Alton railway station, Staffordshire

Infobox UK disused station
name = Alton
manager = North Staffordshire Railway
owner = LMS
London Midland Region
locale = Alton
borough = Staffordshire Moorlands, Staffordshire
platforms = 2?


caption = The remains of Alton railway station
line = North Staffordshire Railway
years = 13 July, 1849
events = Station opened
years2 = January 1954
events2 = Renamed "Alton Towers"
years3 = 4 January 1965
events3 = Station closed
gridref = WGS84
latitude =
longitude =

Alton railway station is a disused railway station in the village of Alton, Staffordshire, England.

The station was a stop on the North Staffordshire Railway's Churnet Valley line from Macclesfield to Uttoxeter.(There is still a Churnet Valley Railway along part of the route, but the track now terminates at Oakamoor: the section through Alton is now a footpath).

Alton station opened on 13 July 1849 and was built in an Italianate villa style. It was used by the Earl of Shrewsbury who had a luggage lift installed to hoist his baggage up to Alton Towers, at the time his castle residence which is situated at the top of nearby Bunbury Hill. [ [http://www.search.staffspasttrack.org.uk/engine/resource/default.asp?theme=320&originator=%2Fengine%2Ftheme%2Fdefault%2Easp&page=&records=&direction=&pointer=742&text=0&resource=12768 Staffordshire Past-Track] ] . The station also comprised a three-storey tower which contained the Earl's suite of waiting rooms [ [http://www.search.staffspasttrack.org.uk/engine/resource/default.asp?theme=320&originator=%2Fengine%2Ftheme%2Fdefault%2Easp&page=&records=&direction=&pointer=742&text=0&resource=12759 Staffordshire Past-Track] ] and its platform was particularly long to satisfy the Earl's desire to have impressive surroundings in which to receive his guests.

History

Opened by the North Staffordshire Railway, it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway during the Grouping of 1923. The station then passed on to the London Midland Region of British Railways on nationalisation in 1948, The station was renamed "Alton Towers" in 1954, only to be closed ten years later by the British Transport Commission.

The site today

The station buildings, which are grade II listed, were acquired by the Landmark Trust, which converted the stationmaster's house into holiday accommodation [ [http://www.search.staffspasttrack.org.uk/engine/resource/default.asp?theme=320&originator=%2Fengine%2Ftheme%2Fdefault%2Easp&page=&records=&direction=&pointer=742&text=0&resource=12755 Staffordshire Past-Track] ] . The Landmark Trust subsequently converted the waiting-room to provide space for more holiday-makers. The buildings are occasionally open to the public as part of an "Open Day" scheme run by the Trust.

###@@@KEYEND@@@###

References

*
*

External links

* [http://disused-rlys.fotopic.net/c1128459.html Photos of the station]
* [http://www.landmarktrust.org.uk/ Landmark Trust official site]
* [http://www.npemap.org.uk/tiles/map.html#407,342,1 Alton station on navigable 1946 O. S. map]