks Accommodation Crossing and Public Footpath Crossing; and the site of an unnamed foot crossing made redundant by the flooded gravel workings. 27.09.2008 The power station sidings are in a separate gallery.