Trivia; Station Names

[Strat-tastic]

The northern half of Brum's Cross-City line does well with Gravelly Hill, Wylde Green and Four Oaks. Confusingly, the southern part has Northfield; it also has Kings Norton (sounds more rural than it really is) and Longbridge (another misnomer!).

Don't forget Silly Oak

Hey, that's how we Brummies pronounce it, ok?

 

[Cherry_Picker]

I agree with Flowery Field it sounds like a rural location like how Middlewood station is but in reality its a run down urban area of Greater Manchester but its still a nice name.

And conversely Gravelly Hill sounds like it's in a run down urban area of Birmingham when in fact its, oh...

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I remember being told that, as a rule of thumb, if a Glasgow suburban station had a pleasant, twee-sounding name, it should be avoided... Whereas if it sounded a bit rough it was probably okay.

 

[RichmondCommu]

Are we allowed to include the Tube network? In which case I would like to add Cockfosters to the list. Reading the name on the Tube always made my children giggle when they were younger!

 

[gg1]

Hampden Park - don't go there if you're hoping to watch the Scottish Cup final
Wootton Wawen - named by someone who couldn't pronounce the letter R
Tywyn - a Lannister always pays his fare
Yarm - something a pirate would say
Milngavie - for people who strongly disapprove of the concept of phonetic spelling (see also Dolgellau)

 

[Mutant Lemming]

Milngavie - for people who strongly disapprove of the concept of phonetic spelling )

I suppose there has already been a 'doesn't sound like it's spelt' thread that included Milngavie, Manea, Meols ? (and Wymondham - didn't want to break up the 3 M pattern that's been emerging recently)

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I suppose there has already been a 'doesn't sound like it's spelt' thread that included Milngavie, Manea, Meols ? (and Wymondham - didn't want to break up the 3 M pattern that's been emerging recently)

Aye, you were the one who started it

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=64330

 

[Mutant Lemming]

Aye, you were the one who started it

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=64330

I blame all those burgers I ate in the 80s

 

[Starmill]

I remember being told that, as a rule of thumb, if a Glasgow suburban station had a pleasant, twee-sounding name, it should be avoided... Whereas if it sounded a bit rough it was probably okay.

Darn it! And I was so counting enjoying visits on Mount Florida and Summerston on my next Glasgow trip!

 

[backontrack]

-Scotscalder
-Insch
-Carnoustie
-Acklington
-Widdrington
-Pegswood
-Haltwhistle
-Prudhoe
-Wetheral
-Corkickle

Can't think of any down south, most have been mentioned. Except Dumpton Park. And anywhere between Ashford and Brighton via Glynde.
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How about this poem?

When books are pow'rless to beguile
And papers only stir my bile,
For solace and relief I flee
To Bradshaw or the A. B. C.,
And find the best of recreations
In studying the names of stations.
There is not much among the A's
To prompt enthusiastic praise,
But B is infinitely better,
And there are gems in ev'ry letter.
The only fault I have with Barnack
Is that it rhymes with Dr. Harnack;
Barbon, Beluncle Halt, Bodorgan
Resound like chords upon the organ,
And there's a spirit blithe and merry
In Evercreech and Egloskerry.
Park Drain and Counter Drain, I'm sure,
Are hygienically pure,
But when æsthetically viewed
They seem to me a little crude.
I often long to visit Frant,
Hose, Little Kimble and Lelant;
And, if I had sufficient dollars,
Sibley's (for Chickney) and Neen Sollars;
Shustoke and Smeeth my soul arride
And likewise Sholing, Sole Street, Shide,
But I'm afraid my speech might go
Awry on reaching Spooner Row.
In serious mood I often bend
My thoughts to Ponder and his End,
And when I'm feeling dull and down
The very name of Tibshelf Town
Rejoices me, while Par and Praze
And Pylle and Quy promote amaze.
Of all the Straths, a numerous host,
Strathbungo pleases me the most,
While I can court reluctant slumber
By murmuring thy name, Stogumber.
Were I beginning life anew
From Swadlincote I'd take my cue,
But shun as I would shun the scurvy
The perilous atmosphere of Turvey.
But though the tuneful name of Horbling
Incites to further doggerel warbling,
And Gallions, Goonbell, Gamlingay
Are each deserving of a lay,
No railway bard is worth his salt
Who cannot bear to call a "Halt."

 

[Joseph_Locke]

What about Wem, Yorton and Prees, that well-known firm of solicitors?

 

[Busaholic]

Watchet.

 

[Strathclyder]

I'm kinda surprised Hillfoot hasn't appeared yet....

 

[6Gman]

Hampden Park - don't go there if you're hoping to watch the Scottish Cup final
Wootton Wawen - named by someone who couldn't pronounce the letter R
Tywyn - a Lannister always pays his fare
Yarm - something a pirate would say
Milngavie - for people who strongly disapprove of the concept of phonetic spelling (see also Dolgellau)

Dolgellau is perfectly phonetic.



Just not in English!
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Has anybody mentioned Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyllllantyisiogogogoch yet?

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

Dolgellau is perfectly phonetic.



Just not in English!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Has anybody mentioned Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyllllantyisiogogogoch yet?

If that station is still open it should be renamed as it will wreck the national rail map. I think Llanfair P.G is how it's shown.

