Stratford-on-Avon Race Course Platform

Stratford-on-Avon Racecourse's minimal facilities were built in 1933 opening on the 6th May of the same year. The nature of its use, providing racecourse visitors with access by rail during the 'flat' season, always meant that the GWR would only provide the most basic of facilities. In this instance, this meant two platforms of sufficient length to accommodate trains for the races but without the structures that would normally be provided such as a toilet, waiting room and booking office. Robert Ferris writes "The use of the term 'Platform' is interesting as these normally had more facilities than Halts. Whereas Halts were designed for two auto trailers at the most so were therefore seldom more than 150 foot long. Platforms were 550 feet long to accommodate an eight coach excursion train. I understand that the procedure at Stratford was for the race excursion trains to unload their passengers at the Racecourse platform and then proceed empty to either Long Marston or Stratford stations (depending on direction of travel) where they would wait until the return journeys were required. There were often several excursion trains waiting at these stations".

The former SMJ crossed over the GWR lines at the northern end of the platforms. With the installation of a new spur from the SMJ, forming a connection with the ex-GWR line just south of the down platform, the existing northern spur was singled. More importantly it allowed British Railways the opportunity to close the SMJ Stratford to Broom line together with the MR's Redditch to Evesham branch. The traffic previously operated via these two lines was primarily iron ore from the 'OIC Wroxton Quarry' in Oxfordshire to the South Wales Steelworks which could now be diverted via the new connection. Unfortunately the grade of iron ore was not the best and as cheaper and a better grade of iron ore became available from overseas the traffic declined. This eventually resulted in the closure of the connection on the 1st March 1965 when freight services ceased. The Racecourse Platforms lasted barely longer as it too was a casualty of BR's decision to withdraw passengers along the route to Honeybourne, being closed on the 21st March 1968.

John Jennings, SMJ Archivist wrote on www.thesmjr.ning.com, 'The difference between 'Halts' and 'Platforms' on the GWR was their length. Halts (like the one at Pebworth) were short and intended for use by railmotors or short trains. Platforms were long to accomodate infrequent but potentially substantial traffic. The Racecourse Platform could accomodate 6 coach trains easily. Both Halts and Platforms had only basic facilities usually a shelter but even that was not provided at Stratford! However it was possible to buy a ticket there on race days. A small wooden box of tickets which were printed with the title "Stratford upon Avon Racecourse Platform" were kept in the booking office at the main Stratford GW station. On racedays a junior clerk drew the short straw and was sent with the ticket box, some petty cash, a stool and umbrella to sit on the platform for the duration that trains were booked to stop on race days. In the early sixties I spent many hours talking to this bored individual who sold very few tickets except as souveniers to enthusiasts'.

Much of the information on this and other pages of Warwickshire Railways is derived from articles or books listed in our 'bibliography'.