Appledore Station
Appledore Station was once an important junction, serving the branch line that ran south east to Lydd, Dungeness and New Romney, although bay platforms were never provided. Today the branch is a freight only line serving Dungeness nuclear power station. (A separate collection covers the Dungeness Branch).
Separate collections cover (a) Ashford Station and Works; (b) Ham Street Station; (c) Appledore Station; (d) Rye Station; (e) Winchelsea Station; (f) Snailham Halt (Closed); (g) Doleham Station; (h) Three Oaks Station; (h) Ore Station; and (i) Hastings Station.
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***THIS GALLERY IS BEING UPDATED.***
Appledore Station forecourt, pictured on 27.05.1979. There is an unidentified prefabricated temporary building on the left of the picture, and the photographer just catches the traditional telephone box on the extreme left. John Attfield retains all rights to this image.
Appledore Station, pictured on 27.05.1979, in the years when rural stations had operational toilets. Note the barrow tucked around the corner and the fire buckets hanging on the wall. To the right the Starting signal for Ashford bound trains is at danger and the gates of the level crossing are open to road traffic. The crossing had yet to be converted to automatic half barriers. On the lamp standard is an "S" marker indicating where the front of the train should come to a stand. John Attfield retains all rights to this image.
Looking north from the southbound platform at Appledore Station on 27.05.1979. The station platforms were staggered (a fairly common feature) and the way out is seen on the right. Adjacent to the level crossing is the relatively modern signal box and on the left the picture catches the disused goods shed with the door for rail access. John Attfield retains all rights to this image.
Looking towards the northbound platform at Appledore Station from the southbound platform on 27.05.1979. The rear of a ground signal controlling access into the siding can be seen in the foreground. John Attfield retains all rights to this image.
Looking north along the platforms at Appledore Station on 27.05.1979. The goods yard was on the left but, by then, the majority of the track had been lifted. The points to a surviving siding can, however, be seen on the left. Southbound passengers only had the benefit of a small wooden shelter, and (unusually) part of the platform edge is also wooden. John Attfield retains all rights to this image.
The forecourt of Appledore Station on Sunday 07.07.1985. A white estate car that I cannot identify is parked in a large white square marked "Staff only", and an Austin Allegro is in front of a notice that announces free car parking at the station for passengers. Apparently people in the area were absent minded because the notice also tells them to remember to turn off their lights and lock their car. Meanwhile a Unisex Hair Studio is operating in part of the station building and Yvonne appears to have hung her washing out. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
Narrow-bodied "Hastings" unit 1006, wearing the "20" Ashford to Eastbourne via Hastings headcode, is about to run across the level crossing into Appledore Station on Sunday 07.07.1985. The white light directly adjacent to the cab tells the driver that the crossing has operated correctly and that the flashing red lights for road traffic are on. Behind the train the southbound Home signal can still be seen in the "Off" position. On the extreme right the former crossing keeper's cottage has a nice floral display outside the front door. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
Appledore Station on Sunday 07.07.1985 and "Hastings" unit 1031 approaches the platform with a service for Ashford, having just left the single line section. The large radio mast in the background with two antennas is thought to be part of the (then) National Railway Network (NRN) and had been erected to provide radio communication for locomotives on the Dungeness Branch. Someone had gone to a great deal of trouble to install a system of guy wires to support it but the system was decommissioned and the mast did not last long. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
Appledore Station forecourt, pictured on 11.05.2000, with a selection of cars from the era. The station building carries a sign saying "PSC Publicity Services Consultants", and at lower level the blue notice states "Osborne". BT have installed a more modern telephone kiosk to replace the traditional red one. John Attfield retains all rights to this image.
The platform side of Appledore Station house on 11.05.2000. The ground floor of the building is boarded up, and the upper level appears empty with a broken window also boarded. John Attfield retains all rights to this image.
Appledore Station looking south on 11.05.2000. Apparently the weedkilling train had not been through recently. The station is in Connex livery with the exception of the Network South East salt bin (NSE had a vast number of red ones). Note that the canopy is (unusually) attached to the former goods shed, rather than the station building. John Attfield retains all rights to this image.
Looking south down the northbound platform at Appledore Station on 11 05 2000. Colour light signals had arrived and the rear of one can be seen below the Way Out sign. In the "risk averse" culture that was beginning to prevail the signal had been installed further from the level crossing than the old semaphore Starting signal. John Attfield retains all rights to this image.
Appledore Station looking across to the northbound platform from the southbound platform on 11.05.2000. The signal box had, by then, been demolished. John Attfield retains all rights to this image.
Appledore Station looking north from the southbound platform on 11.05.2000. The station is in Connex livery, tactile paving had been fitted on the southbound platform and new lighting had replaced the old fluorescent tubes. John Attfield retains all rights to this image.
The platform side of Appledore Station house looking west on 27.09.2008. The lower floors were boarded up but the building was in a good state of repair.
Appledore Station forecourt looking east on 27.09.2008. It can be seen that the original entrance porch to the station house was bricked up. Although the premises could, in theory, be used as a dwelling the upper floors appeared deserted.
