GWR Route: Stratford on Avon to Honeybourne

Stratford-on-Avon Racecourse Platform: gwr_src2460

Ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 6944 'Fledborough Hall' enters the New Curve Junction line with a train of empty banana vans on 23rd May 1964. The curve was laid in 1960 to connect the former SMJ line with the GWR to Honeybourne in order divert the iron-ore trains from Northampton to South Wales. The alternative route was via Hatton which was not only congested but an extra 27 miles longer but removed the need for banking assistance on the banks at Wilmecote and Hatton. The curve also allowed the closure of the SMJ line between Stratford upon Avon and Broom Junction although the rapid decline in iron-ore traffic meant that the above junction closed on 1st March 1965. Above the train, at the former SMJ station, is an LMS upper quadrant signal, whilst on the right the home signal is a lower quadrant type signal. The locomotive and train can be seen further down the avoiding line in image 'gwr_src1436'.

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