Compiled by Dan Spence @DanLoudShirts

Having had a keen interest in Railways since I was head-high to a buffer stop, seldom did I really take notice of station names.  Sure, the ones on my local line in Berkshire I could reel off along with all the big stations around the country, but since the start of this project I have taken a greater interest in the stations that most people would never had heard of or travelled anywhere near.  I have been asked by the All The Stations team to put together some interesting stats on #allthestationnames.

DISCLAIMER:  All station name data has been taken from the ORR Estimates of Station Usage document and double-checked with the National Rail Enquiries Station Search for any anomalies (which there were a few!).  If you spot something incorrect, contact me on Twitter.

A River Runs Through it …

There are five stations with the word THAMES in them, only three of which are proper towns.

The List

Proper ones - Henley-On-Thames (this really IS ‘on Thames’ - the river is only about 150 yards from the buffer stops), Thames Ditton, Walton-On-Thames

The Thameslink Two - City Thameslink, West Hampstead Thameslink

“Geoff? Bridges!”

There are 64 stations with the word BRIDGE in the name.  65 if you count the station name of BRIDGWATER (why did they drop the ‘e’?). Only 31 of these actually feature BRIDGE as a separate word.  Only two have BRIDGE as the first word, both in Scotland.  One station not on the list is NORTON BRIDGE, although the station is not technically closed, no trains call there.

The List: Bridge as a separate word

Acton Bridge, Apperley Bridge, Appley Bridge, Bamber Bridge, Barnes Bridge, Blythe Bridge, Bridge Of Allan, Bridge Of Orchy, Burscough Bridge, Catford Bridge, Conon Bridge, Guide Bridge, Hawarden Bridge, Haydon Bridge, Hebden Bridge, Hubberts Bridge, Kew Bridge, Kiveton Bridge, Lea Bridge, London Bridge, Polsloe Bridge, Roman Bridge, Roy Bridge, Smethwick Galton Bridge, Smithy Bridge, Sowerby Bridge, Spean Bridge, Tame Bridge Parkway, Three Bridges, Whaley Bridge, Whitley Bridge

The List: Bridge in the word

Battlesbridge, Bridgend, Bridgeton, Bridgwater, Cambridge, Cambridge Heath, Cambridge North, Carrbridge, Coatbridge Central, Coatbridge Sunnyside, Cooksbridge, Corbridge, Dunbridge, Edenbridge, Edenbridge Town, Gorebridge, Hackbridge, Highbridge & Burnham, Ivybridge, Longbridge, Newbridge, North Fambridge, Redbridge, Robertsbridge, Sawbridgeworth, Stalybridge, Stonebridge Park, Stourbridge Junction, Stourbridge Town, Tonbridge, Trowbridge, Tunbridge Wells, Weybridge, Woodbridge

No Catastrophes With Apostrophes!

There are a total of 28 stations featuring an apostrophe and one that features TWO!  Not only that, it also features two hyphens!  The quaintly-named HALL-I’-TH’-WOOD STATION (HID) in Lancashire on the line between Manchester Victoria and Clitheroe.

The List

Allen’s West, Brookman’s Park, Christ’s Hospital, Cobham & Stoke D’abernon, Exeter St. David’s, Hall I’ Th’ Wood, Hunt’s Cross, King’s Cross, King’s Langley, King’s Lynn, King’s Norton, King’s Nympton, King’s Park, King’s Sutton, Quaker’s Yard, Queen’s Park (Glasgow), Queen’s Park (Gt London), Queen’s Road Peckham, Rowland’s Castle, Ryde St.John’s Road, Shepherd’s Well, St.Andrew’s Road, St.James’ Park, St.James’ Street, St.John’s, St.Margaret’s (Greater London), St.Margaret’s (Hertfordshire), Whitlock’s End

Catching Some ZZZZZZZZs

Although there are no stations beginning with the letter Z, it crops up in thirteen station names, and twice in one station.

The List

Danzey, Fazakerley, Fitzwilliam, Frizinghall, Furze Platt, Glazebrook, Hazel Grove, Lazonby & Kirkoswald, Leighton Buzzard, Lenzie, Maze Hill, Penzance, Walton-On-The-Naze

Amazing Ampersands

There are officially FIFTY EIGHT stations featuring this special character. There were fifty nine, but National Rail recently changed one to Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3.

One of these stations features the names of two other separate stations – HAYES & HARLINGTON.

Some of them sound like they are either estate agents, solicitors or double acts!

The List

Abergele & Pensarn, Ansdell & Fairhaven, Arrochar & Tarbet, Ashwell & Morden, Bat & Ball, Blundellsands & Crosby, Borough Green & Wrotham, Boxhill & Westhumble, Byfleet & New Haw, Caledonian Road & Barnsbury, Cam & Dursley, Cark & Cartmel, Chalfont & Latimer, Chappel & Wakes Colne, Chestfield & Swalecliffe, Church & Oswaldtwistle, Cobham & Stoke D’abernon, Digby & Sowton, Dore & Totley, Dunkeld & Birnam, Elephant & Castle, Elstree & Borehamwood, Elton & Orston, Energlyn & Churchill Park, Finchley Road & Frognal, Fishguard & Goodwick, Goring & Streatley, Haddenham & Thame Parkway, Harrow & Wealdstone, Hatfield & Stainforth, Hayes & Harlington, Highbridge & Burnham, Highbury & Islington, Hoveton & Wroxham, Ince & Elton, Kirkham & Wesham, Lazonby & Kirkoswald, Lisvane & Thornhill, Mottisfont & Dunbridge, Nailsea & Backwell, Pembrey & Burry Port, Pevensey & Westham, Pontypool & New Inn, Portsmouth & Southsea, Possilpark & Parkhouse, Priesthill & Darnley, Ramsgreave & Wilpshire, Risca & Pontymister, Sandal & Agbrigg, Sandwell & Dudley, Seaforth & Litherland, Seer Green & Jordans, Stanlow & Thornton, Steeton & Silsden, Sudbury & Harrow Road, Tutbury & Hatton, Windsor & Eton Central, Windsor & Eton Riverside