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Hello! I'm interested to find out more about the route of the Moreton-in-Marsh to Shipston-on-Stour line. It appears to take a very curious route: from Moreton northwards past Stretton-on-Fosse towards Ilmington; and westwards from Shipston past Darlingscot, then northwards to join the line coming up from Moreton at an acute angle. It seems the train would have had to reverse! Can this be right? Also, on the aerial photo, the line appears clearly to continue northwards Crimscote - but there's no mention of this in Jowett's railway Atlas - the bible on such matters!

More confusingly, on the 'Shipston on line' website it talks about trains from Moreton to Stratford - but there's no sign of this line in Jowett! If you can shed light on any of this, or point me to more info, I would be grateful.

Best wishes Mike Evans

You need to read The Shipston-on-Stour Branch by SC Jenkins and RS Carpenter - Wild Swan Publications ISBN 1 874103 34 8. It will explain that there were two railways, the original horse drawn Moreton to 4 foot Stratford Tramway and the later standard gauge steam line to Shipston which followed the route as far as Longdon Road and then curved away to Shipston. The original formation remained in place until the mid-20th century but not used much since the 19th century. See 'gwrlr533' for the point where the two lines diverged. I actually have many more photos of the route which one day hopefully I will get around to posting on the site.

My progress is slow because I need to research, write captions as well as create the HTML pages, scan and adjust the photos and then load on to the site. Anyone who can help by writing captions to any of the photos on the site etc helps to add new photos to the site because its one less job that I have to do.

Thought you may be able to use some of these. If they are of use, I will give you text to accompany the pics you would like and provide as much information as I can supply There are more to come if you would like them.

Tony Woodward

Tony had attached 22 B&W photos which immediately took me back to my youth when the last decade of steam was characterised by engines covered in grime. I look forward to sharing them with visitors when Tony has provided the information for the captions.

Fantastic site. Nice to see that there are dedicated people who are prepared to share the fruits of their labours.

Thank you - Joseph Powell

Thank you for some excellent photographs. I have been searching for images of Hall Green and Yardley Wood Stations as I am from this area and still use this line. I am interested in the architectural details of the stations for drawings and paintings and have been fascinated by the images from the early history of the line.

Thanks - Roger Simmons

What a wonderful site and fascinating archive. Well done to you all. Do you happen to know anything about the New Bilton siding sometimes known as New Bilton branch line, or Rugby Cement siding at Rugby? The OS map shows this as disused but now we are told it was refurbished for use in the late 1990's and has been a part of the operational rail network since that time. Any information about the refurbishment or the use of this small branch line would be much appreciated.

Thank you for a great site. Lilian

Please email Lilian if you have any information at lp@rugbyinplume.org

was a driver at Coventry from 1978 until closure, working around the many now closed freight lines in the area, mostly with class 25 diesels. I enjoyed my time there but it went too quickly. I am now at Exeter (fgw). I found your website most interesting and will visit again.

Thank you, Jon Morton

I discovered this little gem surfing for Broom Junction. Thank you for an inspirational and fascinating website, it is very obvious that a lot of time, effort and work has been dedicated to present, in my opinion, one of the best railway historical information archives on the web. This will be a constant source of research material and just plain curiosity. As a suggestion to a truly superb project, an interactive map could be useful - a pictorial representation of the routes and stations etc. may help those of us not familiar with the Warwickshire railway scene.

Iain Nunn

Mike - That is quite a site - wish I had found it earlier. I can send you a scan of this halt which you are currently missing. A contemporary postcard view.

John Rodley

What an outstanding website! I only came across it today from a reference on the LNWR Society's site. I have been working for some years on an S4 model of an imaginary LNWR terminus at Stratford on Avon (from 'Myton Junction' via Barford and Hampton Lucy). Now retired, I hope I shall have the time to finish it.

Robert H. Barlow

I have just found your site and it made great reading I was a fireman on the western at Stratford-on-Avon in the 1950s I then moved to old Oak Common and left the railway in 1965.

Best wishes, Roger

Hi - this is a great website I am using it to help me build a model railway on the current Stratford upon Avon. I was just wondering if there was any evidence of a turntable at the sheds. (I really do need one in my layout and it's the only suitable place!)

Adam

You do not make it clear as to whether you are modelling the GWR or SMJ. I believe only the SMJ had a turntable (in fact two as the original was moved when the shed was rebuilt) which was sited next to the shed.

Hi, I am one of the duty signallers based at Washwood Heath No 1 box, I can confirm that the photo 'mrwhg35a' is indeed No 1. Myself and the rest of the lads have found your photos fascinating.

Regards, Pete Kinsey

Pete contacted me a few weeks later to say that the signal box is not Washwood Heath No1 Box.

Excellent site, thanks very much. I spent summer holidays 1940's in Little Leamington adjacent to the Moreton in Marsh to Shipston. My memory of the late 1940's was that the local kids of Little Leamington and I would run through the field next to the hamlet, and watch the local goods train go by. Noting I was not yet a teenager, I do recall the engine's flailing connection rods, could it have been a Dean Goods? I didn't see that characteristic again till my trainspotting days at my home town of Derby, namely the Midland 0-6-0 No 58110.

David Pratley

I have just found your site and in particular the photographs of Kings Heath ballast sidings. My parents house was in Greenend Rd which backed onto the railway, I collected many numbers from the top of the cutting, happy day's. I am now searching for old photographs I think I still have.

Bob Clifton

Found your site from the link in the railway archive. Superb range of photographs so far (many new to me), and good sound historical detail. This site will be a very valuable research aid as it develops.

All credit to you. Mike Doubleday

Excellent site. I loved looking at the Nuneaton to Cov ones I used to catch the train every day from Foleshill to Coundon Road to school at Bablake. The Foleshill station had several staff one of whom we used to wind up asking for tickets valid for 3 months which had to be filled in by hand. Coming home we caught a later train which was always standard 75 steam hauled and we used to cadge a lift in the cab if we knew the train crew. My mum never understood why I arrived home looking so dirty !. If it was an unfriendly crew we used to leap in the 1st class non corridor compartment for a trip home in comfort . Later all the trains became dmus.

Mike

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