Towcester railway station
Encyclopedia
Towcester was a railway station on the Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway
which served the Northamptonshire
town of Towcester
between 1866 and 1964. It was one of the most important stations on the line, and once served as an interchange for services to Stratford
, Banbury
and Olney. It also saw substantial traffic on racedays at Towcester Racecourse. Its closure came as the various interconnecting lines to the station closed one by one in the 1950s and 1960s.
(SMJ), received Parliamentary authorisation to construct an 18 miles (29 km) line from the London and North Western Railway
's Blisworth station
on their London to Birmingham line
to Cockley Brake junction, at which point the new branch would form a junction with the existing Banbury to Verney Junction Branch Line
. The public opening of the section of line from Blisworth to Towcester took place on 30 April 1866, with Towcester station formally opening to traffic the next day. The remainder of the line was finally opened by 1 June 1872.
d structure built of brick
, were situated on the up platform. A small platform canopy
projected from the front of this building, with its central section unusually raised in an inverted "V". Small single-storey extensions flanked either side of the main building. Inside the building, there was a booking office, waiting room and toilet facilities, as well as accommodation for the stationmaster. Extensive sidings
were provided: the down side holding 126 wagons and the up side 3 wagons; there was also a 42 feet (12.8 m) locomotive turntable which was transferred from in 1908.
Until the amalgamation of the NBJ and SMJ in 1910, both companies ran over the same stretch of single track as far as Greens Norton junction where the line to Banbury
diverged southwards from the line to . This required a signal box
at each end of Towcester station and a third at the junction. Amalgamation resulted in the abolition of the junction and its replacement with two separate tracks running parallel from Towcester before separating at Greens Norton. The three signal boxes were replaced by a new high box at the Blisworth end of the down platform, to which access could be had from the footbridge. This was altered in 1926 when the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
(LMSR), which had taken over the line upon the railway grouping
, installed a new footbridge and separate steps were provided to the box.
and one for Blisworth. The station also saw special services for Towcester Racecourse, which was particularly known for the Grafton Hunt Steeplechase on Easter Monday
s which attracted between 7,000 and 8,000 visitors to the town. Between 1927 and 1939 the LMSR laid on regular excursion trains from . Specials also ran from and Oxford
, combining at and continuing on the Banbury branch.
The routes into Towcester began to close to passengers from the beginning of the 1950s: Banbury to Towcester closed entirely on 30 June 1951 and Blisworth to Stratford closed to passengers on 7 April 1952. The line to Cockley Brake junction was lifted towards the end of 1955 and the SMJ's station at Blisworth closed to passengers in 1960. The section from Towcester to Ravenstone Wood junction remained used by freight until June 1958, and the line south to Olney closed as a result of the construction of the M1 motorway
. The last section to remain open was from Woodford West junction to Blisworth which closed to goods in February 1964.
supermarket and a car salesroom. The Towcester bypass
has severed the trackbed near Greens Norton junction, but a section of embankment
remains intact to the south of the road.
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 served 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,...
town of Towcester
Towcester
Towcester , the Roman town of Lactodorum, is a small town in south Northamptonshire, England.-Etymology:Towcester comes from the Old English Tófe-ceaster. Tófe refers to the River Tove; Bosworth and Toller compare it to the "Scandinavian proper names" Tófi and Tófa...
between 1866 and 1964. It was one of the most important stations on the line, and once served as an interchange for services to Stratford
Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon is a market town and civil parish in south Warwickshire, England. It lies on the River Avon, south east of Birmingham and south west of Warwick. It is the largest and most populous town of the District of Stratford-on-Avon, which uses the term "on" to indicate that it covers...
, Banbury
Banbury
Banbury is a market town and civil parish on the River Cherwell in the Cherwell District of Oxfordshire. It is northwest of London, southeast of Birmingham, south of Coventry and north northwest of the county town of Oxford...
and Olney. It also saw substantial traffic on racedays at Towcester Racecourse. Its closure came as the various interconnecting lines to the station closed one by one in the 1950s and 1960s.
Opening
In 1863, the Northampton & Banbury Junction Railway (N&BJ), a forerunner of the Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction RailwayStratford-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...
(SMJ), received Parliamentary authorisation to construct an 18 miles (29 km) line from the London and North Western Railway
London and North Western Railway
The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway...
's Blisworth station
Blisworth railway station
Blisworth railway station was opened by the London and Birmingham Railway in Blisworth, Northamptonshire in 1838.-History:The station was opened on 17 September 1838. In 1845 the L&BR opened their Northampton and Peterborough Railway a line which connected Peterborough and Northampton from a...
on their London to Birmingham line
London and Birmingham Railway
The London and Birmingham Railway was an early railway company in the United Kingdom from 1833 to 1846, when it became part of the London and North Western Railway ....
to Cockley Brake junction, at which point the new branch would form a junction with the existing Banbury to Verney Junction Branch Line
Banbury to Verney Junction Branch Line
The Banbury to Verney Junction Branch Line was a railway branch line constructed by the Buckinghamshire Railway which connected the Oxfordshire market town of Banbury with the Buckinghamshire town of Bletchley via the historic county town of Buckingham and the Northamptonshire town of Brackley, a...
