Station Name: EASTON LODGE HALT

 

[Source: Nick Catford]


Date opened: 2.9.1895
Location: On the east side of Cross Lane East
Company on opening Great Eastern Railway
Date closed to passengers: 3.5.1952
Date closed completely: 3.5.1952
Company on closing: British Railways (Eastern Region)
Present state: The crossing keepers cottage still stands as does the adjacent wooden hut that housed the levers for operating the gate signals
County: Essex
OS Grid Ref: TL603213
Date of visit: September 1968, May 1975 & 9th April 2004

Notes: By 1860 most of the rail network was in place, leaving only the gaps between main line stations to be filled. Central and West Essex, a predominantly rural area, had been largely ignored during the initial development because it wasn't considered a viable proposition.

In 1859 an unexpected proposal was submitted to Eastern Counties Railway by a group of Hertfordshire businessmen who were anxious to obtain easy transport for malt and barley from towns and villages in West Essex.

Their proposal was for a railway line, 18 miles long, linking the towns of Bishop's Stortford, Dunmow and Braintree. They readily agreed to the proposal, offering to have the route surveyed and donating £40,000 to help with construction. The application was put to parliament and permission was given for the branch line to go ahead.

In 1862 the ECR was amalgamated with the Great Eastern Railway (GER) but directors were adamant they would continue with the branch line. Despite poor local backing and the shortfall in subscriptions, the GER decided to fully finance the line themselves and absorb all of the shares of the local company.

The first turf was ceremonially cut at Dunmow on the 24 February 1864 and contractors began work the following. Virtually the entire length of the branch line's 18 mile route was single track, except at Dunmow and one or two other stations where dual track allowed trains to pass each other. The line was finally opened for passenger use on 22 February 1869 with intermediate stations at Takeley, Felstead & Rayne. Further stations were later added, Easton Lodge in 1894, Hockrill Halt in 1910 and Stane Street and Banister Green Halts in 1922.

With hindsight, it is now apparent that the branch line was never going to succeed as a profit making passenger service. The branch line's saviour came in the 1880s. The sudden demand for agricultural produce in London combined with new industries that were starting up in Braintree, both required a freight service and it was this that was to provide important revenue for the railway. Freight traffic continued to grow, especially at the Braintree end of the line, but by the end of the 19th century passenger traffic to Bishop's Stortford remained light.

When the GER finally amalgamated with the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) on 1 January 1923, the new company made every effort to increase passenger traffic on the branch line by doubling the initial three passenger trains a day running in each direction, to six. But all to no avail. It was still the carriage of freight that supplied the revenue.

During the Second World War the line was used to transport thousands of tons of rubble for the construction of Saling airfield, 5 miles from Braintree and, later, when it became operational, massive loads of bombs were carried to the same destination under cover of darkness. The United States Air Force bases at Stansted and Easton Lodge were also regularly supplied with armaments and stores arriving via Bishop's Stortford and Takeley station. After the invasion of Europe in June 1944 the line was used by ambulance trains to bring back wounded soldiers.

After the war the public's use of motor cars and competition from bus transport increased, the passenger service between Bishop's Stortford and Braintree ran virtually empty and inevitably, closure of the line for passenger traffic was announced. Despite public protests, the last train to run between the two towns was on 1 March 1952.

Despite the loss of the passenger service after 83 years the line was kept open for freight traffic, which was still an important source of revenue. But by 1968 more and more freight was being transported by road and the branch line now became uneconomical to keep open.

By the end of 1971 all freight traffic had ceased, and on 27 July 1972 a final enthusiast's trip ran from Bishop's Stortford to Easton Lodge and back. By the autumn of that year most of the track had been taken up, apart from the last mile out of Bishop's Stortford. British Rail were considering the possible role this section of line might play in carrying additional traffic to a growing Stansted Airport, but proposals came to nothing and in 1974 the remaining track was removed.

Much of the old track bed now forms the Flitch Way a walking and cycling path from Braintree to Bishops Stortford along the 15 mile course of the Bishops Stortford, Dunmow & Braintree Railway line

EASTON LODGE HALT
Easton Lodge Halt was sited on the down side of the line. The station was provided for the use of the Earl and Countess of Warwick who lived at Easton Lodge and for visitors to the house. Although the building of the station was partly financed by Lady Warwick it was not a private station however and was also open for public use. The platform was formed from earth on clinker with a timber facing. On the up side of the track adjacent to the level crossing there was a crossing keepers cottage built in a similar style to station buildings on the branch. Alongside the cottage there was a small wooden hut housing the locking mechanism for the gates and levers for operating the gate signals.

The station had a porter who also issued tickets until the 1920's, after that date tickets were issued by the guard on the trains.

Beyond the level crossing a loop line was installed on the up side in 1942. From here loop a siding ran across the road serving the United States military store for Easton Lodge Airfield. After the war the siding was closed but on 1.3.1962 it was shortened and reopened to serve the Geest banana ripening plant, remaining in use until 17.2.1972.

Although opened as a station, Easton Lodge had been downgraded to a halt by closure in 1952.

Sources:

Other web sites: Railways of Essex & Branching Out

To see the other stations on the Bishops Stortford - Braintree branch click on the station name: Hockerill Halt, Stane Street Halt, Takeley, Dunmow, Felsted, Bannister Green Halt & Rayne

 

Easton Lodge Station in September 1968 - even before the line was closed to goods traffic the timber facing on the cinder platform had been removed.
P
hoto by Nick Catford



Easton Lodge Station
Photo by B D J Walsh

Easton Lodge station master house in April 2004. The wooden building housed the locking mechanism for the gates and the levers for operating the gate signals
P
hoto by Nick Pedley

1968

1975

1975

 



Click on thumbnail to enlarge

[Source: Nick Catford]

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