Featured Discussions - The SMJ Society2024-03-29T08:37:57Zhttp://thesmjr.ning.com/forum/topic/list?feed=yes&xn_auth=no&featured=1Bidford-on-Avontag:thesmjr.ning.com,2024-01-27:3138568:Topic:1810342024-01-27T09:45:46.340ZRichard Maundhttp://thesmjr.ning.com/profile/RichardMaund
<p>Shall we bring this discussion under the proper heading!</p>
<p></p>
<p>So far as the OS plan surveyed 1885, published 1886, is concerned: the OS liked - wherever they could - to have text running parallel to the top and bottom borders. When they came to add the brick works and its autumn 1879 siding I <em>suspect</em> they simply put the 'Bidford Siding' name in the nearest available space that didn't conflict with any other lines on the plan. However, the 25 inch version is more…</p>
<p>Shall we bring this discussion under the proper heading!</p>
<p></p>
<p>So far as the OS plan surveyed 1885, published 1886, is concerned: the OS liked - wherever they could - to have text running parallel to the top and bottom borders. When they came to add the brick works and its autumn 1879 siding I <em>suspect</em> they simply put the 'Bidford Siding' name in the nearest available space that didn't conflict with any other lines on the plan. However, the 25 inch version is more illuminating as it does more clearly show the passenger platform than the 6 inch version - to see the 25" at full size go to <a href="https://maps.nls.uk/view/115636466w">https://maps.nls.uk/view/115636466w</a>.</p>
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<p>So far as the siding behind the platform is concerned, that must have introduced a point on the running line, west of the station, which would have called for a Board of Trade inspection: where is the date for such inspection?</p>
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</div> Station Totems / running in boardstag:thesmjr.ning.com,2016-02-18:3138568:Topic:697822016-02-18T18:25:04.556ZGaryhttp://thesmjr.ning.com/profile/Gary
<p>I look at the adverts for the railwayana auction houses and see various stations represented in totem form and I was wondering, how many of "our" line still have totems/running in boards in existence?</p>
<p>I look at the adverts for the railwayana auction houses and see various stations represented in totem form and I was wondering, how many of "our" line still have totems/running in boards in existence?</p> Byfield Ironstone sidingstag:thesmjr.ning.com,2015-07-05:3138568:Topic:685132015-07-05T09:29:58.780ZSimon Dunkleyhttp://thesmjr.ning.com/profile/Regularity
The July issue of Railway Bylines has a very nice article on the early days of the above sidings, by Barry Taylor. It is interesting to read how the operations developed in the light of growing output from the quarries.
The July issue of Railway Bylines has a very nice article on the early days of the above sidings, by Barry Taylor. It is interesting to read how the operations developed in the light of growing output from the quarries. Memoriestag:thesmjr.ning.com,2015-05-10:3138568:Topic:670812015-05-10T09:38:08.223ZPhil Streethttp://thesmjr.ning.com/profile/PhilStreet
<p>As a child, back in the 1950's, I constantly visited the SMJ Old Town Station in Stratford on Avon. A friend of mine's father was a fireman on the GWR and his 0-6-0 Collett was, I believe shedded there? I can remember having a cab ride from the old shed into Stratford Station on a Sunday morning. When the Queen Mother visited Stratford in 1964, the Royal Train was parked up in the old station. We could not get near the place because of a heavy police presence. I lived in the Banbury Road.…</p>
<p>As a child, back in the 1950's, I constantly visited the SMJ Old Town Station in Stratford on Avon. A friend of mine's father was a fireman on the GWR and his 0-6-0 Collett was, I believe shedded there? I can remember having a cab ride from the old shed into Stratford Station on a Sunday morning. When the Queen Mother visited Stratford in 1964, the Royal Train was parked up in the old station. We could not get near the place because of a heavy police presence. I lived in the Banbury Road. You could hear the WD's on the iron-ore trains coming through Goldicote cutting, and my brother and I would race across the fields at the back of our