Bilson Halt railway station

Bilson Halt
Location
Place	Cinderford
Area	Forest of Dean
Coordinates	51°49′25″N 2°30′52″W / 51.8236°N 2.5144°WCoordinates: 51°49′25″N 2°30′52″W / 51.8236°N 2.5144°W
Grid reference	SO647137
Operations
Original company	Great Western Railway
Pre-grouping	Great Western Railway
Post-grouping	Great Western Railway
Platforms	1
History
3 August 1907	Station opened
6 April 1908	Closed to regular services
2 April 1917	Regular services resumed
1 October 1920	Closed to regular services
March 1930	Regular services resumed
1944	Station closed
Disused railway stations in the United Kingdom
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Bilson Halt railway station is a disused railway station opened on the former Bullo Pill Railway, later known as the Great Western Railway Forest of Dean Branch.

History

A 1911 RCH map of railways in the vicinity of Bilson Halt

Railways and Canals of the Forest of Dean
Railways legend Waterways legend
Hereford, Ross and Gloucester Railway Mitcheldean Road Ross and Monmouth Railway Hereford, Ross and Gloucester Railway Lydbrook Junction Mitcheldean Road and Forest of Dean Jn Ry Drybrook Quarry Drybrook Halt Nailbridge Halt Lower Lydbrook Steam Mills Crossing Halt Upper Lydbrook Churchway Colliery Whimsey Halt Mineral Loop Drybrook Road Coleford Railway Serridge Platform Cinderford New Wimberry Quarry Whitecliff Quarry Speech House Road Bilson Halt Bicslade Tramroad Ruspidge Halt Bicslade Wharf Staple Edge Halt Eastern United Colliery Coleford (CR) Upper Soudley Halt Coleford (S&WR) Bullo Cross Halt Gloucester to Newport Line Milkwall Newnham Parkhill Colliery Ruddle Road Halt New Fancy Colliery Howbeach Colliery Parkend Forest of Dean Central Railway Whitecroft Awre for Blakeney Tufts Junction & Mineral Loop Norchard River Severn Middle Forge Junction Lydney Town Severn Railway Bridge Severn Bridge Gloucester and Sharpness Canal St Mary's Halt Sharpness Lydney Junction Sharpness Docks Lydney Sharpness Branch Line Upper Forge Lydney Harbour Pidcock's Canal Lydney Canal Lower Forge Gloucester to Newport Line River Severn

The Halt, which was just to the south of Letchers Bridge and Bilson Junction/Yard was located about 4 miles 61 chains from Newnham on a 1 in 1280 gradient.^[1]

The station opened for passenger services when they were introduced in August 1907, the low platform was constructed from wood and two pagoda style buildings were provided from the outset.^[2]

The Halt temporarily served Cinderford until the Bilson loop was opened which allowed trains to run into the Severn and Wye station that was closer to the town.^[3]

The halt remained in unadvertised use until 1944, when it was finally removed.^[4]

Services

Preceding station	Disused railways			Following station
Ruspidge Halt Line and station closed		Great Western Railway Bullo Pill Railway		Whimsey Halt Line and station closed
				Cinderford New Line and station closed

References

1. Pope, Ian; Karau, Paul (1997). The Forest of Dean Branch - Volume 2. Didcot: Wild Swan Publications Ltd. p. 235. ISBN 1-874103-36-4.
2. Pope, Ian; Karau, Paul (1992). The Forest of Dean Branch - Volume 1. Didcot: Wild Swan Publications Ltd. pp. 20, 201, 82. ISBN 1-874103-05-4.
3. Pope & Karau 1992, p. 201
4. Pope & Karau 1992, pp. 20, 201