The Weedon to Marton Junction line was a rural branch line

Branch line

A branch line is a secondary railway line which branches off a more important through route, usually a main line. A very short branch line may be called a spur line...

 that linked the West Coast Main Line

West Coast Main Line

The West Coast Main Line is the busiest mixed-traffic railway route in Britain, being the country's most important rail backbone in terms of population served. Fast, long-distance inter-city passenger services are provided between London, the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and the...

 at Weedon

Weedon Bec

Weedon Bec , usually just called "Weedon", is a large village and parish in the district of Daventry, Northamptonshire, England. It lies close to the source of the River Nene.-Geography:...

 to Leamington Spa

Leamington Spa railway station

Leamington Spa railway station serves the town of Leamington Spa, in Warwickshire, England. It is situated on Old Warwick Road towards the southern edge of the town centre.-History:...

.

History

The single track line was constructed in two phases. First a branch from the West Coast Main Line

West Coast Main Line

The West Coast Main Line is the busiest mixed-traffic railway route in Britain, being the country's most important rail backbone in terms of population served. Fast, long-distance inter-city passenger services are provided between London, the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and the...

 at Weedon

Weedon Bec

Weedon Bec , usually just called "Weedon", is a large village and parish in the district of Daventry, Northamptonshire, England. It lies close to the source of the River Nene.-Geography:...

 to Daventry

Daventry railway station

Daventry was a railway station serving the town of Daventry in Northamptonshire, England. It was on the Weedon to Leamington Spa line. In 1888 a branch from the main line at Weedon reached the town...

 was constructed in 1888. This line was extended in 1 August 1895 to reach Marton junction where it joined with the existing Leamington to Rugby line

Leamington to Rugby line

The railway from Rugby to Leamington Spa was a 15-mile branch line built by the London & North Western Railway and opened in 1851 The branch connected Leamington with the mainline from London to Birmingham The railway from Rugby to Leamington Spa was a 15-mile branch line built by the London &...

 and onward to Leamington.

The line closed to passengers in 1958

1958 in rail transport

-January events:* January - Unable to keep his promises to shareholders, Robert Ralph Young suspends dividends on New York Central stock.* January 1 - The Chicago and North Western Railway acquires the Litchfield and Madison Railway.-February events:...

, and freight in 1963

1963 in rail transport

- January events :* January 21 - The Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad ceases all operation.* January 26 - The last passenger train on Canadian Pacific Railway between Ottawa and Maniwaki, Quebec, departs using CP RDCs 9105 and 9023.- May events :...

. Although a short section to Long Itchington

Long Itchington

Long Itchington is a large village and civil parish in the Stratford-on-Avon district of Warwickshire, England. In the 2001 census it had a population of 2,161. The village is named after the River Itchen which flows to the south and west of the village....

 remained open until 1985 serving the cement works.

Route and stations

There were six stations on the line:

• Weedon
  Weedon railway station
  Weedon railway station was a railway station situated to the north of and serving the village of Weedon and the Weedon Royal Ordnance Depot in Northamptonshire, England. On the West Coast Mainline the station was the start of the Weedon to Leamington Spa line...
  
   (Which allowed interchange with the West Coast Main Line)
• Daventry
  Daventry railway station
  Daventry was a railway station serving the town of Daventry in Northamptonshire, England. It was on the Weedon to Leamington Spa line. In 1888 a branch from the main line at Weedon reached the town...
  
  
• Braunston
  Braunston railway station
  Braunston London Road was one of two railway stations that served the village of Braunston in Northamptonshire, England. On the Weedon to Leamington Spa branch line the station was built on an embankment next to the village's wharf on the Grand Union Canal after the demolishing of a number of...
  
  
• Flecknoe
  Flecknoe railway station
  Flecknoe was a railway station that served the village of Flecknoe in Warwickshire, England. On the Weedon to Leamington Spa branch line the station was built over a mile north of the village....
  
  
• Napton & Stockton
  Napton and Stockton railway station
  Napton and Stockton railway station was a railway station on the London and North Western Railway branch line between and Marton Junction.The station was built of wood and opened in 1 August 1895. It had two platforms, one having the main station facilities and the other being on a passing...
  
  
• Southam & Long Itchington
  Southam and Long Itchington railway station
  Southam and Long Itchington railway station was a railway station that served the villages of Southam and Long Itchington in Warwickshire, England...
  
  

The line was single track

Single track (rail)

A single track railway is where trains in both directions share the same track. Single track is normally used on lesser used rail lines, often branch lines, where the traffic density is not high enough to justify the cost of building double tracks....

 throughout with passing loop

Passing loop

A passing loop is a place on a single line railway or tramway, often located at a station, where trains or trams in opposing directions can pass each other. Trains/trams in the same direction can also overtake, providing that the signalling arrangement allows it...

s at each ot the stations except Flecknoe. Provision was made for a passing loop at Flecknoe, but it was never used.