Napton & Stockton Station

LMS Route: Leamington to Weedon

Napton & Stockton was located between Southam & Long Itchington station and Flecknoe station. Despite the village's name being used first in the station's name Napton on the Hill was some two miles away whilst Stockton was relatively closer. It was built with a passing loop to serve a second platform, a small goods yard and a small goods shed. A road bridge which carried Stockton Road over the railway was used to connect the two platforms with each platform being connected by steps leading down from the road. In Geoffrey Kingscott book Lost Railways of Warwickshire he claims the 'second platform and the passing loop were done away with'. As can be seen by viewing image 'lnwrn&s1755' which shows Ivatt 2MT 2-6-2T No 41218 at the rear of the two-coach push-pull train forming the last passenger service calling at the station, this is in fact an error. I suspect Geoffrey confused Napton & Stockton station with Southam & Long Itchington station where a platform was taken out.

The station opened on 1st August 1895 and remained open until it closed to passenger traffic on 15th September 1958 with its goods service being withdrawn on 2nd December 1963. As at Flecknoe, the station was constructed of timber throughout. The two platforms, buildings and passenger steps that led down to each platform from either side of the bridge. The style of building, long and narrow was very similar to that erected at Flecknoe. The up line's facilities included a Gentlemen's urinal, a ladies waiting room with internal toilet, a general waiting room and a porter's office. On the down line, the facilities were: a Gentlemen's urinal, a ladies waiting room with internal toilet, a general waiting room, stationmaster's office and a small signal box. The goods yard was located on the other side of the road bridge with a single siding. Adjacent to the loading stage (also noted on the 1904 OS map as containing cattle pens) was a weighbridge (weighing machine) and weighbridge office. These would be used to weigh vehicles arriving and departing from the yard when delivering bulk items. This facilities was open to the public at large and not restricted to clients of the railway company. The 1938 Railway Clearing House Official Hand-Book of Stations confirms that Napton & Stockton station offered facilities for the handling of passengers, goods, livestock and horses. The Hand-Book also noted the sidings Nelson's Lime & Cement Works being close by. No craneage facilities were available therefore large loads would have to be handled either elsewhere or by bringing in a rail mounted crane.

Ref: lnwrn&s2793 J Alsop Looking towards Southam & Long Itchington as a local train passes the stations's up home signal

Ref: lnwrn&s2793a J Alsop Close up showing the point rodding which ran from the up platform and across to the down platform

Ref: lnwrn&s2793b J Alsop Close up showing the up platform with the signal cabin nearest the camera and the toilets furthest away

Ref: lnwrflek2792 Postcard Looking towards Southam & Long Itchington station from the down side of Stockton Road bridge

Ref: lnwrflek2792a Postcard Close up showing the down buildings which accommodated the passenger waiting rooms and toilets

Ref: lnwrflek2792b Postcard Close up showing the up platform buildings with a number of station staff posed for the camera

Ref: lnwrn&s1318b Postcard Close up of Napton & Stockton station's up platform with the steps coming down from the road to access to the platform

Ref: lnwrn&s1318 Postcard Looking towards Weeden with the main passenger building on the up line on the left and the down platform on the right

Ref: lnwrn&s1318a Postcard Close up of the station's down platform showing the steps down from the road and access to the platform

Ref: lnwrflek1324 Postcard The up platform and main station single-storey building accommodating the booking office and passenger facilities

Ref: lnwrflek1324a Lens of Sutton Close up showing the steps to the road bridge on the left and Stockton Mill goods yard on the right through the arch

Ref: lnwrflek1324b Lens of Sutton Close up showing part of the up platform with the waiting room located in the centre and toilets on the left

Ref: lnwrn&s1319 Lens of Sutton Looking along the station's up platform as the station porter passes over the staff for the next section of line

Ref: lnwrn&s4382 LNWR Society Looking towards Marton Junction from the down platform with the up platform on the right

Ref: lnwrn&s4382a LNWR Society Close up showing the building accommodates a small office at the far end accessed from the waiting room

Locomotives seen at or near Napton & Stockton station

Ref: lnwrn&s1758 WoW Looking towards Weeden as an unidentified LNWR 0-6-0 locomotive heads one of the first trains to over the route

Ref: lnwrn&s1755 WoW BR built 2MT 2-6-2T No 41218 is seen at the rear of a push-pull train on the last Weeden to Warwick service

Ref: lnwrn&s4384 LNWR Society Ex-LMS 2-6-2T 4P No 42566 is seen at the head of a train arriving at the station from Long Itchington

Ref: lnwrn&s1760 M Mensing Ex-LMS 4-6-0 5MT No 44833 heads a RCTS Railtour east of the station after closure of the line to passenger services

Ordnance Survey Maps of Napton & Stockton station and adjacent Lime & Cement Works

Ref: lnwrn&s4391 LNWR Society A LNWR 2-Chains Map of the approaches to Stockton Lime and Cement Works owned by Charles Nelson and Sons

Ref: lnwrn&s4389 LNWR Society A LNWR Two-Chains Map of the Stockton Lime and Cement Works owned by Charles Nelson and Sons

Ref: lnwrn&s4388 LNWR Society A LNWR Two-Chains Map of the Blue Lias Lime and Cement Works owned by Greaves, Brill and Larkin

Ref: lnwrn&s4392 LNWR Society A LNWR One inch to Two-Chains Map of Napton & Stockton station and its single line goods siding

Ref: lnwrn&s4387 LNWR Society A LNWR One inch to Two Chains Map of the station of the up line's facilities: urinal, waiting rooms and office

Ref: lnwrn&s4385 National Library of Scotland A 1904 25 inch to the Mile OS Map of Stockton Lime & Cement Works and Napton & Stockton station

Ref: lnwrn&s4386 National Library of Scotland A 1904 25 inch to the Mile OS Map of the station, the Blue Lias' and Stockton's Lime & Cement Works

Ref: lnwrn&s4383 National Library of Scotland A 1904 25 inch to the Mile OS Map of the station showing the railway houses next to the goods yard