 

[Busaholic]

Knockholt in itself may be an unremarkable name, but a truly informative station announcement might add 'alight here for Knockholt Pound, Badgers Mount and Pratts Bottom'.

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

Knockholt in itself may be an unremarkable name, but a truly informative station announcement might add 'alight here for Knockholt Pound, Badgers Mount and Pratts Bottom'.

Ha ha!! That's the best annoucement ever.

 

[Parallel]

If that station is still open it should be renamed as it will wreck the national rail map. I think Llanfair P.G is how it's shown.

I know Arriva list it as "Llanfairpwll" on their CIS as to not be confused with the nearby "Llanfairfechan".

My favourite station names are:

Castle Cary (A castle that cares? Also referred to as Castle Scary)
Yeovil Pen Mill
Severn Tunnel Junction (Sounds like a really important station but it's deserted most of the time)
Craven Arms (Craving a beer at a pub)
Bargoed (I don't know why, I just like how this one is said. Bar-goid)
Penhelig (Sounds like it's from Harry Potter or something!)
Beeston (Beastly bees)
Crewkerne (Sounds like a weapon or something)
Lympstone Commando (This station forgot to put its underwear on this morning!)
Rowley Regis (Good alliteration there!)
Sugar Loaf
Colwyn Bay (Sounds almost mystical.)
Sea Mills (Sounds like a level from Sonic or something... Sea Mills: Act 1)

--

Portsmouth Arms also amuses me because it's nowhere near Portsmouth.
University is another, I wish they'd rename that one, one day.

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

Beeston is named after bees. On the highstreet they are stone beehive statues with bees and someone in a net outfit.

 

[GatwickDepress]

Knockholt in itself may be an unremarkable name, but a truly informative station announcement might add 'alight here for Knockholt Pound, Badgers Mount and Pratts Bottom'.

When me and my better half alighted at Knockholt on a Travelcard a while back, he was practically enamoured with the entrance sign saying "Pratts Bottom".

I don't know why I put up with him...

 

[Requeststop]

Rectory Road
London Fields

Both have a rural sound to them but both in North London.

Angel is rather holy.

 

[satisnek]

Don't forget that well-known Manchester couple, Miles Platting and Hazel Grove

 

[Frothy]

• Chatelherault
• Montpelier

For sounding like they should be in France.

• Aspatria
• Etruria
• Ulleskelf

For sounding mystical.

• Ascott-under-Wychwood

For sounding idyllic.

 

[tsr]

I've always liked Micheldever (yes, really), Starcross and Sandplace for sounding mysterious and mystical, much in the same vein as the poster above. I've only actually visited the station at Starcross, out of those three, and whilst it's not mystical, it can certainly be a pretty nice spot in the summer, waiting for the train after getting dropped off by the ferry.

Others which I like from further up the thread... Forsinard (sounds a bit daft - sorry - but amusing!), Luxulyan (just fantastic), Portsmouth Arms (just like it)...

and I don't think Brundall Gardens, Ardlui and Dunbar have been mentioned. They all just sound quite nice to me. I can only really speak for Brundall Gardens and Ardlui in real life, and in my experience (very limited for the latter) they look nice enough!

 

[Busaholic]

You'd think by now it would be Foundwithiel.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Having spent many an hour at Shrewsbury a few years back whilst dating a lass who was studying at Aberystwyth, I was always intrigued by some of the stations on the Cambrian and HOW lines. Dyffryn Ardudwy and Broome in particular along with the already mentioned Sugar Loaf.

St. Keyne Wishing Well Halt also deserves a mention.

 

[Strat-tastic]

Has anybody mentioned Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyllllantyisiogogogoch yet?

I tried to

 

[Michael.Y]

Clock House.

Stonehouse

Par.

Bugle

 

[khib70]

I've always liked Micheldever (yes, really), Starcross and Sandplace for sounding mysterious and mystical, much in the same vein as the poster above. I've only actually visited the station at Starcross, out of those three, and whilst it's not mystical, it can certainly be a pretty nice spot in the summer, waiting for the train after getting dropped off by the ferry.

Others which I like from further up the thread... Forsinard (sounds a bit daft - sorry - but amusing!), Luxulyan (just fantastic), Portsmouth Arms (just like it)...

and I don't think Brundall Gardens, Ardlui and Dunbar have been mentioned. They all just sound quite nice to me. I can only really speak for Brundall Gardens and Ardlui in real life, and in my experience (very limited for the latter) they look nice enough!

Dunbar is a very pleasant seaside town, twenty minutes or so by train from Edinburgh. It often appears in league tables as the sunniest place in the UK. It also has some excellent hostelries, and is home to the Belhaven brewery, which brews some good ales as well as the vile nitrokeg Belhaven Best.

Im not a spotter but I'd imagine the station platform, which is on a loop these days would be quite a good spot to watch ECML traffic go by. You could do worse than spend a leisurely day there.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Here's a few combinations for you ....

Bugle and Drum(chapel) - I couldn't find stations with Mace and Cymbal in the name, otherwise we'd have had a band!;

A colourful trio - Green(ford), White Hart Lane and Red(dish);

A trio with antipodean connections - Adelaide (Northern Ireland), Wellington (Shropshire) and Perth (Scotland).