Top Station

Brackley Central (Top Station) was opened by the Great Central Railway in 1899 as part of their main line from Manchester, Sheffield, Nottingham and Leicester to London Marylebone. The line was closed in 1966.

The booking office and goods shed remain, the former being subsequently occupied by ATS Tyre Services, the latter by Chubb. The building acquired a new lease of life when ATS moved out and was replaced by a stylish cafe. The rest of the goods yard is covered by an industrial estate.

The Bottom Station

Bottom Station (part of the line from Verney Junction to Banbury) was situated where the Fire Station and St James Road is now located. No trace of the station remains, although the line of the railway follows the Pocket Park Walk alongside St. James’ Lake. It can also be traced from the end of Herriot’s Farm Road to the A43 Brackley bypass. Opened in 1850 it was not a busy line and closed to passengers in 1961 and to goods in 1963.

“Barrel” Line

The Barrel Line siding was used to connect the Hopcraft and Norris Brewery (now the site of houses in Old Brewery Walk) with the station yard. Horses were used to pull wagons up the 1 in 20 gradient to the brewery, wagons being returned under gravity to the station yard. The line went out of use in the 1920s. No trace of it remains today.