Disused Stations: Shipston on Stour Station

Shipston-on-Stour Station: Gallery 3
31 August 1952 - 7 June 1958

Two other photographs taken on the 31st of August 1952 have come to light; this being the first and obviously the station building was the subject. All of these 31st of August 1952 photographs have come from the same source so it seems the photographer was not a railtour participant

Photo by Geoffrey Head

The second of the 31st of August 1952 'railtourless' photographs, this one showing a fair amount of detail. At the bottom of the photograph can be see part of the platform ramp surfacing designed to aid horses and indeed staff with barrows. To the left is the dock, or 'horse landing' as it was referred to and at far left a pair of 'Iron Mink' vans which were used for storage. 'Mink' was one of numerous animal names used as telegraphic codes to identify wagons and to a much lesser degree the system is still used today. The 'Iron Mink' is a steel bodied version of the original wooden 'Mink' vans and many 'Iron Minks' were used as gunpowder vans. The white cross signified Internal User, in other words not in the revenue fleet, while a red cross signified hazardous loads such as gunpowder, drums of chemicals etc. In centre background the goods sheds appears still in good order while in the distance it is possible to discern the 1:81 gradient of the track, falling on the approach to the terminus.

Photo by Geoffrey Head

The level crossing and keeper's cottage at Darlingscote Road. The cottage was photographed on the 2nd of July 1953 from the brake van of the Shipston-on-Stour to Moreton-in-Marsh goods train. This view faces east and the guard is seen closing one of the crossing gates. The location is about three quarters of a mile west north-west of Shipston station as the proverbial crow flies but a little over one mile by rail due to the peculiar course of the railway - a legacy of the never-built extension to the Hinckley Coalfields. These cottages were to a more-or-less standard GWR design but this example has clipped gables whereas that at the Fosse Way crossing, about a quarter mile behind the camera, did not. The reason for this variation, which is evident along the entire length of the branch, is unexplained. At one time the GPO (General Post Office) was responsible for most forms of communications; letters and postcards etc., telegrams and the telephone system. The latter was operated under the GPO's ‘Post Office Telephones’ branding. Before the widespread use of underground cables, telephone wires, as they were commonly called, were carried by telegraph poles alongside roads. In some instances the telephone system piggybacked on the railways' lineside telegraph system. The term ‘telegraph’ is short for ‘Electric Telegraph’ which harks back to the time when Morse Code messages were transmitted by wire and in the case of the railways, tapped, coded messages sent between signal boxes. When walking along a quiet country lane a 'singing' sound could be heard from the telephone wires when a call was being made and if this occurred after dark it could make for a quite eerie experience. The system of course, required maintenance and repairs. Repair vehicles of Post Office Telephones were a common sight in their dark green livery. Among these vehicles in the 1950s were the Morris Z van and the Austin K3 Mobile Stores lorries, the latter usually with canvas tilt. Examples of both types can be seen here on the right. Later, the Post Office Telephones livery changed to yellow and is perhaps best remembered on the fleet of Morris 1000 vans. All this was swept away with Mrs Thatcher's selling off of the public services, the telephone service becoming what we now know as BT. Click here for the same view today.
Photo from John Mann collection

Ex GWR 2301 Class 'Dean Goods' No. 2458 is about to depart Shipston-on-Stour with the branch goods train on 2 July 1953. A Worcester locomotive at the time, on the 30th of January 1954 the locomotive was transferred to Brecon only to be withdrawn four months later. On the front of the locomotive the hinged flap covering the front of the cylinders is open for some reason.

Photo from Jim Lake collection

It is July 1954 and the station area is looking decidedly forlorn. By this time the branch goods train ran just twice per week. The vans are probably 'internal user' and there were several of them on this siding at various times, being moved around as needs demanded
Photo by GE Parker

This 1950s view shows a few features of interest. This part of the runround loop, centre of the three tracks, is of inside-keyed rail as mentioned elsewhere. On the right is the cattle dock complete with what looks like washdown hoses despite this dock being apparently rarely used for its intended purpose. The paved area around the track was to aid washing down the dock; it contained a drain for disposing of liquids and helped prevent the track becoming soiled by unpleasant waste from the dock. The goods loading gauge is here seen set for the GWR gauge, the two outer sections being raised or lowered as required by cables from ground level. Just beyond is a 'Hybar' (High Bar) wagon. These had a longitudinal pivoting bar mounted on the wagon centre line which could be locked in the upright position, the bar so positioned then being covered by a tarpaulin which was secured to the sides of the wagon body. The tarpaulin is present here but has been partially detached. These wagons were used to protect contents from the weather and also when it was desirable for the load to remain unseen such as during wartime. Some of these wagons had round-topped ends, the radius of which corresponded to that of the bar.
Photo from Jim Lake collection

