The Railway Comes to Thrapston (1845)
Northampton to Peterborough, via Thrapston
November 1845
A special train, conveying a party of Directors and their friends left the London Terminus on Saturday morning at half past nine o’clock for the purpose of opening and inspecting this additional line of traffic (i.e new railway track)
New Line
The new line is is entered, at a short distance from the Blisworth Station, about 63 miles from the metropolis and traversing a level track of pasture land, it reaches in 4¾ m, a neat station on the south side of the populoustown of Northampton. Here the party received an accession, by the arrival of the mayor and other corporate authorities.
Along the Nene
The train, now increased to 15 first class carriages, proceeded on its route following the meanderings of the beautiful River Nene. We passed unfinished stations at Castle Ashby, Wellingborough, Ditchford, Higham Ferrers and Ringstead and again paused at Thrapston, Then past stations at Thorpe and Barnwell and another call at 0undle and came to Wansford after traversing the only tunnel on the line about ¼ m long
Peterborough
The Reception of the party by the inhabitants of Peterborough indicated no great interest in the undertaking. The new line, comprising only a single line of rails between Northampton and Peterborough has been completed in 15 months at a cost of about £10,000 per mile, considerably under the estimates.
Opening the line
The Line was formally opened on Monday last, The number of passengers on Monday and subsequently, have greatly exceeded the expectations of and indeed the means provided by the Company. Numbers at every station on the line have been left behind. Considerable inconvenience has been experienced from the curiosity of parties at the various small stations.
Northampton Herald 1845
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