Elford railway station

Elford
General information
LocationElford, Lichfield
England
Coordinates52°41′45″N 1°42′21″W / 52.6959°N 1.7058°W / 52.6959; -1.7058
Grid referenceSK199109
Platforms2
Other information
StatusDisused
History
Original companyMidland Railway
Pre-groupingMidland Railway
Post-groupingLondon, Midland and Scottish Railway
Key dates
1 July 1850Station opens as Haselour
1 November 1855renamed Haselour and Elford
1 September 1864renamed Elford and Haselour
1 April 1904renamed Haselour
5 May 1914renamed Elford
31 March 1952Station closes[1]

Elford railway station was a railway station serving the village of Elford and the manor of Haselour Hall in Staffordshire.

History

It was opened by the Midland Railway in 1850.

It was between Tamworth and Burton upon Trent on the line originally built by the Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway.

Originally, it was called Haselour and later either Elford and Haselour or Haselour and Elford.

It had two platforms on either side of the double track with conventional Midland buildings.

By 1951 the station was running at a loss of £400 per year (equivalent to £15,900 in 2023).[2] Elford with a population of 500 only resulted in 5 people taking the train each day.[3] It was reported that takings were not sufficient to cover a porter’s wages.[3] Due to subsidence on the main line, if it were to be retained, the main line would need raising and the buildings would need to be demolished at a cost of more than £2,000.[3] (equivalent to £79,300 in 2023).[2]

Despite a petition signed by over 100 residents[4] it closed on 31 March 1952[5] but reopened for transporting goods in 1954 through 1973.[6]

Stationmasters

  • Robert F. Sharpe ca. 1859[7] - 1891[8]
  • James Collins 1891 - 1895[8] (formerly station master at Branston, afterwards station master at Barton and Walton)
  • Zachary Gilbert 1895[8] - 1902[9] (afterwards station master at Aldridge)
  • W. Beasley 1902[9] - 1908 (formerly station master at Aldridge)
  • Frederick Swain 1908 - 1914[10] (formerly station master at Croxall, afterwards station master at Desford)
  • H. Salt from 1914[10]
  • John Molineux 1922 - 1940[11]
  • C.C. Clarke 1941 - 1943[12] (afterwards station master at Borrowash)
  • J. Redmond 1943[13]

Route

Preceding station   Disused railways   Following station
Tamworth
Line and station closed 		  Midland Railway
Derby to Birmingham route 		  Croxall
Line and station closed

References

  1. ^ Butt, R.V.J., (1995) The Directory of Railway Stations, Yeovil: Patrick Stephens
  2. ^ a b UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory (2017). "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Elford Station Has Lost its Usefulness". Lichfield Mercury. England. 7 December 1951. Retrieved 16 January 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. ^ "Elford Station Problem". Lichfield Mercury. England. 5 October 1951. Retrieved 16 January 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ^ "Closing of Elford Station". Burton Observer and Chronicle. England. 6 March 1952. Retrieved 16 January 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ^ Pixton, B., (2005) Birmingham-Derby: Portrait of a Famous Route, Runpast Publishing
  7. ^ "1859-1866". Midland Railway Miscellaneous Depts: 92. 1914. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  8. ^ a b c "1881-1898 Coaching". Midland Railway Operating, Traffic and Coaching Depts: 283. 1881. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  9. ^ a b "1899-1908 Coaching; Piece 1027". Midland Railway Operating, Traffic and Coaching Depts: 534. 1899. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  10. ^ a b "Midland Railway Notes". Railway News. England. 14 March 1914. Retrieved 15 January 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. ^ "Death of Mr. John Molineux". Tamworth Herald. England. 16 December 1950. Retrieved 16 January 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  12. ^ "Elford. Stationmaster Promoted". Tamworth Herald. England. 14 August 1943. Retrieved 16 January 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  13. ^ "Elford Promotion". Tamworth Herald. England. 27 November 1943. Retrieved 16 January 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.


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