The Golden Age of Steam

How did you first become interested in the Stratford-upon-Avon & Midland Junction Railway?

A pint of milk! I live in Devon, my brother lives in Towcester, near the town's large supermarket. He said we needed a pint of milk so we walked over. On entering the shop my brother said, "you know this is where the old station used to be?!" And that was it!

What were the main stations in Warwickshire that were closed by Beeching?

The SMJ was almost pre-beeching. It suffered greatly from the post nationalisation stagnation from 1948 onwards. As if they wanted it closed, the line was almost abandoned, so naturally people stopped using it, making it a self-fulfilling proficy!

Bed of the former SMJ track near Fenny Compton

The services were slowly withdrawn in the early 1950's, the passenger service to Stratford-Upon-Avon from Blisworth being with drawn in 1952.

Is there an area of the network that you have particular interest in and why?

I would have to say Towcester because of my previous answer. Towcester was the other main station on the line (after Stratford), the only station with a footbridge and was a crossroads for the line.

It had mixed fortunes but I have discovered many stories about Towcester including race days. Many trains full of rain-coat clad men all wearing trilbies, streaming out of the station towards the race-course down the A5, pockets full of spare cash. It was the picture of county town station. I could tell you more...

The line is 100 years old next year (2009) and it is also 60 years this year since it became part of British Railways – What parts of the line are still in use?

There is one tiny part of the SMJ remaining, its just in Warwickshire (I think) and is the section which runs from the former Fenny Compton station to what was Kineton station.

Towcester station - Courtesy of Andy Thompson

The line now serves the MOD camp of Kineton. The irony of that being the last section still open is that it was part of the first section of track opened by the East & West Junction railway. The first station to close on the line in Warwickshire on what was to become the SMJ was Northend platform near the village of Northend. It only opened for around five years, opening on 1 June 1871 and closing 31 July 1877.

What is your favourite station on the line and why?

My favourite station on the line is the station I'm currently into! Its no answer I know, but it does say a lot about the line. I find there is always something else to find out about the SMJ.

Someone emails you with a photo or some text and off you go! The latest I had was about the quarrying at Goldicote near Ettington. Quarrying was a big part of the line, - many small quarries had connections to the line. (Edgehill for instance!).

You can find out more about the Stratford-Upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway by visiting Andy's website: