Smallbrook Junction railway station

Smallbrook Junction railway station is a railway station on the Isle of Wight, England. It is unusual because it has no public access but exists purely to provide a connection between two rail systems.

Smallbrook Junction
National Rail
Island Line platform at Smallbrook Junction
General information
LocationRyde, Isle of Wight
England
Grid referenceSZ596906
Managed byIsland Line
Platforms2
(1 National Rail, 1 Isle of Wight Steam Railway)
Other information
Station codeSAB
ClassificationDfT category F2
History
Opened20 July 1991
Key dates
3 January 2021Island line Platform closed for upgrade works
1 November 2021Island line Platform reopened
Passengers
2017/18Decrease 12,670
2018/19Increase 12,920
2019/20Decrease 12,352
2020/21Decrease 1,268
2021/22Increase 4,658
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

Another similar station is Manulla Junction in County Mayo, Republic of Ireland. However, that station allows interchange between two national network rail routes, rather than between a network route and a heritage route.

History

The station was opened in 1991 by British Rail when the Isle of Wight Steam Railway was extended to reach the Island Line, in order to provide a passenger interchange between the two. It is only served on days that both the Island Line and the Steam Railway are open, as there is no access either by path or by road.

Prior to 1991 there was no station on this site, but it was still an important railway junction. "Smallbrook Junction" is the historic name, long predating the station. Between 1875 and 1926 there were two separate lines here, independently run by the Isle of Wight Central Railway and the Isle of Wight Railway. In 1926, following the island's rail network passing to the Southern Railway, a signal box and points were installed at Smallbrook. From then until 1966, the line was the Junction between the Ryde Pier Head to Ventnor and Ryde Pier Head to Cowes Lines, and was notable for only being operated as such during the summer months when traffic increased.[1] The junction has been featured in many photographs from the time.

If the Isle of Wight Steam Railway achieves its long-term aim of extending to Ryde St. Johns Road, it is likely that Smallbrook Junction station would close.[2][3]

Flooding

In October 2000, flooding near the station washed away much of the track ballast on the Island Line. Due to the dangerous state of the line, and the damage caused to trains by related flooding at Ryde depot, Island Line Trains had to suspend their services for several days.[4]

Similar events occurred in December 2013, closing the line for many weeks.

Services

On days when the steam railway operates, there is an hourly service in both directions between approximately 10:30 and 16:30.


Preceding station National Rail National Rail Following station
Brading   Island Line
Ryde-Shanklin		   Ryde St John's Road
Heritage Railways  Heritage railways
Ashey   Isle of Wight Steam Railway   Terminus
  • From Smallbrook towards Ashey
    From Smallbrook towards Ashey
  • Looking towards Whitefield Farm from the "Terrier"
    Looking towards Whitefield Farm from the "Terrier"
  • Steam engine running around its train.
    Steam engine running around its train.

References
  1. Hardy, Brian (2003). Tube Trains on the Isle of Wight. Harrow Weald, Middlesex: Capital Transport. p. 9. ISBN 1-85414-276-3.
  2. "Is the future trams and steam trains into Ryde?". Island Echo. 5 February 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  3. "Steaming back to Ryde after 50 years? Rail.co.uk assesses the plan and gives its verdict". Rail.co.uk. 18 January 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  4. Hardy, Tube Trains, p. 76
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