house to watch them as they went under the bridge on the Shipston Road. Clifford Sidings was just down from the bridge and the box was operated by a man by the name of Derek Magainey. When I started work with the GPO in 1966, I came across a few men who had been employed on the GWR. Derek was one of them. Other names that come to mind are, Bill Parker and Dave Cook. Dave fired the last steam special along the line. Another name was Doug Billinge, once again a fireman who operated out of the old shed next to the Old Town Station. Doug sadly died back in 1964. </p> Charity Railway trips over unusual tracktag:thesmjr.ning.com,2015-04-24:3138568:Topic:669732015-04-24T00:36:04.029ZDave Haywardhttp://thesmjr.ning.com/profile/DaveHayward
<p>Colleagues,</p>
<p>Apologies for a 'hefty' post that is not SMJ related but is for charity and surely of interest to any railway enthusiast!</p>
<p>Some of you may remember last year I told you about the opportunity to travel on the SMJ by a Branch Line Society Charity Trip. These are now becoming the vogue for the BLS in partnership with various Train Operating Companies. They normally work by all the BLS fare box and other fundraising activity being donated to the nominated charity. The…</p>
<p>Colleagues,</p>
<p>Apologies for a 'hefty' post that is not SMJ related but is for charity and surely of interest to any railway enthusiast!</p>
<p>Some of you may remember last year I told you about the opportunity to travel on the SMJ by a Branch Line Society Charity Trip. These are now becoming the vogue for the BLS in partnership with various Train Operating Companies. They normally work by all the BLS fare box and other fundraising activity being donated to the nominated charity. The TOC provide the train free, all the staff are volunteers and Network Rail waive track access charges. I was on one of these last week and it raised £18000 for the Railway Children charity!</p>
<p>I attach an application form for anybody who might be interested in going on the next one from Norwich, you will see there is some very interesting track.</p>
<p>It might be that I could tempt you to join the Branch Line Society, details at <a href="http://www.branchline.org.uk/">http://www.branchline.org.uk/</a></p>
<p>If you a regular participant of the various trips etc you will soon recoup your £27 per year for </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: line-through;">t</span>he Electronic copy of the bi weekly magazine. I do know there some other interesting trips, at least one relatively local in the pipeline.</p>
<p>Regards</p>
<p>Dave Hayward</p>
<p></p>
<p></p> Woodford 50th Anniversarytag:thesmjr.ning.com,2015-01-24:3138568:Topic:661262015-01-24T21:38:11.173ZDick Bodilyhttp://thesmjr.ning.com/profile/Dick
<p>To mark the closure of Woodford 50 years ago the Great Central Railway are planning some sort of mini-gala on the weekend of 14th and 15th June. I don't know exactly what they are planning but they've contacted some Woodford people looking for photos, etc. (Rex is one person who has been approached). I note that ex Woodford Flying Pig 43106 which appeared on the SMJ on quite a few occasions is booked to appear on the GCR the following weekend so hopefully it will appear at the Woodford…</p>
<p>To mark the closure of Woodford 50 years ago the Great Central Railway are planning some sort of mini-gala on the weekend of 14th and 15th June. I don't know exactly what they are planning but they've contacted some Woodford people looking for photos, etc. (Rex is one person who has been approached). I note that ex Woodford Flying Pig 43106 which appeared on the SMJ on quite a few occasions is booked to appear on the GCR the following weekend so hopefully it will appear at the Woodford weekend, but that's just my guess. I believe that ex Northampton 48305 which frequently ran to Woodford West and also Byfield Ironstone on the SMJ is in pieces at Loughborough at present, it would have been nice if that had been available for the event. </p> Article in the Meccano Magazine (Aug 1956) describing the SMJR Railtourtag:thesmjr.ning.com,2014-11-11:3138568:Topic:647392014-11-11T11:55:38.601ZRobin Culluphttp://thesmjr.ning.com/profile/RobinCullup
