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Eight groups of three with something in common.  Rather than tell me what the common feature is, can you name a further member or members of the same group?

1. Newquay, Whitby, Stranraer

2. Avoncliff, Wolverton, Alvechurch

3. Cardiff, Haymarket, King's Cross

4. Aberdovey, Copplestone, Exeter St Thomas

5. Ryde, St Budeaux, Catford

6. Pilning, Teeside Airport, Brigg

7. Shalford, St Ives, Paddington

8. Melksham, San Juan Capistrano, Dunlop

1. Exmouth, Penzance, Henley-on-Thames

Yes - though there's something more specific in that group too. Exmouth (arguably) is one of the more specific group - Penzance and Henley-on-Thames are not!

6. Reddish South

Inchinnan, Brentford

8. Camperdown (http://www.andrewhost.com/audio/radio/bloopers-2sm-03-firestone-tyre-factory.mp3)

1 Falmouth, all ports at end of single line branch?

Yes - a good example


An excellent example of a solution different to the connection I had!



Oh dear ... I don't think they fit what I had in mind ... but not ruling them out.  What is your connection?

Goodness ... groups of 3 have far more in common than I could have imagined ...


Not sure of the San Juan Capistrano link.    Thank you for helping to set this topic on fire  ;D

2. Chirk.

Yes ... don't let me dream too much ... I've had great pleasure using all of those for the reason of the connection.

1. Severn Beach.

6 Polesworth, Hubberts Bridge (plus perhaps Heathrow T4) all stations with trains in one direction

Good thought ... but they go in two directions at Brigg


Yes - on the absolute.  I have a subjective additional view (we have been discussing in another thread) and I would be very interested to learn if you think Severn Beach is part of the group when that view is taken into account.   That could be a very interesting discussion indeed

Plus Redhill (which I knew) and loads more that my friend Wikipedia knows!

Yep!

OK agree Brigg has bidirectional services, so try another.

5  There are two stations (with the name in part of the full name) in these locations, suggest Warrington and Wigan.

Totally correct and good answers.  There are three stations in Ryde, mind.  Or would you describe Pier Head as being "in"?

The connection is Tyres - There was a Firestone Factory on the Great west Road in Brentford and an India Tyre Factory in Inchinnan

OK ... Not aware of any tyre connection at San Juan Capistrano; an online search suggests just normal tyre (or tire) changes shops as you would find more or less anywhere.   Having said which, I have only been there once and with family - so was more involved photographing sister in law with a full size cardboard cutout of The Pope than learning about local industry.  The Mission / tour was very educational.

I admit I had never even heard of an Juan Capistrano. So it was a punt

4. Ferryside

In which case, we can add Wootton Wawen, and Marple.

That one does lead to a lot of near misses, though - some arguably as good as Alvechurch. I was thinking of Hayes and Harlington, but West Drayton is a better bet. And Falkirk High (rather than Polmont or Linlithgow)?

Yes.   Care to explain?  This is a none-obvious group.

I think Camelon is the closest. I wondered about the Falkirk example, and rejected it. It isn?t really the same as the others.

I haven?t a clue here - and nobody else seems to have braved this one. Any ideas?

Number 4
The stations in number 4 all have Harrington Humps as does Ferryside.
These are so named because the first was at Harrington in Cumbria.

Number 7 has got me stumped as well.

Number 4 - yes, that is the connection (that I had) too.   I understand that around 90 stations are fitted with these humps which raise low platforms over a short distance to allow levelish / wheelchair access.

Number 7 is probably the hardest of the lot and I suspect that members will roll there eyes when they learn what the connection is!

Is it as simple as they are all stations where GWR services terminate? so could I offer you Great Bedwyn as a slightly less obvious fourth station?

They are (yes) stations where GWR services terminate and that's an intrinsic part of the answer - but there is something more specific.    You may offer me "Great Bedwyn", but the station is universally known as "Bedwyn" ... and you'll see later why I am particular on the station names.

Lots of answers - hard one to 'mark' as there are so many potential commonalities. Let me fill in what I had in mind.

