SMJ Bridge 170

[Richard Woods]

Some SMJ news folks:

The SMJ Bridge 170 on the Olney Branch, which crosses Quinton road near Salcey Forest, is currently in the process of being demolished. The actual bridge itself was lifted in the late 60's, but the abutments on both sides and also the embankments either side have remained. The embankments too are in the process of being taken out. I learned of this today, whilst crossing over the line on the M1.

Could anybody shed any light on what is going on down there? Are some houses being built there or something?

[Stephen Dawson]

Hi

  You you are correct the abutments are now gone. There is a windfarm being built the other side of the M1  and the railway line bridge under the m1 is being used for the access road to the wind farm site. The access road will start from where the abutments were located on the Quinton road and pass under the moterway to the site. The embankments have been cleared to provide better view for the new road turning to the windfarm off the quinton road..

[NIGEL]

[NIGEL]

It's in the Roade local residents newsletter.

[Donald Cook]

The area around Hartwell, Stoke Bruerne, Shutlanger, Hanslope, Stoke Goldington, Castlethorpe and Haversham is beset with planning proposals for windfarms and solar energy farms, of which this is the first to get approval.  It's a case of 'watch this space' regarding all the various others.

[Peter Fleming]

Yes

I noticed this from the M1 myself yesterday (Nov 30).

 

The embankment to the W of the M1 has been steadily eroded over the years so that there is little left.

 

As I was driving I couldn't look too hard, especially as I wasn't expecting anything to be going on. Heavy machinery was doing something in the field - I got the impression that something was being put up there rather than agricultural changes.

 

I did wonder from the tracks whether the machinery was using the bridge under the M1 for access. This is the bridge reputed never to have seen a train - apart from track-lifting trains ?

 

(I see Stephen Dawson has beaten me to it!)

[Barry Taylor]

Interesting info Richard - every time that I've driven past there I've wondered just how much longer the abutments could last - but I expected them to disappear for road safety reasons!

Seems along time ago that the old LNWR twelve wheel coach stood right on top of the bridge.

I'm just uploading a couple of pics in the photos section which might prove interesting.

[Peter Fleming]

There are now 4 wind generators up or almost complete.

Looking from the M1 it appears that only one (the western-most) is actually on the SMJ alignment.

[Stephen Dawson]

There are going to be 9 wind turbines in total on that plot.