There is an interesting article about the SMJR on the following website: www.WarwickshireRailways.com

Hello Andy.

I have received an e-mail from "James Pollard" who has "added a profile to your profile." and there are several what appear to be genuine links to the  SMJ web site.

Hw starts with "Good day. How is everything with you." then says he has "something very vital to you."

I think this is a scam and have not opened any links. I will forward the e-mail  to you or another member if you wish.

I cannot find "James Pollard" on the members list. Do you know if any other members have been contacted by him? Perhaps you may have heard of any instances.

Personally, I have now moved to Marsden in West Yorkshire but I still maintain a close interest in the SMJ site and the remains of the old railway itself, especially when we have to return to visit friends and relatives South of the Trent.

Finally, I do not appear to be listed on the members list.

Regards

John Barber

Hello Andy, with all that's going on at the moment as regards North End & Warwick Road stations, I have to report that an error has been made.

Photographic and map evidence of Burton Dassett platform put it on the Eastern side of Bridge 66, on the old A41 road, opposite the old sidings.

I reference Warwickshire Railways photo smjbd7, which is of the old abandoned platform building. The caption should read ' Looking West towards Kineton ' . I must admit that I have read articles that state this platform was between the bridge and the EHLR junction, but clearly this was wrong. This means that the bridge numbers index is correct at this point.

Cheers, Andy.

Hello Andy thank you for welcoming me to smjr railway society I look forward to enjoying beeing a  member 

              Best wishes Ray

many thanks,  i have spent ages looking at the images.

unfortunately i was born to late to see anything other than the carnage left after beeching. 

i am at a loss to try and find images or track layout for chacombe / chalcombe halt.  there are one or two images of the station in the george & dragon - but no real links have been found on the web...  i wonder if any members have any clues....

kind regards  daniel 

Different view of photo you posted a few days ago, have you seen this?

thanks for this Andy.  has anybody researched the opening and closing dates of signal boxes on the SMJ?

Hi Andy,thanks for the welcome,just been trying to find any pictures at all of the SMJ between Cockley and Helmdon, not had much luck so thought would try here.

Les

Thanks for the welcome, Andy. I acquired the loco in the mid '80s. It was built by Jack Esdaile in the early 60s. He was one of Esdaile and sons who made scientific instruments from about 1919. They are best known for their various instruments used on the construction of Sydney Harbour Bridge including a cable tension measurer which enabled the two arches to be hung out over the harbour to meet in the middle.I'm predominantly into narrow gauge and own a little Baldwin loco built in 1889 which I operate up at Toronto, north of Sydney. I also make rail DVDs for a living.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rktvK9E2eys&list=UUjFlhmV5OlH-qjU1_HOaKkA&index=8&feature=plcp

If this link doesn't work, do a search on Youtube for belbinvideo channel.

Sorry to prattle on so much about myself. My family has strong connections with the English railways also which I'll save for another time.

Andy,Thanks for the welcome but you and I have communicated before. I'm the Reynolds who sent you pictures of the Birmingham museum layout and the  loco in Gayton quarries. It just that when I signed in I used the full "credit card" name without thinking. I'm the Bill Reynolds of those communications!   

Hi Andy,

Thanks for the welcome. I live in Kingsthorpe, Northampton.

A multitude of factors have brought about a fascination in the SMJ which is why I found your excellent website and decided to join the society.

My father instilled a passion for railways in me from my earliest childhood years. My particular interest has changed from trains (and weekends spent on the end of platforms!) towards an almost obsessional thirst for knowledge of disused/dismantled railways and associated railway history - specifically of my locale, though my remit seems to be expanding further afield!

Since I began working in Towcester a few years ago my journey to work following the old Northampton-Blisworth line, the ironstone quarries near Gayton, the site of the former brickworks and past the embankments of the SMJ have held me intrigued. It always bewildered me that Towcester doesn't have a train station - then like you, I found out it did!

Country walks with my wife across southern parts of Northants soon unravelled plenty more to feed my inquisitiveness. Alas, my wife shares little of my passion for defunt railways but a shared love of our area and the great outdoors has meant I have a willing companion to conduct investigations. As I was born too late to see Britain's railways at their most fullsome it is perhaps understandable that the current state of the SMJ is what I most wish to see. I see many members have walked most of the trackbed as it stands today.

My father was only too happy to share his books, maps and memories of the SMJ as well as looking forward to joining me on my explorations. I intend to post findings on this website. I should be able to persuade my father to join our ranks as well!

Ross

Andy,

Many thanks for the welcome. I grew up in Blakesley and was lucky enough to spend most saturday mornings prior to closure in the signal box as my uncle, frank reynolds, was the signalman at the time. I even managed a few trips on the morning pick up to woodford west.  Trying to find my old number books and photo,s

Stuart

Hi andy

Pleased i found this site i moved to bicester in april and have researched disused railwatys in this area i have always been interested in railways past present and future im not an anorak but share a love of trains model and real with many others now have to young gransons that equally love trains i hope to carry on exploring this area

Thanks for the welcome

Steve

Dear Andy,

Many thanks for the welcome,

Matthew

I am the Planning, Parterships and External Resrouces Direcetor for the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway.

I thought that you and your members might like to know that 43924 made a highly satisfactory test run yesterday evening from Oakworth to Oxenhope and back, three times.  A picture is available on the 'news' section of the KWVR website www. KWVR.co.uk