LMS Route: Rugby to Leamington
LMS Route: Leamington to Weedon

Marton Junction

The Southam—Daventry branch opened on 1st August 1895, and ran from Marton Junction (just over two miles west of the station) to Daventry where it joined the existing LNWR branch to Weedon. This line was single track, worked by Webb & Thompson electric train staff. The layout at Marton Junction is given to complete the coverage of the railway facilities in the Marton area. Prior to the opening of the branch, Marton was the nearest LNWR station to Southam, and between 1853-60 and 1877-95, Southam was added to the station title. A horse bus ran between two places four times a day until the opening of the new line in 1895. Train services on the main line in 1895 comprised eight trains in each direction. All of the east-bound trains, including two semi- fasts, called at Marton, but in the reverse direction two ran non-stop. By 1927 ten trains to Rugby and nine to Leamington called at Marton. Marton Junction's only function was to provide access from the Rugby to Leamington line for the branch line to Weedon and consequently opened with the branch on 1st August 1895. Despite the closure on the Rugby line, from Marton Junction to Leamington, and on the Weedon branch, from Southam & Long Itchington to Daventry, the junction lasted in service for exactly 100 years closing on 1st August 1995. The reason for its extended life of 20 plus years being BR's contract with Southam Cement to transport chalk to the works via Rugby to Southam & Long Itchington.

Views and diagrams of Marton Junction

Ref: lnwrmartj3981 R Powell-Hendry A colour photograph of Marton Junction Signal Cabin erected in 1894 when the line to Weedion was opened

Ref: lnwrmartj3980 R Powell-Hendry An internal view of Marton Junction Signal Cabin's 25 lever frame, of which 19 were employed, in August 1966

Ref: lnwrmartj1753 R Powell-Hendry Marton Junction signal box showing the coal bunker on the left and the toilet facilities outside the signal box door

Ref: lnwrmartj1325 R Powell-Hendry Looking towards Rugby with Honingham Hill Road bridge in the foreground and Marton Junction behind

Ref: lnwrmartj1325a R Powell-Hendry Close up of Honingham Hill Road bridge showing the LMS upper quadrant signals that protected Marton junction

Ref: lnwrmartj3983 M Loader Marton Junction pictured with the Honingham Hill Road Bridge spanning the actual junction on 2nd June 1984

Ref: lnwrmartj2938 M Loader A panoramic view of Marton Junction after the singling of the track and the removal of the signal cabin

Steam Locomotives seen at Marton Junction

Ref: lnwrmartj4160 RS Carpenter Ex-LNWR 2-4-2T 5ft 6in Tank engine No 46654 is seen on a Rugby to Leamington service on 17th May 1952

Ref: lnwrmartj4161 RS Carpenter Ex-LNWR 2-4-2T 5ft 6in Tank engine No 46654 is seen on the return Leamington to Rugby service

Ref: lnwrmartj4159 RS Carpenter Ex-LNWR 2-4-2T 5ft 6in No 46654 is seen passing Marton Junction Signal Cabin on its way to Rugby

Ref: lnwrmartj4162 RS Carpenter Ex-LNWR 2-4-2T 5ft 6in No 46654 on a Weeden to Leamington service passing the junction signal

Ref: lnwrmartj3982 R Powell-Hendry Ex-LMS 8F 2-8-0 No 48534 runs tender first off the Weedon branch with a train of chalk empties

Ref: lnwrmartj1326a R Powell-Hendry Close up of an unidentified ex-LMS 8F 2-8-0 locomotive waiting for the right of way to proceed onto the Rugby

Ref: lnwrmartj1326 R Powell-Hendry Marton Junction from Honingham Hill Road bridge looking towards Rugby and the former LNWR signal cabin

Diesel Locomotives and trains seen at or near Marton Junction post 1968

Ref: lnwrmartj2793 M Kavanagh One of four photos showing D25 265 at the head of wagons being delivered and returned from Southam

Ref: lnwrmartj2794 M Kavanagh One of four photos showing D25 265 at the head of wagons being delivered and returned from Southam

Ref: lnwrmartj2795 M Kavanagh One of four photos showing D25 265 at the head of wagons being delivered and returned from Southam

Ref: lnwrmartj2796 M Kavanagh One of four photos showing D25 265 at the head of wagons being delivered and returned from Southam

Ref: lnwrmartj2856 P Leonard A converted Southern Region scenery van most likely being used as the lead vehicle in a weed killing train

Ref: lnwrmartj2857 P Leonard A Diesel Multiple Unit passenger train pauses whilst its driver manually changes the points at Marton Junction

Ref: lnwrmartj2939 Ron Kosys An unknown diesel locomotive at the head of a mixed freight train bound for Southam Cement Works circa 1980s

Ref: lnwrmartj3985 R Kysos The Fisons weedkiller train is approaching Marton Junction hauled by Locomotive 31247 on 20th June 1985,

Ordnance Survey Maps and Diagrams

Ref: lnwrmartj3984 M Kavanagh A 1904 25 inch to the mile Ordnance Survey map of Marton Junction and the start of the Weeden branch

Ref: lnwrmartj2940 M Kavanagh A schematic diagram showing the layout of Marton Junction prior to the removal of the section of line to Leamington

Ref: lnwrmartj2941 M Kavanagh Marton Junction Signal Cabin's signalling diagram showing which of the twenty-five levers were employed

Timetables

Ref: lnwrrm3399 LNWR Society LNWR August and September 1898 Timetable - Rugby, Coventry and Leamington to and from Birmingham

Ref: lnwrrm3400 LNWR Society LNWR August and September 1898 Timetable - Rugby and Leamington; Leamington, Coventry and Nuneaton

Ref: lnwrbird3974 British Railways An August 1958 Timetable showing just five services per day each way between Rugby and Leamington

Ref: lnwrlave3913 LNWR Society A working timetable for Warwick (Milverton) to Blisworth showing train staff stations and other information

Ref: lnwrlave3914 LNWR Society A working timetable for Blisworth to Warwick (Milverton) to showing train staff stations and other information