Longwitton railway station

Longwitton station was a weather board and corrugated iron built railway station in Northumberland on the Rothbury Branch. Originally known as Rothley and built as a private halt for the Trevelyan Estate, the name was changed in 1875 to Longwitton when it became a public station.

Longwitton
General information
LocationRothley, Northumberland
England
Coordinates55°12′40″N 1°55′47″W / 55.2111°N 1.9298°W / 55.2111; -1.9298
Grid referenceNZ045908
Platforms1
Other information
StatusDisused
History
Original companyNorthumberland Central Railway
Pre-groupingNorth British Railway
Post-groupingLondon and North Eastern Railway
North Eastern Region of British Railways
Key dates
1 November 1870Station opened as Rothley private station
April 1875renamed Longwitton and became public station
15 September 1952Station closed to passengers
11 November 1963Station closed to freight

History

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In 1859 Parliament authorised the Wansbeck Railway Company to build the line from Morpeth to Reedsmouth. In 1862 the line from Morpeth to Scotsgap opened.

The next year the Northumberland Central Railway were authorised to construct a line from Scotsgap to Ford on the Berwick to Kelso line. They also were permitted to build a short branch line to Cornhill. Due to financial difficulties the line was to be built in stages[1] starting with the section from Scotsgap to Rothbury which was started in August 1869 and completed by November 1870. The North British Railway and the branch line became part of the London and North Eastern Railway in 1923. In September 1952 passenger services were withdrawn and the line closed in November 1963.[2]

The station was opened as Rothley a private station serving the local Trevelyan Estate but became public when the line was absorbed into the North British Railway. Renamed Longwitton in April 1875 the station served a limestone quarry and colliery until the 1920s. On 3 July 1875 a major accident occurred on the line just south of Longwitton[3] leading to the deaths of three people.


Preceding station   Disused railways   Following station
Scotsgap
Line and station closed
  North British Railway
Rothbury Branch
  Ewesley
Line and station closed
Rothbury Branch
Overview
LocaleNorthumberland
Dates of operation1870–1963
SuccessorNorth British Railway
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)
Length13 miles (21 km)
 
Rothbury
 
Brinkburn
 
Fontburn Halt
 
 
Ewesley
 
Longwitton
 
 
 
 
Scotsgap
Wansbeck Railway
to Reedsmouth │ to Morpeth

References

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  1. ^ "Disused Stations: Scotsgap Station".
  2. ^ "Rothbury Branch". Archived from the original on 8 October 2009. Retrieved 28 October 2009.
  3. ^ "Accident at Longwitton - Scotsgap on 3rd July 1875 :: The Railways Archive".
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