Add a fourth to these groups of three - Coffee Shop Only Connect?

[whole diary]

[grahame]

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?

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  ... 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

[JontyMort]

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?

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

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

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.

[grahame]

But, Graham, your answer isn?t as specific as my additional ones. All of your original thre - 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.

[stuving]

But, Graham, your answer isn?t as specific as my additional ones. All of your original thre - 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.

[JontyMort]

But, Graham, your answer isn?t as specific as my additional ones. All of your original thre - 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.

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

[JontyMort]

But, Graham, your answer isn?t as specific as my additional ones. All of your original thre - 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.

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...

[grahame]

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

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.

[grahame]

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.

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.

[rogerw]

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

[Red Squirrel]

Severn Beach a very interesting suggestion - line in from Pilning would have been better than Avonmouth?

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.

[grahame]

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

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