Stratford upon Avon Station
Stratford Upon Avon has had three standard gauge stations
associated with the GWR or companies under its influence, two termini of
branches and one through station, the current station, which itself has been
subject to alterations to its layout over the years.
Initially two branch lines served the town each with their
own terminus. The first station to open was just south of the current station
at Sancta Lane being the site of the OWWR´s (Oxford, Worcester &
Wolverhampton Railway) branch terminus which was only operational for a very
brief period of time, from 12 July 1859 to 24 July 1861.
The second station located on the Birmingham Road, opened
on 9th October 1860, was just to the north of the current station and served
the Stratford Railway Company's branch line from Hatton to Stratford Upon Avon,
a spur off the GWR's Oxford to Birmingham route.
The obvious advantage of joining the two branch lines was
quickly recognised and the current station was opened on 24 July 1861 with the
Birmingham Road station being relegated to goods traffic and the occasional
excursion traffic, the latter ceasing in 1869.
The Evesham Road station was built as a two platform
station with possibly a bay platform located in a similar position to the
current platform 3. The Birmingham Road station remained open as a goods
facility until it too succumbed to the competition of road traffic on 6 May
1968.
In the early part of the century, probably related to the
GWR's decision to open a new main line route to the West of England, the
station was rebuilt and upgraded to incorporate a third through platform on the
up side of the station although it is known it handled local services from
Honeybourne and Hatton.
The third platform required the demolition of the up
platform's building and the creation of an island platform which shortened
platform 2 at the Evesham Road end to provide access to platform 3. Today with
the closure of the line to the south of Stratford Upon Avon the physical layout
remains the same but history has turned full circle as the town is now
effectively served by a terminal station.
Select an image below to view the larger version with
accompanying text:
|
