Hoo Junction

There are up and down yards on either side of the main line, with the single-track Grain branch line entering from the north east.

The up yard (south of the main line) consists of 14 sidings and three through roads, with other ancillary sidings. The down yard (north of the main line) consists of 10 sidings and three through roads. Some sidings in the down yard have been taken up.

As part of Phase 1 of the Kent Coast Electrification Scheme, the yard at Hoo Junction had a simple overhead catenary system installed in 1959, to accommodate the Class 71 electric locomotives then brought into use. These were equipped with a pantograph to work off the catenary, intended to avoid the exposed third rail which could have added a danger for yard staff. Due to introduction of diesel-electric locomotives the catenary system had become redundant by 1975.

Westinghouse Rail Systems has buildings adjacent to the north perimeter of the yard.

The yard re-marshals wagon traffic on the main line and from the branch. The majority of traffic is aggregate wagons, with steel strip carriers are also present. Infrastructure units and ballast trains also use the yard. Container traffic from Thamesport used to pass through but this flow ceased around 2014 when the larger container shipping lines started using Thames Gateway instead of Thamesport.

Hoo Junction Staff Halt opened in 1956 in the yard, which it was built to serve.{{cite book | first = R. W.| last = Kidner| year = 1985| title = Southern Railway Halts. Survey and Gazetteer| publisher = The Oakwood Press| location = Headington, Oxford| isbn = 0-85361-321-4}} The down platform was on the main line before the junction with the branch, at TQ 6950 7369 {{Coord|51.4364|0.4390|display=inline|format=dms}}, while the up platform was only on the main line, at TQ 6980 7364 {{Coord|51.4358|0.4433|display=inline|format=dms}}.{{cite book|title=Dartford to Sittingbourne, Southern Main Lines|year=1994 |publisher=Middleton Press|isbn=1-873793-34-0}} This station had an hourly service, which was advertised as being "for staff purposes only".{{Cite web |title=Hoo Junction Staff Halt |url=http://www.kentrail.org.uk/Hoo%20Junction%20Staff%20Halt.htm |access-date=}}

The station has been closed and demolished.

{{Disused Rail Start}}

{{rail line|previous=Denton Halt|next=Uralite Halt|route=1956 to 3-12-1961
BR(S)
Hundred of Hoo Railway|col=FECB09}}

{{rail line|previous=Gravesend Central|next=Goods line to Grain|route=From
4-12-1961
BR(S) later
Network Rail
Hundred of Hoo Railway|col=FECB09}}

{{rail line|previous=Denton Halt|next=Higham|route=1956 to 3-12-1961
BR(S)
North Kent Line|col=FECB09}}

{{end}}

{{rail start}}

{{rail line|previous=Gravesend|next=Higham|route=From 4-12-1961 BR(S) later
Network Rail
North Kent Line|col=FECB09}}

{{end}}

{{Disused Rail Start}}

{{rail line|previous=Higham|next=Denton Halt|route=1956 to 3-12-1961
BR(S)
North Kent Line|col=FECB09}}

{{end}}

{{rail start}}

{{rail line|previous=Higham|next=Gravesend|route=From 4-12-1961
BR(S) later
Network Rail
North Kent Line|col=FECB09}}

{{end}}

• Rail transport in Great Britain

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.semgonline.com/location/hoojunc_01.html Sketch ] of Hoo Junction track plan
• [http://www.kentrail.org.uk/Hoo%20Junction%201.htm Kent Rail ] website detailing the operations of Hoo Junction
• [http://www.kentrail.org.uk/Hoo%20Junction%20Staff%20Halt.htm Kent Rail ] detailing the staff halt
• [http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/stations/u/uralite_halt/index1.shtml Subterranea Britannica]

{{Railway yards in Great Britain}}

{{coord|51|26|10|N|0|26|46|E|region:GB_scale:5000_type:landmark_source:wikimapia|display=title}}

Category:Rail yards in the United Kingdom

Category:Disused railway stations in Kent

Category:Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1956

Category:Railway stations opened by British Rail

Category:Private railway stations

Category:Railway sidings in England