Southam & Long Itchington Station

LMS Route: Leamington to Weedon

Southam & Long Itchington station was the most substantial of the three stations on the line within the county's border. Unlike the other two it was built in brick when opened on 1st August 1895, including the up platform, which at a later date saw its buildings demolished when passenger levels fell to a level not able to justify its continued use. Passengers used steps from either platform and the road bridge to gain access to each side. The station closed with the withdrawal of passengers services on the Leamington to Weedon route on 15th September 1958. However its close proximity to the cement works led to its goods service lasting 18 months longer than the other stations on the line closing on 5th July 1965.

Through goods trains to the cement works still ran for another 20 years, although with the lifting of the line south of the station to Weedon and also the Leamington - Marton Junction portion of the Rugby to Leamington route traffic had to now proceed via Rugby with a reversal at Marton Junction. Cement traffic finally ceased on 1st August 1985, exactly 90 years after the line opened, when BR lost out to road transport and the line was finally lifted in 1987.

Select an image below to view the larger version with accompanying text:

Ref: lnwrs&l1323 Real Photos Looking to Weeden from the Leamington end of the down platform with the up platform on the left

Ref: lnwrs&l1323a Real Photos Close up showing the up platform with the gentlemen toilets on the left and the waiting room on the right

Ref: lnwrs&l1323 Real Photos Close up of the parachute water tank situated on the up line beyond the bridge and the sidings on the right

Ref: lnwrs&l1320 Real Photographs Looking to Weeden from the Leamington end of the down line with a push-pull train standing at the down platform

Ref: lnwrs&l1320a Real Photographs Close up of the cab in the driver trailer showing the vacuum operated controls and the pipework fitted outside

Ref: lnwrs&l1320b Real Photographs Close up of the Weeden end of the up platform showing the steps to the road bridge on the left

Ref: lnwrs&l1321 G Coltas Ex-LMS 3MT 2-6-2T No 40076 is seen at the head of a Milverton to Weeden local passenger service

Ref: lnwrs&l1322 G Coltas BR built 2MT 2-6-2T No 41231 running bunker first at the head of Milverton to Weeden local passenger service

Ref: lnwrs&l1761 M Mensing BR Type 2 Bo-Bo D5137 is seen at the head of a Rugby via Marton to Southam cement works freight service

Ref: lnwrs&l1762 M Mensing British Railways Type 2 Bo-Bo D5137 propels the two brake vans forward through the closed station

Ref: lnwrs&l2081 C Capewell View of the standard LNWR cast iron supporting brackets used to the station's cantilevered canopy roof

Ref: lnwrs&l2082 C Capewell View of the station's derelict down platform building with the booking office seen through the open door

Ref: lnwrs&l2083 C Capewell Looking through the road bridge towards Weedon with Southam Cement works seen in the distance

Ref: lnwrs&l2084 C Capewell An oblique view of the down platform building taken from the Leamington end of the up platform

Ref: lnwrs&l2085 C Capewell A view of the side elevation of the passenger steps from the road bridge down to the station's down platform

Ref: lnwrs&l2086 C Capewell An oblique view of the side elevation of the station's down platform passenger steps to the road bridge

Ref: lnwrs&l2087 C Capewell View looking down the inside of the steps from the road bridge down to the station's down platform

Ref: lnwrs&l172088 C Capewell An oblique view of the station's down platform building taken from the road bridge above the up platform

Ref: lnwrs&l2089 C Capewell Inside the booking office showing the fixed sloping desk and the pigeon holes for paperwork

Ref: lnwrs&l2792 M Kavanagh One of the wagon labels photographed on one of the wagons in the sidings at Long Itchington

Ref: lnwrs&l2854 P Leonard An unidentified Brush Type 2 A1A+A1A diesel locomotive is seen near Southam Cement works circa 1980s

Ref: lnwrs&l2855 M Mensing BR built 2MT 2-6-2T No 41228 enters Southam station on 2:37pm Leamington Avenue to Weeden local service

Ref: lnwrs&l2855 A Newman Ex-LMS 8F 2-8-0 No 48374 on a Southam cement working on the Marton Junction to Weedon branch