Area Cotswold 2 February 1959 (1959-02-02) Opened Platforms in use 1 | Grid reference ST914953 6 April 1964 Closed | |
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Original company Western Region of British Railways Similar Downfield Crossing Halt railw, Ebley Crossing Halt railw, Mickleton Halt railway st, Cashes Green Halt railway st, South Cerney railway st | ||
Trouble House Halt was a small station on the Tetbury branch line between Kemble and Tetbury.
History
Diesel railbus services were introduced by British Railways Western Region on the Tetbury branch line on 2 February 1959, and on the same day two halts were opened on that line, at Church's Hill and at Trouble House. It was built to serve the Trouble House public house (named for the difficulties which beset a series of innkeepers in the 18th and 19th centuries), and was the only station in England built specifically to serve a pub, although Berney Arms station in Norfolk has much the same function. The landlord of the Trouble House Inn used to supply a beer crate to enable passengers to step up into the coaches.
The line and station closed on 6 April 1964, but the station was immortalised in that year in the song "Slow Train" by Flanders and Swann.
On 4 April 1964, the last day of operation, when the last passenger train from Tetbury arrived at Trouble House Halt, a coffin was loaded onto the train by bowler-hatted mourners. It had been made by the landlord of the pub together with his brother, covered with inscriptions and filled with empty whisky bottles. On arrival at Kemble, the coffin was transferred to a train for Paddington, addressed to Dr. Beeching. The last passenger train to Tetbury found its approach to Trouble House Halt blocked by burning hay bales.