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

Shipston-on-Stour Station

Shipston-on-Stour station was first opened on 11th February 1836 as a branch line terminus of the horse-drawn Moreton-in-Marsh to Stratford upon Avon Tramway. Initially, during its days as part of the tramway, the station was used only for goods traffic although individual passengers could ride alongside the driver. It was not until 1st July 1889 that the station became a part of the GWR's network able to be connected to other parts of the country with steam hauled traffic. The opening of the line to steam locomotives also resulted in Shipston-on-Stour being provided with a small brick-built engine shed although this only lasted for twenty-seven years being closed in November 1916. Thereafter the traffic on the branch was handled by the engine hauling the first Worcester to Moreton-in-Marsh goods train. The initial four trains per day each way was reduced as a wartime economy measure to two trains per day with Stretton-on-Fosse station being temporarily closed. The cessation of the war saw traffic increase to three trains per day (and Stretton-on-Fosse being reopened in March 1919). Passenger traffic was withdrawn on 8th July 1929 being replaced by a GWR bus service although records show passengers still purchased tickets for the following two years. The Second World War saw further economies take place on the line which resulted in Stretton-on-Fosse and Longdon Road closing for good although Shipston-on-Stour remained open for goods traffic. Goods services finally closed at Shipston on 2nd May 1960 although the station did remain open to handle rail traffic brought from Moreton-in-Marsh by road lorry.

Shipston-on-Stour station

Ref: gwrss536 P Hopkins Looking towards Moreton-in-Marsh with the goods shed on the left and the station building on the right

Ref: gwrss536b P Hopkins Close up showing the station building which housed the booking office waiting rooms and toilet facilities

Ref: gwrss533 Postcard A GWR 0-6-0ST at the head of a mixed local passenger service with local passengers posed for the camera

Ref: gwrss533a Postcard Close up of the branch's mixed local passenger service shortly to depart for the short trip to Moreton-in-Marsh

Ref: gwrss558 Anon The station from the goods yard prior to the loading dock being built in 1914 with a GWR 0-6-0ST on a one-coach train

gwrss535a P Hopkins Close up showing the method of releasing the locomotive after it had brought the train from Moreton-in-Marsh

Ref: gwrss539 CR Clinker Another view looking down the line towards Moreton with the station on the right and the goods shed on the left

Ref: gwrss603 Anon View showing the loading dock fence and gates removed but with the goods yard and shed still in good repair

Ref: gwrss606 JH Russell The station building contained the gentlemen's lavatory, ladies and general waiting room, and booking office

Ref: gwrss545 JH Russell View showing the station in disrepair and long after its closure with the loading dock's fencing removed

Ref: gwrss537 JH Moss View looking along the platform, long after the station had closed, showing the ground frame now removed

Ref: gwrss567 D Lawrence A goods train comprised of just two ventilated vans and a guards van stand in the long closed station

Ref: gwrss534 Anon Railway enthusiasts visiting the station in the late 1950s a common sight on goods only lines before the end of steam

Ref: gwrss607 JH Moss The single point lever ground frame which controlled the release points at the southern end of the station

Ref: gwrss961 HF Wheeler View of the 'Stop board' which controlled the passage of trains and engines entering the confines of the station

Ref: gwrss566 Anon Ex-MSWJR 0-6-0 No 1335 has run around the SLS special from Oxford and is now ready to reverse the train back to Morton

Shipston-on-Stour Goods Shed and Yard

Ref: gwrss536a P Hopkins Close up showing the goods shed and the loading dock used to transfer road vehicles on to flat wagons

Ref: gwrss538 Anon Looking towards the station with the cattle dock on the left and the goods shed beyond protected by a standard loading gauge

Ref: gwrss538a Anon Close up showing how the track adjacent to cattle docks was protected by providing hard standing

Ref: gwrss535 P Hopkins A 1930s view looking towards the buffer stops with the single platform terminus on the left and the goods shed on the right

Ref: gwrss541 JH Russell The goods shed with additional storage facilities being provided by two grounded bodies raised clear of the ground

Ref: gwrss542 JH Moss The grounded bodies comprised an ex-Taff Vale Railway inside frame Van and an ex-GWR Dean 40 foot bogie brake van

Ref: gwrss950 MJE Deane Looking across to the cattle pens from the end of the platform with the goods shed on the left and engine shed behind

Ref: gwrss568 JH Moss The goods shed which being built of corrugated iron looks more utilitarian than the standard GWR design built of brick or stone

Ref: gwrss571 CR Clinker Looking towards the goods yard junction with the plate layers hut on the right and the single road engine shed behind it

Ref: gwrss1002 MEJ Deane View of the station, the goods shed, cattle dock and coal merchant sidings located at Shipston-on-Stour

Ref: gwrss1003 MEJ Deane View of the station's goods yard facilities which included the cattle dock the long siding which by used for local coal merchants

Ref: gwrss950a MJE Deane Close up showing the grounded ex-GWR Dean 40 foot passenger bogie brake van and still on its wheels a GWR four-wheel Van

Ref: gwrss569 JH Moss View of the station and goods yard with the track over grown taken one year after being brought into BR ownership

Ref: gwrss544 JH Russell A panoramic view of the station with Hudson's sack office, the weigh bridge office and Hutchings coal office on the right

Ref: gwrss543 MJ Deane Looking from the road towards the weigh bridge with the goods shed in the distance and the engine shed further behind

Ref: gwrss570 GJ Gammel Looking along the defunct passenger station with the local goods service preparing to return to Moreton-in-Marsh tender first

Ref: gwrss602 NE Preedy Ex-GWR 0-6-0 'Dean Goods' No 2458 is seen in July 1953 at the head of the short return branch freight to Moreton-in-Marsh

Ref: gwrss960 JH Russell View of an unidentified GWR 0-6-0 2301 class as it shunts in the station station just after the end of the Second World War

Miscellaneous

Ref: gwrss604 Ordnance Survey Ordnance Survey map showing the layout of Shipson-on-Stour station, goods yard and shed

Ref: gwrss3103 Ordnance Survey A 1923 25 inch Ordnance Survey map showing the layout of Shipson-on-Stour station, goods yard and shed

Ref: gwrss3104 Great Western Railway A 1916 Official Track Plan showing the layout of Shipson-on-Stour station and it's water supply

Ref: gwrss3105 Wild Swan Publications Three principal sources of goods traffic seen operating in the 1930s at Shipston-on-Stour goods yard

Ref: gwrss561 Anon A turn of the 20th century view of Station Road and the terrace houses that lined the street with the station in the distance