Inappropriate geographical names

[Skimpot flyer]

Just thought of something.
Though it's not an inappropriate geographical name, there is one anomaly on London's rail infrastructure that would have confused the hell out of the Wombles if they'd ever had to relocate to Whitechapel.
Uncle Bulgaria would have found the fact that the OVERGROUND line runs UNDER the UNDERGROUND one at that station somewhat baffling

 

[IrishDave]

(Forgive a mildly delayed reply...)

It's slightly nearer Berkswell than Balsall, but Berkswell and Balsall would be a better name.

No it's not - it's half a mile to Balsall Common and over a mile to Berkswell... to say nothing of Balsall Common having twice as many people in it. I suspect it's more that the station's where it is because that's where the junction to the cut-off to Kenilworth was - if they'd wanted to serve Berkswell proper they could maybe have put it a little further west.

Just down the line, Canley is at the extreme eastern edge of what I'd call Canley, and the parts of Canley round Charter Avenue, where I once regrettably lived, are nearer Tile Hill station. I'd call it Hearsall Common (or Canley Road, being as that's its address...).

Canley and Tile Hill really aren't very well-defined in terms of areas - you've got Sainsbury's Canley literally across the road from KFC Tile Hill!

But "Hearsall Common" would suggest it's nearer Earlsdon and Chapelfields than Canley, which it isn't (though it wouldn't be so bad if the roads through to Earlsdon from the south side of the station weren't stopped up). And "Canley Road" might give the false impression that the level crossing is still open...

How about "Canley Gardens"? I've heard that used to refer to that bit of Canley east of Fletchamsted Highway and south of the railway line - probably about as accurate as you can get?

 

[trc666]

Two from Hampshire:

Grateley - located in Palestine which is a mile to the west of Grateley village.

Micheldever - located in a village named Micheldever Station. Micheldever village is 2 and a half miles to the south.

 

[oddiesjack]

Peak Forest station is in the village of Peak Dale and 2½ miles away from Peak Forest itself.
However, before the arrival of the Midland Railway, the quarries in Peak Dale were served by the Peak Forest Tramway, so that may well have set the precedent.

 

[reb0118]

Kirknewton used to be Midcalder (the junction is still named Midcalder) but is a lot closer to East Calder than Mid.

In fact Kirknewton started off as Kirknewton before becoming Midcalder & Kirknewton then Midcalder.

plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.

 

[Bevan Price]

Bescar Lane, (the hub station of the Manchester to Southport line), is actually situated in Scarisbrick.

The next station to this is called Meols Cop, which is actually situated in Blowick.

Maybe because there was a Blowick station on the now-closed direct line from Pool Hey Junction to Southport ?


And to add my own suggestions:

Lea Green, which is in the Marshalls Cross district of St. Helens, not Lea Green.

Burnley Central - it is in Burnley, but a longish walk from the town centre.
Upholland - located in Pimbo, a longish walk from much of Upholland.
Grindleford - about one mile from that village, and located in Upper Padley.

Heswall - yes it is in Heswall (just), but a long way from much of the town (about 1½ miles to the town centre), and closer to Gayton.

Any Sheffield residents care to comment if Dore might better be called Abbeydale Park ?

 

[Harlesden]

Ebbsfleet International- There is no place called "Ebbsfleet" It is actually situated on the outskirts of Northfleet and Gravesend

What about Ebbsfleet Valley -a new town and redevelopment which either is or will be served by the station. In the 14th Century, the river now known as the Ebbsfleet River was an important stopping place for pilgrims heading for Canterbury.
Meanwhile roughly 400'000 years ago Ebbsfleet was home to Homo Heidelberg a cousin species of modern human. During the Ebbsfleet development, excavations revealed a Stone Age site where remains of a single extinct species of adult elephant (probably weighing over 10 tonnes or ten mini's), were surrounded by stone tools. The site was uncovered by constructors at, Southfleet Road in Ebbsfleet, northwest Kent. It now lies beneath a roundabout near the Channel Tunnel Rail Link car park.
Excavations begun during the 1900's long before Ebbsfleet station was even planned, first for clay by hand then later in the early 1930’s chalk was extracted and transported by rail to nearby Swanscombe cement works via a network of tunnels. Cement from Eastern Quarry were used to build both the QEII bridge and parts of the Channel Tunnel.

 

[6Gman]

Menai Bridge (closed c.1964).

Station was in Caernarfonshire; village was in Anglesey.

Different counties. Different land masses!

 

[fairysdad]

Calvert and Verney Junction were both named after the local land owner. Neither was a place before the coming of the railway and the hamlets that grew up in each location were named after the stations.

There's a few little places on the North Devon Line that have grown up around stations - Portsmouth Arms, Eggesford, Morchard Road are the three that spring instantly to mind (and are probably the only three to be honest!).

