Helmdon railway station

Helmdon railway station served the village and civil parish of Helmdon in Northamptonshire on the former Great Central Main Line (GCR). It was the second of two stations in the parish, the first being Helmdon Village on the Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway.

Helmdon
LocationHelmdon, South Northamptonshire
England
Grid referenceSP586430
Platforms2
Other information
StatusDisused
History
Original companyGreat Central Railway
Pre-groupingGreat Central Railway
Post-groupingLondon and North Eastern Railway
London Midland Region of British Railways
Key dates
15 March 1899Opened as Helmdon
1928Renamed Helmdon for Sulgrave
4 March 1963station closed
1966line closed

History
A 1911 Railway Clearing House map of railways in the vicinity of Helmdon (lower centre)

The GCR main line was the last main line to be built from northern England to London.[1] It opened for passenger services on 15 March 1899 and for goods services in April.[2] The station, originally named "Helmdon", opened with the line on 15 March 1899.[3]

From the station the line ran northwards on an embankment before crossing the valley on the nine-arch Helmdon Viaduct[4] over the River Tove.

Helmdon was the nearest station for Sulgrave Manor, which had been the home of George Washington's ancestors in the 16th and 17th centuries. In the 1920s the house was restored and opened as a museum, and in this connection the LNER renamed Helmdon station "Helmdon for Sulgrave" in 1928.[3]

British Railways closed the station to passengers on 4 March 1963[3] and to goods on 2 November 1964.[5] In 1966 BR closed the line and the station was demolished. The platforms remain albeit largely hidden in the undergrowth.[6] ‎The viaduct remains.

Route
Preceding station   Disused railways   Following station
Brackley Central
Line and station closed		   Great Central Railway
London Extension		   Culworth
Line and station closed

See also

Notes
  1. Dow 1962, p. 339.
  2. Dow 1962, p. 340.
  3. Butt 1995, p. 118.
  4. Dow 1962, p. 322.
  5. Mitchell & Smith 2006, fig. 83.
  6. Mitchell & Smith 2006, fig. 84.

References
  • Butt, R.V.J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations. Yeovil: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 1-85260-508-1. R508.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Dow, George (1962). Great Central. Two: Dominion of Watkin, 1864–1899. Shepperton: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-1469-8.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Mitchell, Victor E.; Smith, Keith (2006). Aylesbury to Rugby. Midland Main Lines. Midhurst: Middleton Press. ISBN 978-1-904474-91-3.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)


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