1. Newquay, Whitby, Stranraer
Stations where the remaining line in not the one that would have been expected pre-1960s.
Blackpool North is another. Severn Beach a very interesting suggestion - line in from Pilning would have been better than Avonmouth?

2. Avoncliff, Wolverton, Alvechurch
Stations with good waterway / canal connections
Chirk is good ... and has others have said, there are many.  Personal favourite (personal experience) - Hatton

3. Cardiff, Haymarket, King's Cross
Stations with a platform 0
Yes, Redhill ... and there are a number of others.

4. Aberdovey, Copplestone, Exeter St Thomas
Stations with Harrington Humps.
Harrington  ;D ... Yes, Ferryside, Abedovey an about 85 more

5. Ryde, St Budeaux, Catford
Places with multiple stations.
Helensburugh, Tyndrum, Coatbridge, Wigan, Windsor ...

6. Pilning, Teeside Airport, Brigg
Stations with services on just one day per week
Kirton Lindsey, Reddish South, Denton

7. Shalford, St Ives, Paddington
Stations who's name in the official National Rail Stats differ from the boards on the station
Swindon, St James Park ... (officially Swindon (Wilts) and St James' Park (Exeter) )
Three given originally Shalford (Surrey), St Ives (Cornwall) and London Paddington.

8. Melksham, San Juan Capistrano, Dunlop
Stations that closed in 1966 but have reopened as part of a national network since
Conwy, Llanfairpwll, Corby

But, Graham, your answer isn?t as specific as my additional ones. All of your original three - Avoncliff, Wolverton, Alvechurch - have not merely canals but aqueducts. Hence my offering Chirk and Wootton Wawen, and being doubtful about Falkirk - though the southern approach to the wheel  sort of counts as one.

Hatton has lovely locks but no aqueduct.

Indeed you found a far closer connection within mine than I had intended - excellent work; my summary last night dropped back to the original connections I had, which was canal connections very close indeed to stations.   The Falkirk wheel and approach aqueduct are fascinating ... I've been there, seen it in action ... not travelled on it.

Ah, but ... I did think of aqueducts, based on Avoncliff, and rejected the idea as other other two didn't have one anywhere nearby. Canals do have quite frequent aqueducts, so finding one a mile or two away isn't surprising. And from Wolverton station, the aqueduct is over a mile (at Alvechurch, just under). And it's not even a name thing - the one (not very) near Wolverton is named after Cosgrove!

As to whether a waterway just over the wall from a station is a "good connection", you'd probably have to try it.

Same here - my wife was sufficiently thrilled by the diversion to the wheel to suggest that I might be pushing my luck.

Yes, I agree that Cosgrove is the correct name - though Wolverton gets used also. As to ?just over the wall? there are quite a few but University and Bournville spring to mind.

As to a good connection, I have on several occasions joined or left boating jaunts by train in mid-jaunt. Pewsey was one, and a very late night walk from Cheddington to the Grand Union after a wedding was another.

And come to think of it, Warwick Parkway is a good way to summon reinforcements for the Hatton 21...

Indeed.  On all three I quoted I have, personally, done it ... as I have at Chirk which was the first extra location suggested.  And Hatton and Banbury.  Wolverton has especially romantic memories.

THAT, as I recall, is quite a walk.   The railway goes through Tring cutting and the canal does a big loop via Marsworth where the Aylesbury Arm branches off down a flight of narrow locks.   Fond memories.

To 8 you could also add Templecombe, Feniton(was Sidmouth Junction), Pinhoe and Ivybridge

It's an interesting quirk that the Engineers' Line Reference for the Severn Beach line is CNX (CliftoN eXtension) from Narroways Jct to Avonmouth Jct, with mileages measured from the Narroways end; after Avonmouth Jct it becomes AMB (AvonMouth Branch) with mileages measured from the Pilning end. It does all get a bit complicated in Avonmouth, what with the Henbury line (AFR: Avonmouth and Filton Railway) and the dock sidings.

So I'm not sure which is 'better', but it does look like there was a time when, operationally at least, Severn Beach looked north rather than south.

Pinhoe, yes.  Templecombe, Yes.  Ivybridge closed in 1965 and Sidmouth Junction in 1967 though - at least according to WikiPedia