On the same line, King's Nympton was renamed in (I think) 1951 (might've been '31 - it's definitely something-1) from South Molton Road - which given that the station isn't particularly near either of them is a little odd... (though not sure what else it could be called really)

 

[DynamicSpirit]

I'd love to know why we have an arrangement whereby North Dulwich station is basically SW (but more S than W) of East Dulwich station. Seems distinctly odd.

 

[12CSVT]

I'd love to know why we have an arrangement whereby North Dulwich station is basically SW (but more S than W) of East Dulwich station. Seems distinctly odd.

A bit like Canterbury West being almost directly north of Canterbury East.

 

[steamybrian]

My local Ordnance Survey maps/ Street Plans of the area show Southfleet Road in Swanscombe . The only reference to Ebbsfleet is a small stream running through the valley and Ebbsfleet Industrial Estate.
There may have been a town there 400,000 years ago and there may be plans for town there in the future but at present there is virtually nothing to show for its name.
Before opening there was discussion between the local authorities about the name of the station as either Dartford International or Gravesend International were considered but a compromise was agreed as Ebbsfleet

What about Ebbsfleet Valley -a new town and redevelopment which either is or will be served by the station. In the 14th Century, the river now known as the Ebbsfleet River was an important stopping place for pilgrims heading for Canterbury.
Meanwhile roughly 400'000 years ago Ebbsfleet was home to Homo Heidelberg a cousin species of modern human. During the Ebbsfleet development, excavations revealed a Stone Age site where remains of a single extinct species of adult elephant (probably weighing over 10 tonnes or ten mini's), were surrounded by stone tools. The site was uncovered by constructors at, Southfleet Road in Ebbsfleet, northwest Kent. It now lies beneath a roundabout near the Channel Tunnel Rail Link car park.
Excavations begun during the 1900's long before Ebbsfleet station was even planned, first for clay by hand then later in the early 1930’s chalk was extracted and transported by rail to nearby Swanscombe cement works via a network of tunnels. Cement from Eastern Quarry were used to build both the QEII bridge and parts of the Channel Tunnel.

 

[johnnychips]

Any Sheffield residents care to comment if Dore might better be called Abbeydale Park ?

It is more Totley than Dore (I think it used to be called Dore and Totley), but your suggestion sounds better.

 

[RPM]

Aylesbury Vale Parkway. I appreciate that is falls in the "parkway" category so isn't necessarily expected to have a strictly geographical name. I also accept that the name is quite well chosen to relect its intended purpose. But, to be pedantic; it is located within the parish of Fleet Marston, once a village in medieval times but now no more than a hamlet with a disused church. In modern terms it is part of the Major Development Area known as Berryfields. It could legitimately therefore carry either of those names.

 

[RichmondCommu]

It is more Totley than Dore (I think it used to be called Dore and Totley), but your suggestion sounds better.

While we're on the subject, its such a shame that the station at Millhouses was closed, especially given the chronic traffic problems on the south side of the city. I lived in Plymouth Road in Millhouses many years a go; memories!

 

[Manchester77]

Apologies if already mentioned
Withington on metrolink's South Manchester Line (opening 2013)
Withington is the least apt name of those currently proposed. Southern Cemetary or Hough End Fields would have been a better name!
I suppose Princess Road (as it is a long road) would not be very helpful; maybe Withington - Princess Road, although that is a mouthful, though no worse that Deansgate Castlefield.

My two pence worth

 

[reb0118]

One that has always intrigued me. You leave from the West Station in Vienna to travel East to Budapest but leave from the East Station there to travel back West to Vienna.

 

[Eagle]

It is more Totley than Dore (I think it used to be called Dore and Totley), but your suggestion sounds better.

It is called Dore and Totley. Picture.

 

[Tibbs]

Bushey Station should be called Watford South, or even Oxhey.

Or possibly Bushey-but-be-prepared-for-a-bloody-long-walk-up-a-massive-hill.

 

[wilsontown]

Weeton Station on the Harrogate line is slap bang in the middle of Huby, the next, and larger village.

And Cattal is a good mile ouside the village of Cattal, although it's not really any nearer to anywhere else.

 

[prod_pep]

In my neck of the woods...

Tuebrook sidings - situated in Wavertree, a South Liverpool district, nowhere near Tuebrook.

Freshfield - takes its name from a local landowner of the time, a Mr Fresh. In reality the local area is informally known as Freshfield these days, although 'Formby North' would probably be more appropriate.

Old Roan - a misleading name taken from an adjacent pub, when in practice it is much more convenient for Aintree village than Aintree station itself. It would seem better to call the stations 'Aintee Village' and 'Aintree Racecourse'.

Conway Park - a very poor choice of name for this central Birkenhead station. According to Wikipedia it was provisionally known as 'Birkenhead Market' which would have been far more suitable.

 

[johnnychips]

It is called Dore and Totley. Picture.

Thanks. Though it is just 'Dore' in the timetables.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Thanks. Though it is just 'Dore' in the timetables.

Both Northern's and TPE's timetables list it as 'Dore & Totley'...