Concealed by the parked cars in the previous photograph, Appledore Station building retains it's Victorian post box. You have to be early on a Saturday as the postman is gone by 9.00am. 27.09.2008
Just to the south of the Appledore Station house is the old goods shed, which is now occupied by the appropriately named Station Antiques. There are large doors at both ends of the shed and the 1907 map shows that the goods siding ran right through the building and up to the wall of the station house. In the event of any heavy handed shunting the occupants of the station house might have had a most unwelcome surprise! 27.09.2008
The side door of Appledore goods shed, from which goods were loaded on to road vehicles. This building contains a mystery object (see later). 27.09.2008
The southern end of Appledore goods shed looking north along the station forecourt. Cattle pens were situated on the extreme right of the picture, where the fence now stands. They were served by the same siding as the goods shed, but the 1907 map also shows a separate siding to a loading dock behind the camera. This has long since vanished. 27.09.2008
On entering the goods shed I was met by the very friendly owner, who showed me a prized possession. The goods shed still contains the original crane used to transfer the goods from the wagons. The goods shed itself has had an additional floor installed, so it is impossible to picture the whole crane, but the first floor allows some excellent views. 27.09.2008
The goods crane within Station Antiques in Appledore Station goods shed. 27.09.2008
The goods crane within Station Antiques in Appledore Station goods shed. In this picture you can also see the beams that helped to support the crane and the roof. 27.09.2008
The goods crane within Station Antiques in Appledore Station goods shed. In this picture you can also see the beams that helped to support the crane and the roof. 27.09.2008
The goods crane within Station Antiques in Appledore Station goods shed. In this picture you can also see the beams that helped to support the crane and the roof. 27.09.2008
The crossing keeper's cottage at Appledore level crossing. These buildings do not always survive, but this cottage is in use as a dwelling and is appropriately named The Gate House. 27.09.2008
Appledore level crossing looking north east, with the former crossing keeper's cottage in the background. When the gates were removed some sources suggest that only lights were installed, but half barriers are now in use. 27.09.2008
Appledore level crossing looking west. The sight lines for westbound motorists at this crossing are not ideal owing to a bend in the road. 27.09.2008
Looking north towards Ashford from Appledore level crossing. 27.09.2008
The same view as the previous picture, but with a long lens. It can be seen that the track is straight for some distance, and, north of Appledore, double track is provided all the way to Ashford. Passenger trains share this section of line with goods workings to Dungeness. 27.09.2008
Turbostar 171721 approaches Appledore level crossing with a southbound Marshlink service. 27.09.2008
Taken three years earlier, in 2005 this view looks north across Appledore level crossing without a train in shot. Vertical boards prevent passengers taking a short cut on to the platform from the level crossing. 08.08.2005
Another older view taken in 2005 shows the platform side of Appledore Station house looking west. It appears little changed from 2008. 02.09.2005
The platform side of Appledore goods shed. Unusually the station canopy has always been attached to the goods shed, although this is an appropriate position as trains stop short in the platform (see later). 27.09.2008
A slightly wider shot of Platform 1 at Appledore Station takes in the goods shed and the station house. The brick building between the two used to be the toilets. 08.08.2005
Widening the view still further it can be seen that the platforms are staggered, and on the extreme right of the picture a path leads south towards the southbound platform. This area was originally occupied by a siding. 27.09.2008
Looking north from the southbound platform in 2005 it can be seen that a 60mph limit starts south of the platform, but the sign is repeated north of the platform. Increasing the limit before the level crossing would appear to give no advantage as all trains other than empty stock would normally stop. 02.09.2005
A wider shot taken in 2008 looking north from the southbound platform shows that track has been laid in the goods yard. This is because the area is used by a railway contractor for training purposes. The sign on the northbound platform used to say Appledore for Lydd and New Romney Branch. 27.09.2008
A final view north from the southbound platform shows the approach path more clearly. The northbound platform used to be shorter (there is a change in colour of the brickwork under the platform) and before the path was built a passenger crossing ran across the line between the ends of the two platforms (roughly where the inspection cover on the right is situated). In modern times this type of crossing at track level is much more rare. 27.09.2008
Moving now to the northbound platform at Appledore Station (Platform 1) this general view looks north towards the level crossing. 27.09.2008
Moving the camera to the left a tiny relic of the original siding into the goods shed (arrowed) can just be seen, but a double fence obstructs the view. The southern door of the goods shed can be seen behind the tree. (In 1907, don't shunt the wagons into the shed too quickly, or you will end up in the station house, a move unlikely to enhance your career...) 27.09.2008
Automatic signal AD894 is not at the end of Platform 1, presumably to give some protection for the level crossing, and trains stop short in consequence. On the right an area of concrete just in front of the level crossing marks the position of the former signal box. Although this is clearly an Ashford signal, rather puzzlingly the boundary of the Ashford Cab Secure Radio system is not signed until further down the line. A correspondent with far greater knowledge than me kindly explains that the reason for the cab radio area change beyond AD 894 is that Appledore station is controlled from work station 3 within the IECC and once you pass 894 signal you then transfer to the control of the signaller on work station 4. So the board is an internal transfer between signallers within the IECC rather than a first contact with Ashford IECC (the board for this will be just after leaving Rye). 27.09.2008
The conspicuously marked Stop signs to remind Turbostar drivers to stop short in the platform. 27.09.2008
A further sign at the end of Platform 1 at Appledore Station reminds the driver to check the signal aspect. This is presumably to prevent departures before the level crossing barriers have lowered. 27.09.2008
Turning round, this view looks south towards the southbound platform at Appledore Station. On the right behind the fence is the self-contained track of the rail training unit. 27.09.2008
A second view south towards Platform 2 at Appledore Station on 27.09.2008. This platform has the luxury of train departure information, although some other Marshlink stations are not so lucky. There is no canopy on this platform and the shelter is not generous. The platform appears to be sinking about half way down the length.
