Dock Railways, Stratford on Avon

[Dave Hayward]

Not strictly SDMJ but does anybody have a plan of the railways around the entire complex of canal basins in Stratford on Avon, roughly in the area in front of the THeatre. I have seen it somewhere but cannot locat it now. Did it have any direct link to the SMJ.

Regards

Dave Hayward

[John Jennings]

Dave

 

There are a number of plans around based on the early o/s maps. You will find one illustrated opposite page 89 of "Waterways to Stratford" published by David & Charles in 1962 ref 7153 4231 2. By the time that the East & West Junction Railway had established itself at Stratford traffic on the Tramway was in serious decline and ceased before the amalgamation that brought the SMJ into being. The Tramway and the canal had both ended up in the ownership of the GWR who saw no future in either except where the canal provided a convenient source of water for its locomotives! There are very few first hand accounts of the tramway but if you are interested in it and the complex of wharves around the basin(s) try to get hold of a book called "The Dillen" published by Elm Tree Books ref 0 241 10558 7. You do have to search the text but it is worth while. Although the Tramway crossed the SMJ line just west of Clifford Sidings there was never any physical connection (nor was any even proposed). Any interchange of traffic from the wharves would have invoved horse drawn carts transferring loads a distance of 3/4 mile to Old Town station I think it highly unlikely that there was ever any such traffic and none is recorded as far as I am aware.

 

John

[Dave Hayward]

John

Thank you very much for this helpful answer, I will try to locate the book you mention.

It seems that the Moreton Trmway was seen as virtual extension of the canal.

Regards

Dave Hayward

John Jennings said:

Dave

 

There are a number of plans around based on the early o/s maps. You will find one illustrated opposite page 89 of "Waterways to Stratford" published by David & Charles in 1962 ref 7153 4231 2. By the time that the East & West Junction Railway had established itself at Stratford traffic on the Tramway was in serious decline and ceased before the amalgamation that brought the SMJ into being. The Tramway and the canal had both ended up in the ownership of the GWR who saw no future in either except where the canal provided a convenient source of water for its locomotives! There are very few first hand accounts of the tramway but if you are interested in it and the complex of wharves around the basin(s) try to get hold of a book called "The Dillen" published by Elm Tree Books ref 0 241 10558 7. You do have to search the text but it is worth while. Although the Tramway crossed the SMJ line just west of Clifford Sidings there was never any physical connection (nor was any even proposed). Any interchange of traffic from the wharves would have invoved horse drawn carts transferring loads a distance of 3/4 mile to Old Town station I think it highly unlikely that there was ever any such traffic and none is recorded as far as I am aware.

 

John