Single track?

[Nicholas Hemming]

Would I be right in assuming that the SMJ was single track all the way apart from passing loops at the stations?

[Gary]

It was single track yes, although engineered to double, apart from Goldicote Cutting.
Towcester to Greens Norton Junction was originally a double track section but was later remodelled to parallel single lines with no connection other than at Towcester.

[Richard Maund]

After 1942, Clifford Sidings box to Stratford was double track.

[Barry Taylor]

Just to qualify Gary's earlier comment - the line from Towcester to Greens Norton was in fact originally just single track, with a loop, a junction, and two signal boxes at Greens Norton. The loop was shortened and one signal box removed in 1894, and then in 1910 the junction and remaining signal box was abolished by the newly formed SMJR. At that point the layout became two single lines from Towcester. At Towcester the former east and west signal boxes were closed and one new taller box constructed (the one that survived through to closure of the line)

The track bed from Towcester to Greens Norton was built for double line, but there was also some widening done west of the Watling Street bridge as part of the 1910 alterations, on which new sidings were placed.