Doleham Station (or Doleham Halt, formerly Guestling Station)
At the time of the visit services had been deliberately reduced to a tiny number of trains each day, which were run at the most inconvenient times possible. Prior to this cynical action the station served a small community, leisure travellers and walkers.
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Originally opened as Guesting, Doleham Station was subsequently named Doleham Halt after a farm to the west of the railway. It was subsequently renamed again as a Station rather than a Halt. This view looks north at the entrance to the station. You may well need the telephone box (see later). 20.09.2008
Look at this picture carefully because it is a sight you will not see often. This is a Turbostar in Doleham Station. The service here is being disgracefully run down, with the trains timetabled so as to make their use effectively impossible. There are about three services per day, calling exceptionally early in the morning or very late at night. 20.09.2008
Taken from a slightly different angle this view looks north from the bridge at Doleham Station, towards Rye and Ashford. It is obvious that this was originally a double track route. The orange sleepers are possibly a marker to allow southbound drivers to stop in the correct position, but I cannot confirm this. Can anyone help? 20.09.2008
Looking south from the overbridge at Doleham Station. A long section of line starting at this location is restricted to 40mph. Southern allege that there is insufficient time available in the timetabled workings to allow the Turbostars to stop at some stations on the Marshlink line, but if the 40mph line speed was raised by means of track improvement this would provide additional stopping time. 20.09.2008
When Doleham Station was originally built, a public siding was constructed for agricultural traffic and coal. Different land levels meant that this siding joined the main line well south of the bridge and ran back north towards the road that goes over the station overbridge. The yard is now occupied by a haulage firm. This view looks north towards the entrance. 20.09.2008 Private property photographed with permission.
The main line is within the trees on the right and the public siding at Doleham Station curved south through this land, passing through the trees to join the main line near the round trees in the centre of the picture. A signal box was located there and is shown on the 1929 map. I doubt that the signalling duties were onerous. 20.09.2008