Thankyou for the membership, I shall look forward to adding a little comment from time to time.

Peter, belatedly réalisé I never responded to your ‘welcome’ comment, apologies. I have several links to the SMJ, having grown up not so far away at Newport Parnell. My grandfather, a railwayman like his father and grandfather, used the line to travel to Towcester races when I was a boy. Years later my parents bought a house at Tiffield and I regularly jogged along the trackbed towards Blisworth. Finally, as a longtime member of the LNWR Society I have an interest in any railway connecting with or crossing the Premier Line (even that Derby-based one with the horrible red engines!). Best wishes DALT.

Thank you.

Hello Peter

I'm Moreton Pinkney born and bred.

Dad was a Driver at Wooford.

I was a Secondman at Cambridge and Banbury.

A long time ago.

Ian

Hi Peter, I believe my grandfather (TF Brown) worked on the SmJ. He is on the WW1 poster now displayed on Stratford station. I was wondering if there any staff records available. I also live near Edge Hill and am interested in the branch line that took iron ore down the Hill to the Burton Dasset junction in the 1920s.

regards

Jim Brown

Peter, my interest started with the Newport Pagnell Branch line and extended to the Varsity Line, but of late I find it fascinating there was a Railway cutting across the local landscape which was blessed with a Station at Salcey Forest. So my interest really is local Railways but I find this one particularly interesting. I will be adding pics in due course!!

None apart from an almost lifelong interest in railways and that I was born and live less than 5 miles from the line. Its a line that I have become more interested in in recent years.

Hi Peter, the site is accessible for you to visit whenever you choose at the moment - please feel welcome to visit and take photographs.  If you would like to be met at the site by a member of our team to talk through our plans and timescales, we'd be more than happy to arrange this.  Please email me directly at kirsty.darcy@duchyhomes.co.uk if you would like to accept this invitation. Thanks. Kirsty

Hi Peter, I'm very well thanks although still not managed to make contact with any Binton railway workers - still trying! Hope you're well too.  If you can let me know the purpose of your visit and when you'd like to go, I can contact our site team and ask the question. The original station house is being retained. Kind regards, Kirsty

Hello Peter, thank you for adding me to this site.  Yes, that's correct - I work for Duchy Homes and we have an upcoming development at the old Binton railway station. We're hoping to find anyone who used to work there, or their relatives, to involve them in the redevelopment process and share their story with us. Fingers crossed someone here can help! Thanks. Kirsty

Hello Peter,

Sadly no connections but I did become aware of it through many years of travelling up and down the Fosse Way. I work in the rail industry so have a professional interest as well.

Regards

Martin

Peter,

Thriving it never was, just keeping its head above water most of the time would be about right!

Hi peter no i dont have any history with the railway but i moved to towcester a year or so ago and knew there use to be a old railway line so was just researching its history. Today i walked along where the old track would have been at belle baulk and its amazing to think that years ago this was once a thriving railway line

There aren't any TGV lines near us,its much more like Stratford Old Town station with goods sheds disused but still intact, railways unfenced, there is a large railway yard at Buisson du Cadouin which is also intact, interesting google earth view! France didnt suffer a Beeching although there have been purges. Belves is our nearest station, again goods shed intact, couple of viaducts, it sadly lost the manned ticket counter last July

Hello Peter,

 I remember my Grandfather mentioning your surname,he was the village wheelwright then carpenter/builder, he lived at The lindens until 1985 when he passed away, would have played football in the 20s/30s and was in the village cricket team, for which I still have his cap.

 Also I recall watching the 1972 Leeds v Arsenal FA cup match in the front room at Clifford with my Grandfather.

 My late father was the choir master and organist at St Helen's in the village until 1986 following on from his aunt who passed away in 1963/4.

 Unfortunately I only have a picture of Goldicote cutting road bridge taken in 1975 from the trackbed, after the road had been repositioned, so not very interesting I am afraid.

 My Father could recall seeing a 9f crossing Walton Bridge on his way to work from Pillerton Priors to Wellesbourne in 1965 and hearing locos working at night.

Hello Peter,

Thank you for acceptance into the SMJ Society. I have a great interest in the line as I was born on the 21 July 1964 at the Lindens Clifford Chambers, within ear shot of the railway, then moved to Pillerton Priors in 1965, attending school at Ettington and later KES at Stratford. The line trackbed featured very heavily in my early years for walks and exploration, especially Goldicote Cutting. In 1993 I became aquainted with the weighbridge and goods shed at the very intact Ettington Station whilst working a season for the present owner, Hutsby's. I now live in the South of France but still retain a strong connection with the Startford area. I am an avid o gauge model loco builder, so Fowler locos are of particular interest.