. The public opening of the section of line from Blisworth to Towcester took place on 30 April 1866, with Towcester station formally opening to traffic the next day. The remainder of the line was finally opened by 1 June 1872.
Station buildings and layout
The station was a major centre of the SMJ. It was the only station on the line to have three platform faces (one up and two down platforms), and the down platforms were linked to the up platform by the line's only footbridge. The main station buildings, a two-storey gableGable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
d structure built of 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:...
, were situated on the up platform. A small platform canopy
Canopy (building)
A canopy is an overhead roof or else a structure over which a fabric or metal covering is attached, able to provide shade or shelter. A canopy can also be a tent, generally without a floor....
projected from the front of this building, with its central section unusually raised in an inverted "V". Small single-storey extensions flanked either side of the main building. Inside the building, there was a booking office, waiting room and toilet facilities, as well as accommodation for the stationmaster. Extensive sidings
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...
were provided: the down side holding 126 wagons and the up side 3 wagons; there was also a 42 feet (12.8 m) locomotive turntable which was transferred from in 1908.
Until the amalgamation of the NBJ and SMJ in 1910, both companies ran over the same stretch of single track as far as Greens Norton junction where the line to Banbury
Banbury Merton Street railway station
Banbury Merton Street was the first railway station to serve the Oxfordshire market town of Banbury in England. It opened in 1850 as the northern terminus of the Buckinghamshire Railway providing connections to Bletchley and Oxford and closing for passengers in 1961 and goods in 1966.- Context...
diverged southwards from the line to . This required a 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...
at each end of Towcester station and a third at the junction. Amalgamation resulted in the abolition of the junction and its replacement with two separate tracks running parallel from Towcester before separating at Greens Norton. The three signal boxes were replaced by a new high box at the Blisworth end of the down platform, to which access could be had from the footbridge. This was altered in 1926 when the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...
(LMSR), which had taken over the line upon the railway grouping
Railways Act 1921
The Railways Act 1921, also known as the Grouping Act, was an enactment by the British government of David Lloyd George intended to stem the losses being made by many of the country's 120 railway companies, move the railways away from internal competition, and to retain some of the benefits which...
, installed a new footbridge and separate steps were provided to the box.
Traffic
Until 1893, Towcester served as a junction station for services to , as well as an interchange for Blisworth to Banbury services and Blisworth to Stratford services. Around four services a day called from Olney to provide a connection with Stratford services. The 1920s saw Towcester at its busiest on weekday mornings at 9am, with three passenger services scheduled to depart: one for Banbury, one for BroomBroom 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...
and one for Blisworth. The station also saw special services for Towcester Racecourse, which was particularly known for the Grafton Hunt Steeplechase on Easter Monday
Easter Monday
Easter Monday is the day after Easter Sunday and is celebrated as a holiday in some largely Christian cultures, especially Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox cultures...
s which attracted between 7,000 and 8,000 visitors to the town. Between 1927 and 1939 the LMSR laid on regular excursion trains from . Specials also ran from and Oxford
Oxford Rewley Road railway station
Oxford Rewley Road railway station was a railway station serving the city of Oxford, England, located immediately to the north of what is now Frideswide Square on the site of the Saïd Business School. It was the terminus of the Buckinghamshire Railway, which was worked, and later absorbed, by the...
, combining at and continuing on the Banbury branch.
The routes into Towcester began to close to passengers from the beginning of the 1950s: Banbury to Towcester closed entirely on 30 June 1951 and Blisworth to Stratford closed to passengers on 7 April 1952. The line to Cockley Brake junction was lifted towards the end of 1955 and the SMJ's station at Blisworth closed to passengers in 1960. The section from Towcester to Ravenstone Wood junction remained used by freight until June 1958, and the line south to Olney closed as a result of the construction of the M1 motorway
M1 motorway
The M1 is a north–south motorway in England primarily connecting London to Leeds, where it joins the A1 near Aberford. While the M1 is considered to be the first inter-urban motorway to be completed in the United Kingdom, the first road to be built to motorway standard in the country was the...
. The last section to remain open was from Woodford West junction to Blisworth which closed to goods in February 1964.
Present day
The station buildings, which were of no interest to the local community, were demolished to be replaced by a light industrial estate, a TescoTesco
Tesco plc is a global grocery and general merchandise retailer headquartered in Cheshunt, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues and the second-largest measured by profits...
supermarket and a car salesroom. The Towcester bypass
A43 road
The A43 is a primary route in the English Midlands, that runs from the M40 motorway near Ardley in Oxfordshire to Stamford in Lincolnshire. Through Northamptonshire it bypasses the towns of Northampton, Kettering and Corby which are the three principal destinations on the A43 route...
has severed the trackbed near Greens Norton junction, but a section of embankment
Embankment (transportation)
To keep a road or railway line straight or flat, and where the comparative cost or practicality of alternate solutions is prohibitive, the land over which the road or rail line will travel is built up to form an embankment. An embankment is therefore in some sense the opposite of a cutting, and...
remains intact to the south of the road.