Towcester Race Specials

[Dick Bodily]

I know that the LMS used to run special trains to Towcester ( and also to Warwick) Races from Northampton. The usual formation was a Webb 2-4-2T with a push pull unit at each end. But browsing through some second hand books I found a picture that made be take notice in a LMS Branches Album. It showed two 4Fs in BR livery ( so post 1948 nationalisation) on a Bedford - Towcester races special on the SMJR. No date nor location detail was given and as the rather boring picture just showed two 4Fs and a train I didn't splash out on the rather grubby book.

Presumably the special would have taken the direct Ravenstone Junction to Towcester route which would have meant using a route that had been closed to passengers for a very long time. I have not found any reference to any special trains or railtours taking this route in my researches. Its also possible, in that it was quite a long train just to cater for race goers from Bedford, that it went via Northampton to pick up extra passengers but this would have meant crossing the WCML and at least one reversal (at Blisworth SMJ).

Does anyone have any information about Towcester Races specials or about any SMJ line specials to Stratford Races?

Dick

[Barry Taylor]

Hi Dick
I have a few random notes on these trains - and I think that they have been mentioned in one or two of the books covering the SMJ.
Race specials to Towcester were certainly run by the LMS from around 1927 up to 1939, and these came through from St Pancras via Bedford, Olney and Ravenstone, changing locos to a 3F or 4F at Bedford. They were mainly for the Grafton Hunt Steeplechase meeting on Easter Monday - there are one or two photos around of these on the SMJ.
I have found the following odd notes on a first look -
May 25th 1930 - Race Control Party special from Newmarket To Stratford on Avon races via Cambridge, Bedford LNW Midland, Olney and SMJ.
1933 (Railway Magazine July issue) - not a race special but still interesting - an LMS excursion from Bristol to Leighton Buzzard for Whipsnade Zoo, ran via Broom and Blisworth.
Railway Observer July 1938 issue - 'comparitively numerous excursions run on the Ravenstone - Towcester section including 'evexes' (evening excusions) from Stratford to Bedford, and Luton to Stratford, and schools excursions from St. Albans etc to the Stratford Memorial Theatre. On 21/5/38 an evex was run from Stratford and SMJ line stations to Bedford - stock provided by Saltley - and their 4139 working throughout, Stratford men re-manning at Stratford'.
July 27th 1949 - special excursion ran from Luton to Stratford via Ravenstone and Towcester
1953 - GW railcar W16 ran a special from Solihull to St Pancras via Stratford Olney and Bedford for Solihull Literary Society of Arts
After 1939 it seems that excursions on that part of the line were much less frequent - most were enthusiast railtours
Barry