The object of this 1950s view, taken from the northern extremity of the station platform was presumably the cattle dock, here seen quite weedy and in use as a handy dump for surplus materials. The goods loading gauge straddles the goods shed road and is of the standard GWR type, adjustable for the GWR and LMS gauges. It is here set for the LMS gauge, which they very often were as is was normal for wagons of one company, or BR Region, to travel over the lines of another. The body of the Dean Full Brake, left, survived the ravages of time quite well, retaining most if not all of its glass and beading. Along the running line in the distance, what appears to be a level crossing gate was in fact a line side fence; it was at this point the line began to turn sharply west toward Longdon Road.
Photo from John Mann collection

A rather summery view looking south towards the bufferstop and [overgrown] horse landing sometime in the 1950s. In the right background can be seen the road entrance to the goods yard, with a level crossing style gate so typical of such entrances.
Photo from John Mann collection

On Sunday the 24th of April 1955, the Railway Enthusiasts Club The South Midlander Railtour disturbed the Sabbath peace at Shipston-on-Stour. This tour was primarily about the Stratford-upon-Avon & Midland Junction Railway and ran from Oxford to Evesham via Chipping Norton, Fenny Compton, Stratford Old Town, Broom Junction. It then ran direct to Moreton-in-Marsh for a jolly to Shipston-on-Stour before returning direct to Oxford. Most of the tour used 'Dukedog' 4-4-0 No. 9015 which carried a headboard; Dean Goods No. 2474, seen here, was used only on the Shipston branch and minus headboard. This was perhaps the final duty for No. 2474 as she was withdrawn from Reading shed on the 27th of April. Usually withdrawal dates were given as "w/e" (week ending) but the midweek withdrawal date for No. 2474 may suggest a major defect had presented itself. No.9015, which had been named ‘Earl of Clancarty’, soldiered on until June 1960 by which time these outside-frame locomotives looked decidedly antiquated
Photo from Jim Lake collection

A similar view to the previous but from further back. The platform is now devoid of lighting but the building is still in reasonable condition albeit a little shabby. One thing evident in this photograph is what are obviously families, or family members, with young children of which two are heading towards the station exit. Probably they were local people bringing the children to see the train as a Sunday treat. A couple of military personnel are visible in another photograph of the same occasion and one can be seen here, marching away from the platform edge. On the left, the dock, or horse landing as it was referred to, has become a dumping place for sleepers but is also providing a vantage point for some more people with a child. The locomotive release points, seen here still set for the release, were operated by a lever located behind the bufferstop at the end of the platform, behind the camera. This unusual arrangement no doubt came about when the dock was built circa 1914. Note that the point rod runs along the platform face.
Photo from John Mann collection

On Saturday the 7th of June 1958 The Railway Club brake van special reached Shipston-on-Stour behind BR Standard Class 2 2-6-0 No. 78009. The Railway Club was a somewhat obscure affair formed in 1899 and seems to have become defunct sometime in the 1960s. It was London-based and most of its outings originated thereat. The Club had a penchant for brake van tours and while these vehicles lacked the comfort of passenger stock they were popular because the vans' balconies offered a less insular experience. The route of this particular tour was Paddington - Handborough [now spelled Hanborough] - Moreton-in-Marsh - Shipston-on-Stour - Kingham - Chipping Norton - Kingham - Andoversford Junction - Chedworth - Swindon Town - Swindon Junction - Paddington. Swindon Junction was the name of the current Swindon station until ‘Junction’ was dropped from the title in 1961, the year in which Swindon Town closed to passengers. It is thought unlikely the brake vans were used for the entire tour. The BR Standard 2-6-0 was Robert Riddles answer to the LMS-designed Ivatt 2MT 2-6-0. New to traffic in April 1953, No. 78009 became one of the regular Shipston branch locomotives being allocated to Worcester but outstationed at Kingham. She was moved to Gloucester Barnwood shed in April 1963, only to be withdrawn just ten months later and scrapped at Swindon. Four of the 65-strong class have survived into preservation. On the left, what was possibly Stationmaster Cyril Smith, his wife and dog are watching the proceedings
Photo from John Debens collection

Click here for Shipston-on-Stour Station: Gallery 4 October 1959 - October 1961

[Source: Darren Kitson]

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Station Name: SHIPSTON ON STOUR