imported>Steamybrian2 at 19:22, 13 February 2025

2025-02-13T19:22:47Z

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{{Use British English|date=March 2017}}
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'''Butts Junction''' was a [[railway junction]] located in [[Alton, Hampshire|Alton]] in [[Hampshire]], England. The junction was the location at which the [[Basingstoke and Alton Light Railway]]<ref>{{cite book | last1=Dean | first1=Martin | last2=Robertson | first2=Kevin | last3=Simmonds | first3=Roger | title=The Basingstoke & Alton Light Railway | publisher=Barton | publication-place=Southampton | date=2003 | isbn=0-9545617-0-8 | oclc=53030800 | pages=9 & 10}}</ref> and the [[Meon Valley Railway]]<ref>{{cite book |first=John |last=Patmore |title=A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain: Southern England |date=1982}}</ref> diverged from the [[Mid-Hants Railway]] which runs from Alton to Winchester. The junction became operational in 1901.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Railways of Southern England |first=Edwin |last=Course |date=1976 |publisher=Batsford |isbn=0713431962}}</ref>

All of the Junction's railway lines had closed by 1973, with the Mid-Hants Railway subsequently reopening as a [[heritage railway]] known as the [[Watercress Line]] in 1977.<ref>{{cite book |title=Mid-Hants Railway in colour |first=Alan |last=Butcher |year=1996 |isbn=0-7110-2465-0 |publisher=[[Ian Allan Publishing]]}}</ref> The location of Butts Junction can still be seen from trains on the Watercress Line, with an embankment tailing off southwards towards Farringdon.

==Location==
Butts Junction was located at {{gbmapping|SU711384}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.oldhampshiremapped.org.uk/hantsgaz/hantsgaz/s0001229.htm |title=Butts Junction |website=Old Hampshire Gazetteer |date=2001 |access-date=3 September 2023}}</ref> in an area southwest of Alton town centre<ref>{{cite book |title=Directory of the Railway Companies of Great Britain |first=Donald |last=Grant |date=28 September 2017 |publisher=Troubador Publishing Limited |page=34 |isbn=978-1788037686}}</ref> known as The Butts, from which the junction takes its name. The Butts is a triangle of open land which in medieval times was used for archery practice,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://altonevents.co.uk/locations/the-butts-alton/ |title=The Butts, Alton |website=Alton Events |date=17 October 2019 |publisher=Alton Town Council |access-date=3 September 2023}}</ref> leading to its name in reference to the [[archery butt]]s formerly located at the site.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://weyriver.co.uk/theriver/places_4_alton.htm |title=More About Alton, Hampshire |website=[[River Wey]] and Wey Navigation |date=2008 |access-date=3 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thebuttschurch.org.uk |title=The Butts Church |location=Alton, Hampshire |access-date=3 September 2023}}</ref> Butts Junction was just 20 [[Chain (unit)|chains]] (0.25 miles, 0.40 km) from the former [[Treloar's Hospital Platform railway station]],<ref>{{Quick-stations-5.05 |page=50 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Maggs's Railway Curiosities |first=Colin |last=Maggs |date=15 January 2016 |publisher=Amberley Publishing |isbn= 978-1445652665}}</ref> and {{convert|1.05|mi|km}} to [[Alton railway station]]<ref>{{cite book |title=Biography of British Train Travel |first=Don |last=Benn |date=2017 |publisher=Pen & Sword Transport |isbn=978-1473858442 |page=238}}</ref> located northeast of the junction. The railway crosses Butts Road at the junction over a bridge which was replaced with the opening of the line to Basingstoke.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.friendsofaltonstation.org.uk/community/friends-of-alton-station-8100/basingstoke-railway/ |title=Basingstoke & Alton Light Railway |website=Friends of Alton Station |access-date=3 September 2023}}</ref>

The junction was home to an [[London and South Western Railway|LSWR]] type 4 [[signal box]] which was built on the site in June 1903.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/html/srn/R516.htm |title=Butts Junction |date=7 October 2009 |access-date=3 September 2023 |website=The Signalling Record Society}}</ref>

==References==
<references/>

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[[Category:Rail transport in Hampshire]]
[[Category:Rail junctions in England]]
[[Category:Alton, Hampshire]]

Butts Junction - Revision history

imported>Steamybrian2 at 19:22, 13 February 2025