Long Marston

GWR Route: North Warwickshire Line

Long Marston station was located south of Stratford Upon Avon on the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway's branch line from Honeybourne which opened on 12th July 1859. The vagaries of the County's wandering border is typified by Long Marston. In 1915 it was outside the County, with the border just south of Milcote, whilst today its within the County.

The line when first built by the OWWR was a single branch line with passing loops with Long Marston having a single platform. In their book 'Stratford Upon Avon to Cheltenham' Vic Mitchell and Keith Smith informs their readers that "two platforms were provided from 1872 when a passing loop was installed, but the new one (platform) was south of the original one. A new up platform was built in 1892 when the loop was lengthened".

From this information it appears the original platform was located north of the crossing on what became the up line whilst the 1872 'second' platform which was on what became the down line was built south of the level crossing. Therefore for a period of 20 years ending in 1892, the station had a staggered platform configuration, with the level crossing in the middle, as was common throughout the UK's railway system.

Kev Mitchell and Vic Smith also provide an insight into the amount of traffic passing through the station. Passenger numbers were significantly higher than Milcote's although Long Marston's figures were more or less static across the three decades starting in 1903. These were 8759, 9998, 10060 and 9546 in 1933.

The number of parcels forwarded did how ever show the same pattern of growth as Milcote being very strong up to 1923 and then a dramatic fall in 1933. These numbers were, commencing in 1903 and finishing in 1933, 3154, 10166, 13977 and 2546 in 1933. Coal and Coke received were much higher than Milcote's being 77, 224, 340 and 411 tons in 1933.

The passenger service was withdrawn on 3rd January 1966 whilst the goods yard had closed nearly two years previous on 7th September 1964.

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

Ref: gwrlm481 - Postcard An early view of the station with GWR 2-6-2T Prairie

Ref: gwrlm481a - Postcard The GWR 2-6-2T with what appears to be sheeting over the bunker

Ref: gwrlm481b - Postcard Close up of showing the signal box and station building

Ref: gwrlm599 - Lens of Sutton Another early view of station with a local passenger train

Ref: gwrlm599b - Lens of Sutton Close up showing original details of the up platform

Ref: gwrlm599a - Lens of Sutton A GWR 'square tanked' 2-6-2T Prairie running bunker first on a short local passenger train

Ref: gwrlm597 - Lens of Sutton Another early view of the station

Ref: gwrlm478 - Anon Looking north towards Stratford upon Avon

Ref: gwrlm478a - Anon Close up of down platform store

Ref: gwrlm478b - Anon Close up of level crossing

Ref: gwrlm479 - Anon A later view looking north towards Stratford upon Avon

Ref: gwrlm479a - Anon Close up of the level crossing

Ref: gwrlm479b - Anon Close up of the cycle shed erected at the base of the passenger footbridge

Ref: gwrlm482 - Lens of Sutton Looking from the road towards the signal box and station building

Ref: gwrlm482a - Lens of Sutton Close up of the signal box with oil storage cans

Ref: gwrlm483 - Lens of Sutton Another later view of the station looking towards Stratford upon Avon

Ref: gwrlm483a - Lens of Sutton Close up of up platform

Ref: gwrlm484 - Lens of Sutton The modifications to the station building

Ref: gwrlm484a - Lens of Sutton Close up showing the changes to the signal box

Ref: gwrlm484b - Lens of Sutton Close up showing the changes to the station building

Ref: gwrlm593 - J Moss/RS Carpenter Another view of the station building after modifications

Ref: gwrlm596 - J Moss/RS Carpenter Unidentified GWR 4-6-0 Castle class locomotive on the Up 'Cornishman'

Ref: gwrlm595 - J Moss/RS Carpenter BR 9F 2-10-0 on a down freight with the MOD's West Ground Frame to the right

Ref: gwrlm594 - C Maggs Looking towards Stratford with Long Marston station in the distance