Lezayre Station
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Station Name:
Date Opened:
Date Closed:
As Request:
Lines Served:
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Postal Address:
Ex-St. John’s:
Current Status:
Lezayre
23rd Sept. 1879
2nd Oct. 1958
6th Sept. 1968
54.325°N4.429°W
Garey Road
14 Miles, 60 Ch.
Closed & Lifted
An unusual scene of a busy Lezayre Station with No.8 Fenella at the head of a northbound train, the 8.10am ’Michael To Ramsey train 17th July 1961 captured by A.E. Bennett. Note the two Swan Vesta advertisements either side of the doors, a feature of the station for many years, and sleeper stack to the right. The station was positioned on a long straight section of line.
The first stopping place outside the terminus at Ramsey Station on the north line, this halt was equipped with a unique station house unlike ther others along the route. Being some distance from the village which it was intended to serve, as early as 1908 it was relegated to request stop status but owing to the presence of the level crossing it remained manned. In common with many other stations, no platforms were provided and the ground ballasted to rail height creating a public space.
Becoming unmanned as late as 1958l it has been removed from timetables some eight years previously. It still saw occasional use and appeared intermittently on later timetables, a popular spot for photographers. It remained available into the final two years of operation after the reopening by Lord Ailsa but was seldom called upon as a stop. Protected by a fishtail semaphore signal, this survived until after the closure and was removed in 1975 at the same time as the rails and level crossing gates protecting the Garey Road.
After many years in derelict condition, the house today has been converted into a private dwelling. The accompanying images are courtesy of Nick Dodson and show the site in a state of dereliction dated July 3rd 1998; by March of 1999 the site had been cleared and roof timbers were replaced and brickwork repaired in June 1999; by October that year the main reconstruction works were completed with work focussing on the interior was completed during the summer of 2000. At this time the flat-roofed extention was renewed.
It was at this time that Closed Van Gr.12 was installed, the restoration costs of which were covered by Mr. Dodson with works undertaken at Ramsey Shipyard. The van later returned to the railway and was used until 2022 on photographic charters and specials when not displayed in the Railway Museum. After this time it was was withdrawn in need of attention to the wheelsets and its place taken by G.1 fully restored by the Association. The site today is part of a footpath and bridleway which covers the majority of the north line.
Station Building | Level Crossing | Ground Level Platform | Semaphore Signal
The well presented station with gravelled area neatly denoting the platform ara and long stretch ahead of trains coming from the west.
A relatively rare view of the rear of the single storey station building showing the extension and elaborate brick chimney stack.
No.8 Fenella and her train at the station viewed from the level crossing showing the simple layout of this rural scene.
No.5 Mona paused at the station with a short train of two carriages, courtesy of Association member David Mitchell.
The derelict building after the rails had been lifted and before a sympathetic restoration was carried out converting to a house.
Nature reclaiming the site in 1972, the signal with its fishtail optimistically set to clear with the station in the distance.
September 1972 and the solitary Swan Vesta advertisement persists reminding the passer by of the structure's origins.
After closure the rails remained in place, being lifted in 1975 at the same time as all traces of the railway were removed.
The condition of the interior prior to restoration work taking place with roof missing and showing the fireplace.
Rails still in place in September 1972 after the last trains had past; the rails here would be lifted in 1975 and station later converted.
The station and adjacent level crossing in a scene that remained largely unchanged for nearly a century until the last trains.
Another view after closure showing nature reclaiming the site before the structure was converted into a private dwelling.
After closure the building fell into disrepair, this 1969 shows the rear elevation with its flat roofed section.
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