Sandhills (SDL)

Sandhills is a stop in north Liverpool on the Merseyrail Northern Line between Moorfields and either Bank Hall or Kirkdale.

Merseyrail 777 018 arrives with a Liverpool bound service

Information
Type:	National Rail (Merseyrail Northern Line)
Station code:	SDL
Opened:	1850
Platforms:	2

The station was built as an intermediate stop on the Liverpool, Crosby & Southport Railway in 1850 though was soon taken over by the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway (who oversaw the electrification of the line [1] to 630v DC third rail - nowadays it is 750v). Sandhills had four platforms until it was reduced and downgraded in the early 1970s.

Overlooking the Mersey, Sandhills is a compact station with an island platform serving both directions. The station entrance, and the ticket office, are via a ramp and a subway. The station is a junction with the Merseyrail branches to Kirkby and Ormskirk branching off from the line to Southport just to the north of the station.

Sandhills is the station passengers need if they are going to Anfield or Goodison Park with the "Soccerbus" running between Sandhills and the football grounds on match days.

Merseyrail 507 024 on a Southport bound service

Maps for both directions

Waiting room

Merseyrail 508 136 prepares to depart

Merseyrail 508 130 arrives with a Liverpool bound service

[1] Jonathan Cadwallader & Martin Jenkins, Merseyside Electrics (Ian Allan, 2010) p. 3

Wanborough (WAN)

Wanborough is a stop on the North Downs Line in Surrey between Guildford and Ash. It is also a stop on the line between Guildford and Alton.

GWR 165 108 passes through

Information
Type:	National Rail (North Downs Line)
Station code:	WAN
Opened:	1891
Platforms:	2

The station was opened by the London South Western Railway in 1891. The station became unstaffed in 1987 though retains it's original buildings. For a time the station signs said Wanborough for Normandy [1] (as in a nearby village not the area of France!) A nearby brick works had a dedicated siding until 1964 though has now been removed.

The station is managed by South Western Railway who maintain a half hourly service six days a week, there are also occasional stops by Great Western Railway trains. Access between the platforms is via a footbridge. Both platforms have partial canopies.

View down the platform, a bridge takes a road over the line

Platform view from the footbridge

Original station building and canopy

A SWR train prepares to depart

[1] Vic Mitchell & Keith Smith, Reading to Guildford (Middleton Press, 1988) Fig. 94

Mitcham Junction Tramlink

Mitcham Junction Tramlink is a stop on the Croydon Tramlink between Mitcham and Beddington Lane in south London. The stop is adjacent to Mitcham Junction railway station. 

Tram 2531 departs Mitcham Junction

Information
Type:	Transport for London (Croydon Tramlink)
Opened:	2000
Platforms:	2

The Tramlink stop was opened in 2000 using the trackbed of the former Wimbledon & West Croydon Line which closed in 1997 to be replaced by Tramlink. The stop is served by twelve trams an hour in each direction.

Tram 2543 departs

The tramline is singled past the stop, 2543 has to wait for 2531 to pass before it can proceed

Fiskerton (FSK)

Fiskerton is a stop on the Nottingham-Lincoln Line in Nottinghamshire between Bleasby and Rolleston. 

EMR 156 917 departs

Information
Type:	National Rail (Nottingham-Lincoln Line)
Station code:	FSK
Opened:	1846
Platforms:	2

The station was opened by the Midland Railway in 1846. The station, close to the river Trent, had a goods loop which survived until 1964 [1]. The original station building survives as a private residence. Platform facilities of this unstaffed station are the usual bus shelters and signs.

Next to the station is a level crossing which was operated by Fiskerton signalbox but this was decommissioned in 2016. It may be given to a preserved railway. Access between the platforms is via the road and crossing. The station is managed by East Midlands Railway.

Platform view, the former station building behind

Level crossing

Signalbox

View down the platform

EMR 158 768 prepares to depart

[1] Vic Mitchell & Keith Smith, Nottingham to Lincoln (Middleton Press, 2013) Map. IX

Blackwater (BAW)

Blackwater is a stop on the North Downs Line in Hampshire between Sandhurst and Farnborough North.

GWR 165 111 arrives with a Redhill bound service

Information
Type:	National Rail (North Downs Line)
Station code:	BAW
Opened:	1849
Platforms:	2

The station was opened by the Reading, Guildford & Reigate Railway as Blackwater & York Town in 1849 [1]. Early on the station was advertised as being the stop for the nearby Royal Military College at Sandhurst (though Sandhurst later had it's own station).

The station had a fine station building with some rather ornate brickwork, a cattle dock and other goods sidings controlled by a signal box. All these were gone by the early 1970s as Blackwater became an unstaffed station with bus shelters for waiting passenger comfort. Access between the stations is via a road bridge which crosses the line. Great Western Railway nowadays serves Blackwater with up to two trains an hour between Reading and Redhill or Gatwick Airport.

Station view from the road bridge

Preparing to depart

Basic facilities

Platform shelter

GWR 165 104 departs

[1] Vic Mitchell & Keith Smith, Reading to Guildford (Middleton Press, 1988) Fig. 60