Upton and Blewbury railway station explained

Upton and Blewbury
Status:Disused
Borough:Upton, Vale of White Horse, Oxfordshire
Country:England
Grid Name:Grid reference
Platforms:2
Original:Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway
Pregroup:Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway
Postgroup:Great Western Railway
Western Region of British Railways
Events:Opened as Upton
Years1:16 January 1911
Events1:Renamed Upton and Blewbury
Years2:4 August 1942
Events2:Closed
Years3:8 March 1943
Events3:Re-opened
Years4:10 September 1962
Events4:Closed

Upton and Blewbury railway station was a station on the Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway in England. It served Upton, with Blewbury and West Hagbourne being only a mile from the station. It was opened in 1882 to serve military camps in the area.[1] Originally named Upton; Blewbury was added to the name of the station in 1911 to recognise the more distant but larger village in the Vale of White Horse. In the latter part of the station's history it also served the Atomic Energy Research Establishment at Harwell. The station closed in 1962.

Facilities

The station comprised two platforms, with the ticket office and station buildings located on the southbound platform on a passing loop. The northbound platform, linked by two paths across the tracks at either end for access, had a small wooden shelter and a signal box at its northern end. To the North of the station was a headshunt and two sidings, one flanking the southbound platform used for loading horses and other goods, the other siding curving to the east.

The site today

The station building is still in excellent condition with a recent extension in the original style. It even retains its original canopy, although it has also been recently surrounded by further housing. The original station approach and car park area has been named "Beeching Close".[2]

References

51.5787°N -1.264°W

Notes and References

  1. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=43218 Ditchfield, P.H and Page, W., A History of the County of Berkshire: Volume 3 (1923)
  2. Karau, P., Parsons, M. and Robertson, K. (1984) An illustrated history of the Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway, Wild Swan Publications,