GWR Route: Moreton-in-Marsh to Shipston-on-Stour

Longdon Road Station

Longdon Road for Ilmington

Longdon Road Station should have by rights been named 'Darlingscott' after the nearby hamlet of that name, but was instead named by the GWR after a nearby manor house. The 'Emmett' style wooden building on the single short platform was situated on the down side of the line. A corrugated-iron shed was later erected to provide additional accommodation for parcels, bicycles and other miscellaneous items. The station had a distinct feature in that almost opposite the corrugated-iron parcel hut was a loading-gauge, a rare feature to see on the running line and not on the sidings itself. To the west of the of the station separated by a level crossing was the small two siding goods yard. One of the two sidings was in fact laid on the path of the original Shipston-on-Stour spur that came off the Moreton-in-Marsh to Stratford upon Avon tramway. A horse landing stage stood on the junction between the original tramway route and the new curve installed when the route was upgraded for steam traction. This curve was tightly graded was considered a bit of a challenge to loco crews. The second siding was used mainly by local coal merchants who also used the small weighbridge that was installed by the goods yard's entrance.

Ref: gwrlr531 J Hollick Looking past the gates towards the goods yard with the line to Moreton-in-Marsh curving away to the left

Ref: gwrlr532 J Hollick Looking towards the goods yard with the line to Moreton curving to the left beyond the level crossing gates

Ref: gwrlr532a J Hollick Close up showing the original platform building and its timber framing visible on the outside of the structure

Ref: gwrlr811 JH Russell The station after closure with the platform buildings still in place but with the original platform fittings now removed

Ref: gwrlr949 Lens of Sutton View looking in the direction of Shipston-on-Stour showing the station name board 'Longdon Road for Ilmington'

Ref: gwrlr956 RK Cope Looking east towards Shipston-on-Stour with the corrugated parcel shed next to the station name board

Ref: gwrlr957 Lens of Sutton Looking west towards the goods yard which lay on the other side of the Level Crossing

Ref: gwrlr963 J Hollick CR Clinker is photographed on the platform standing by himself during their exploratory visit in April 1933

Ref: gwrlr531a J Hollick Close up of showing the horse landing dock with solid partioning instead of the normal five bar fencing

Ref: gwrlr813 JH Russell Looking towards the Shipston-on-Stour from the top of the former horse landing with the station beyond the gates

Ref: gwrlr955 CL Mowatt View of the goods yard taken from the horse-landing platform showing some traffic standing on the second line

Ref: gwrlr955a CL Mowatt Close up of the line to Moreton in Marsh on the right and loading gauge protecting the line by the level crossing

Ref: gwrlr813a JH Russell Close up showing on the left the small weigh bridge office and weighing plate with gate just beyond

Ref: gwrlr815 JH Russell The ground frame located alongside the PW hut which controlled the sidings points and facing points lock

Ref: gwrlr812 J Hollick The doyens of railway photographic history posing as they walked the branch line to Shipston-on-Stour

Ref: gwrlr946 KF Klapper Looking along the route of the original branch line that joined the Stratford-upon-Avon tramway

Ref: gwrlr947 Anon A 1950s view of the former junction and goods yard with the 1899 built horse landing box now lying derelict

Ref: gwrlr809 Anon A 1950s view looking towards the goods yard with the branch to Moreton-in-Marsh curving to the left

Ref: gwrlr954 J Hollick Darlingscott Junction with the Shipston-on-Stour branch on the left and the route to Moreton-in-Marsh to the right

Ref: gwrlr814 J Hollick Looking towards Stratford upon Avon whilst on the right was another gate on the Shipston-on-Stour track bed

Ref: gwrlr953 RK Cope The line looking east towards Shipston-on-Stour taken from the end of Longdon Road station platform

Ref: gwrlr810 Anon Looking towards Shipston-on-Stour as the guard of the Moreton-in-Marsh goods train closes the gates

Ref: gwrlr3018 Anon On his velocipede inspection car in circa 1925, Charles Webb was one of the Gangers for Shipston-on-Stour branch

Ordnance Survey Maps showing Darlingscott Junction and Longdon Road station

Ref: gwrlr3091 National Library of Scotland The 1885 Ordnance Survey Map of Darlingscott Junction prior to the opening of Longdon Road station

Ref: gwrlr3092 National Library of Scotland The 1902 Ordnance Survey Map of Darlingscott Junction showing also Longdon Road station

Ref: gwrlr3093 National Library of Scotland The 1921 Ordnance Survey Map showing Longdon Road station and it's basic goods yard facilities

Ref: gwrlr3094 National Library of Scotland The 1900 Ordnance Survey Map showing Longdon Road station and it's basic goods yard facilities