Place Sharpness Grid reference SO676028 1 August 1876 (1876-08-01) First station opened Platforms in use 2 (1 from 1931) | Area Stroud Post-grouping S&W&SBR Original company Midland Railway | |
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Pre-grouping Severn and Wye and Severn Bridge Railway (GWR & MR joint line) Similar Berkeley railway station, Berkeley Road railway st, Mickleton Halt railway st, Downfield Crossing Halt railw, Ebley Crossing Halt railw | ||
Sharpness railway station served the village of Sharpness in Gloucestershire, England.
History
The station was on the Sharpness Branch Line, part of the Midland Railway, which connected the Bristol and Gloucester Railway main line at Berkeley Road station with the docks at Sharpness. The branch line was opened to freight traffic in August 1875 with passenger services starting a year later.
Sharpness station was originally a terminus for the passenger services and was no more than a temporary platform next to the docks. But in 1879, the Sharpness branch became a through-route with the opening of the Severn Railway Bridge, connecting Sharpness with the Forest of Dean side of the Severn Estuary and enabling through services between Berkeley Road and Lydney Town railway station, some of which ran on to Lydbrook. The new station, built on a curve, had a brick building on the "up" platform (towards Berkeley) and a small shelter on the down platform. Children from Sharpness attending school in Lydney were among the passengers. After 1931, the line was singled.
Through-services to Lydney on the line ceased abruptly in October 1960 when the Severn Railway Bridge was damaged beyond economic repair in a shipping accident, and Sharpness resumed its earlier status as a branch line terminus. Passenger services ceased on the branch in November 1964 and goods facilities were withdrawn in January 1966. The station buildings were demolished. The line to the docks is still open for very occasional freight services.