Disused Stations:Archcliffe Junction Staff Halt

[Source: Nick Catford ]

Date opened:	By January 1948
Location:	East side of Archcliffe Junction at the west end of Beech Street (street now gone)
Company on opening:	British Railways (Southern Region)
Date closed to passengers:	Unknown
Date closed completely:	Unknown but before 1997
Company on closing:	British Railways (Southern Region)
Present state:	Part of the platform is extant
County:	Kent
OS Grid Ref:	TR316403
Date of visit:	Not visited

Notes: In 1928 the Southern Railway opened a concrete 5-road shed, with an eastlight roof and one through road, as well as a large marshalling yard to the west of the Town station. The yard covered much of the station site and included access from the Folkestone line to Dover Western Docks. The platform was partially rebuilt with a curve towards Dover Marine, and Archcliffe Junction signal box was resited to the west end of the platform; this opened in June 1928.

A record in the National Archives (AN 157/469) describes a staff halt at Archcliffe Junction signal box in January 1948. This was presumably the old Town platform.

The last train ferry sailing from Dover Western Docks was the 13.30 from Dover on 22 December 1995 by which time all general mixed freight was going through the Channel Tunnel. No further traffic was handled by the Dover Town yard although it was used for the storage of condemned wagons for a few months. The track was lifted in 1997 although Archcliffe Junction signal box did not close until 12 April 1998. It is not known how long the platform was used by signal box staff.

See also: Folkestone (temporary station), Folkestone East, Folkestone Harbour, Folkestone Warren Halt, Shakespeare Cliff Halt, Dover Town, Dover Admiralty Pier, Dover Prince of Wales Pier, Dover Marine/Western Docks
& Dover Harbour

See also:
Detailed history of Shakespeare Colliery with many photos.
Detailed history of the first Channel Tunnel attempt in 1880

09019 shunts cartics from the old 'Military Platform' at Archcliffe Junction into Dover Town Yard in February 1981. The old Dover Town platform was rebuilt with a curve in 1928; the bay allows vehicles to be loaded onto the cartics. Archcliffe Junction signal box was opened at this location in June 1928. In the 1940s the platform was also the Archcliffe Junction Staff Halt.
Photo by Graham Walker from his Flickr photostream

1957 1:2,500 OS map shows Archcliffe Junction signal box at the west end of the old Dover Town station platform. This was the site of the staff halt.

Inside Archcliff Junction signal box in the mid 1960s.
Photo from Phil Eyden collection

In July 1994 the 07:25 boat train from Victoria is seen passing Archcliffe Junction signal box, on the final approach to Western Docks. The train has just passed through the site of Archcliffe Tunnel which was opened out in 1928. The platform has been rebuilt from the original Dover Town platform. In the 1940s it acted as Archcliffe Junction Staff Platform. The Dover Town Freight Yard is seen on the left.
Photo by Nick Slocombe from his A life spent chasing trains web site

A recent aerial view showing the site of Archcliffe Junction, part of the old Dover Town platform which also acted as the later staff halt is still there.

A recent aerial view showing the site of Archcliffe Junction, part of the old Dover Town platform which also acted as the later staff halt is still there.

[Source: Nick Catford]

Home Page

Station Name: ARCHCLIFFE JUNCTION STAFF HALT