Page 19 - Thrapston Life November 2023

GLANCE
AT THE
PAST
Eric Franklin looks back
Within the boundary of the recently abolished East Northamptonshire District Council it may surprise you to hear that there used to
be thirteen railway stations of which just four survive as buildings, at Thorpe, Barnwell, Oundle and Rushden, and none as open stations.
The only railway passing through the area
is a short stretch going over the Harringworth viaduct which passes through Fineshade and Harringworth parishes. A combination of little rail traffic and the infamous Beeching Report meant that the area lost, as well as the four named above: Irthlingborough, Ringstead & Addington, Thrapston Bridge Street, Twywell, Thrapston Midland Road, Raunds, Higham
Ferrers, Nassington and Kingscliffe. There remains much evidence of these railways with the footpath from Irthlingborough to Islip mainly following the railway route, the brick viaduct at Thrapston and still along the line, old bridges and cuttings.
I have previously written about the two Thrapston stations so this time, I focus on Thorpe and Twywell Stations.
Thorpe Station, about 21⁄2 miles from Thrapston Bridge Street station, opened on 2nd June 1845 and closed on 4th May 1964. The line crossed the A605 road between Thrapston and Oundle, the top of the gate wheel being just visible through the signal box window. There was a small goods yard but with insufficient
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