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1271801093?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1271801093?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024"/></a></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1271801093?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1271801093?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024"/></a></p> Helmdontag:thesmjr.ning.com,2014-11-04:3138568:Topic:644222014-11-04T14:33:19.464ZPaul Denisonhttp://thesmjr.ning.com/profile/PaulDenison
<p>Folks,</p>
<p></p>
<p>Please accept my apologies if I'm stepping out of line with this, but just recently we have formed the Helmdon and District Heritage Railway Society with the intention of turning Helmdon GCR station into a working museum. Given that the SMJ runs underneath the GCR Viaduct just north of Helmdon GCR station we are looking at including the SMJ as part of Helmdons railway heritage.</p>
<p></p>
<p>I was wondering if anyone knows if there are any colour pictures of the SMJ…</p>
<p>Folks,</p>
<p></p>
<p>Please accept my apologies if I'm stepping out of line with this, but just recently we have formed the Helmdon and District Heritage Railway Society with the intention of turning Helmdon GCR station into a working museum. Given that the SMJ runs underneath the GCR Viaduct just north of Helmdon GCR station we are looking at including the SMJ as part of Helmdons railway heritage.</p>
<p></p>
<p>I was wondering if anyone knows if there are any colour pictures of the SMJ Company crest which we have so far been unable to find.</p>
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<p>I hope posting this is ok but if there are any problems please let me know.</p>
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<p>Best wishes</p>
<p></p>
<p>Paul</p> Alterations at Fenny Compton 1956 onwardstag:thesmjr.ning.com,2014-08-13:3138568:Topic:627992014-08-13T09:50:38.758ZBarry Taylorhttp://thesmjr.ning.com/profile/BarryTaylor
<p>I recently acquired a bundle of railway related papers, amongst which is a1955-6 BTC application to Parliament for various powers to construct works etc. Most are related to docks and waterways, but buried in the middle are a couple of references to the SMJ line.</p>
<p>One is obvious - the new curve at Stratford - although it is interesting to note that the process started as early as 1955-6, and also that the Honeybourne line is still referred to as the "Oxford, Worcester &…</p>
<p>I recently acquired a bundle of railway related papers, amongst which is a1955-6 BTC application to Parliament for various powers to construct works etc. Most are related to docks and waterways, but buried in the middle are a couple of references to the SMJ line.</p>
<p>One is obvious - the new curve at Stratford - although it is interesting to note that the process started as early as 1955-6, and also that the Honeybourne line is still referred to as the "Oxford, Worcester & Wolverhampton Railway" !</p>
<p></p>
<p>The other is a little more obscure.</p>
<p>It refers to a "widening on the north east side of the bridge in the parish of Fenny Compton in the rural district of Southam carrying the railway between Broom and Byfield over the road leading from Fenny Compton to Byfield"</p>
<p>It's obvious which bridge this is, but does anyone know the nature of the work and why it was carried out?</p>
<p>Possibly it is something to do with the WR loop line, although the north east side of the bridge seems the wrong side for this.</p>
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<p>Interestingly, there is no mention of the other works at Fenny to provide the through junction onto the SMJ which opened in 1960, along with the Stratford curve.</p>
<p>Possibly this did not need approval as it was wholly on railway owned land, and only involved track realignment.</p>
<p>Any thoughts?</p> Have a look at my Blogpost re this Saturdaytag:thesmjr.ning.com,2014-07-30:3138568:Topic:621692014-07-30T16:48:54.389ZDave Haywardhttp://thesmjr.ning.com/profile/DaveHayward
<p>Have a look at the blog regarding an 'exciting opportunity' on the SMJ this Saturday.</p>
<p>Regards</p>
<p>Dave HAyward</p>
<p>Have a look at the blog regarding an 'exciting opportunity' on the SMJ this Saturday.</p>
<p>Regards</p>
<p>Dave HAyward</p>