Salcey Forest railway station
Encyclopedia
Salcey Forest was a short-lived railway station on the Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway
which opened in 1893 near the Northamptonshire
forest of the same name
. The station was not situated near any settlement and only saw passenger services for four months, it being most likely an error of judgement by the railway company which had provided substantial station facilities in expectation of traffic which never came. The station eventually closed in 1908.
in Northamptonshire
. It formed part of the Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway
's (SMJ) east-west line from Broom
to Olney
. The reason for the station's construction is not entirely clear as it served no nearby settlement. One theory is that it was provided on the request of the Duke of Grafton
whose lived at nearby Salcey Lawn. As with Stoke Bruern station
, an imposing brick
station building was provided which became the home to employees of the railway until the line's closure. The approach to the station consisted of no more than a simple bridle path
from what is now the B526 from Northampton
to Newport Pagnell
. The station never justified a more significant means of access as it never saw any kind of traffic, and its provision seems to have been an error of judgement by the SMJ.
Passenger services began on 1 December 1892 with four stopping trains a day, but traffic was so poor that this was withdrawn four months later. On the first service, it was reported that one person alighted at Salcey Forest, but no-one joined, whilst at Stoke Bruern, seven joined and one alighted. The service attracted no more than twenty passengers a week and the SMJ incurred a loss of £40. The station finally closed to goods in 1908; the single loop goods siding
was lifted by 1915, whilst the signal box
was removed in September 1912.
long-distance footpath.
Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway
The Stratford Upon Avon & Midland Junction Railway was a small independent railway company which ran a line across the empty, untouched centre of England. It visited the counties of Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire and a little of Buckinghamshire, only existing as the SMJR from 1909 to...
which opened in 1893 near the Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
forest of the same name
Salcey Forest
Salcey Forest is a former medieval hunting forest in the south of the county of Northamptonshire in England.It lies to the east of the village of Hartwell, between Northampton and Newport Pagnell...
. The station was not situated near any settlement and only saw passenger services for four months, it being most likely an error of judgement by the railway company which had provided substantial station facilities in expectation of traffic which never came. The station eventually closed in 1908.
History
The station opened in 1893 in an isolated spot of open country to the north of Salcey ForestSalcey Forest
Salcey Forest is a former medieval hunting forest in the south of the county of Northamptonshire in England.It lies to the east of the village of Hartwell, between Northampton and Newport Pagnell...
in Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
. It formed part of the Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway
Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway
The Stratford Upon Avon & Midland Junction Railway was a small independent railway company which ran a line across the empty, untouched centre of England. It visited the counties of Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire and a little of Buckinghamshire, only existing as the SMJR from 1909 to...
's (SMJ) east-west line from Broom
Broom Junction railway station
Broom Junction was a railway station and interchange between the Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway and the Barnt Green to Ashchurch line. Although initially only an exchange station, it was opened to the public from 1880 and remained in service until 1963...
to Olney
Olney railway station
Olney was a railway station on the former Bedford to Northampton Line and Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway which served the town of Olney in Buckinghamshire, England. It was situated on a busy section of line between Towcester and Ravenstone Wood junction which saw heavy use by...
. The reason for the station's construction is not entirely clear as it served no nearby settlement. One theory is that it was provided on the request of the Duke of Grafton
Alfred FitzRoy, 8th Duke of Grafton
Alfred William Maitland FitzRoy, 8th Duke of Grafton , styled Lord Alfred FitzRoy between 1882 and 1912 and Earl of Euston between 1912 and 1918, was the son of the 7th Duke of Grafton and his wife Anna Balfour, daughter of James Balfour [and aunt of Arthur Balfour].He married, firstly, Margaret...
whose lived at nearby Salcey Lawn. As with Stoke Bruern station
Stoke Bruern railway station
Stoke Bruern was a railway station on the Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway which opened in 1893 near the Northamptonshire village of Stoke Bruerne after which it was misnamed...
, an imposing brick
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
station building was provided which became the home to employees of the railway until the line's closure. The approach to the station consisted of no more than a simple bridle path
Bridle path
A bridle path is a thoroughfare originally made for horses, but which these days serves a wide range of interests, including hikers, walkers and cyclists as well as equestrians. The laws relating to permissions vary from country to country...
from what is now the B526 from Northampton
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
to Newport Pagnell
Newport Pagnell
Newport Pagnell is a town in the Borough of Milton Keynes , England. It is separated by the M1 motorway from Milton Keynes itself, though part of the same urban area...
. The station never justified a more significant means of access as it never saw any kind of traffic, and its provision seems to have been an error of judgement by the SMJ.
Passenger services began on 1 December 1892 with four stopping trains a day, but traffic was so poor that this was withdrawn four months later. On the first service, it was reported that one person alighted at Salcey Forest, but no-one joined, whilst at Stoke Bruern, seven joined and one alighted. The service attracted no more than twenty passengers a week and the SMJ incurred a loss of £40. The station finally closed to goods in 1908; the single loop goods siding
Rail siding
A siding, in rail terminology, is a low-speed track section distinct from a running line or through route such as a main line or branch line or spur. It may connect to through track or to other sidings at either end...
was lifted by 1915, whilst the signal box
Signal box
On a rail transport system, signalling control is the process by which control is exercised over train movements by way of railway signals and block systems to ensure that trains operate safely, over the correct route and to the proper timetable...
was removed in September 1912.
Present day
No traces of the station remain, the buildings having been cleared away in the 1950s. The trackbed is now a mud track running between fields which forms part of the Midshires WayMidshires Way
The Midshires Way is a long distance footpath and bridleway that runs for through Middle England from Bledlow in Buckinghamshire to Stockport, Greater Manchester....
long-distance footpath.