Guest Book: Page 23

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Morning. Such a minor point but that is life Braunston in Northants on the Weedon line is 'e'less Braunstone in Leics has the blessed 'e'. Can you point me in the direction of any information about an accident at Birdingbury on the Rugby to Leamington line in 1856 or at Draycote in 1859 ? Fascinating photos.

Best wishes Chris Barney

Chris - You are absolutely correct and the first person to notice the error in the three years since I started the site. I can change the Home page but the other LNER pages will need the help of my son to search and replace because of the number of pages to be changed. As he lives in London I will have to wait until next time he is up in Stratford upon Avon. Regarding your query about the railway accidents, I have tried a number of sources to find out the information you required but to avail. I suggest a visit to the local study centres in Coventry/Rugby and Warwick to look through their newspaper files as most accidents were recorded in the press. If you do get any information please let me know.

What a 'GREAT' site, brought back memories of Henley in Arden where as a 5 year old I was placed in the care of my grandfather in the 'box' whilst my mother went to Stratford shopping on the train. The loco in 'gwrha467a' is coming off the storage sidings (the left hand line went to the Old Station yard) which were often used. Quite often stock was routed to Platform 3 to form a stopper service (as against the Semi-fast) to Moor Street once the loco had run around - and why there was a headshunt to allow for overlap and not interfere with the up line operations. Thanks for taking me back in time! Is it possible to obtain a high definition copy of this picture?

Martin Green

Hi Martin - Many thanks for your kind words and the information about the photograph which I will update soon. Regarding your request for the photograph, I have now seen this photograph for sale from several sources and suggest you contact Roger Carpenter for a copy. Roger also sells copies at Photograph Fairs and Model Railway Exhibitions two of which I can personally recommend. These are - The Kidderminster Railway Museum, normally the first Saturday in January and July each year and the Leamington and Warwick Model Railway Exhibition which this year was held on 21st January 2009.

Regarding Henley-in-Arden, you will be pleased to know that I have acquired a number of photographs of both the new and old station which I will be addressing in a couple of months time. I am currently revisiting the Trent Valley line and after Nuneaton has been complete this will hopefully not take too long. Nuneaton has been a bit of a marathon as there will be some 150 extra photographs added when complete - hopefully by this weekend. I will then be returning to the North Warwickshire line to complete the Stratford to Tyseley section.

Hi - I've just been looking at your photos and getting so nostalgic! Regarding Bournville station and Bournville Lane: 'mrb476' and 'mrb488' are in fact taken from the same side of the Bournville Lane overbridge. The other end looks quite different being an older structure. It is the canal bridge. I can do you a photo if you want.

Best wishes - John Bishop

Thanks John for both the kind words and the information which I will update at the weekend. Regarding a photograph, many thanks for the kind offer but I do not need you to provide a copy to prove you are correct. Having checked the two images with new eyes I can see that you are indeed absolutely right.

I have to be careful in adding post 1968 images and information as the website is already problematic with the amount of work that still needs to done. Both in terms of revisiting existing photos to improve their quality and to increase their size in addition to uploading new photos and then having to write the captions. If I reflect on the size of the task ahead it can get very daunting. However if you can point to me to other photos of the pre-1968 scene then this would be very useful as this section of the website needs strengthening.

I find your website most interesting and especially the old photo's of the old East & West Junction Railway station at Stratford. My Great Grandfather lived in the railway cottages adjacent to the station when he worked there as a Permanent Way Inspector. He collapsed and died in the waiting room in 1902 on returning from Blakesley Hall.

Best Regards Keith Bolland

Hello Mike - I am perusing your excellent website on Warwickshire Railways. Super stuff and excellent photos. Regarding one photo: Entitled 'Whitacre Junction Station: mrhiaj392'. It shows an MR 0-6-0 loco at the original (1839) Hampton Station. (Not Whitacre Junction as titled), originally called Derby Junction as in other photo.

Colin Maggs has suggested that this train is leaving the station, but your narrative raises some questions about this view. I researched this line in considerable detail when writing "The Stonebridge Railway" back in 1992/3. I have various maps and track layouts and therefore I would make the following comments: The line upon which the loco is pictured is part of the double track layout as shown in the 1903 Ordnance Survey maps. The line curves around to the right to join the single line section just past MP 6 1/4. The signal box shown is not the LMS one on the London-Birmingham Down line. It was on the MR branch, positioned between the two running lines in the yard of Wyckham Blackwell, just north of the station.

Its position is clearly shown as SB on the 1903 map. The shadows are therefore consistent with a morning sun from the East. The loco and single coach are either on their way into Hampton, or are returning to Whitacre, with loco running tender first and propelling the coach. It is difficult to determine which, as the single daily train went from Whitacre to Hampton and then straight back. But as the driver (or fireman) appears to be looking backwards, I would therefore support Colin's analysis.

Best regards - Roger Waring www.pianola.co.uk

Following the above guest entry, Roger has subsequently contacted me as follows, "As your website is so comprehensive I would like to put my research materials at your disposal. My book is now out of print, and so anything from it that you might consider useful would at least help to keep the information in the public domain. Specifically: Loan of a copy of my book, Original and copied photographs, Copies of 1903 maps, MR track diagrams etc.".

Needless to say I am very pleased that Roger has kindly offered the fruits of his extensive research to the website. Such calibre of information will help to move the website up many levels from just being a photo library to a resource of serious historical information. I just need to persuade Roger to be the webmaster of this section of the site!!!

Hello there - I wonder if you can help me. I'm trying to locate a track layout for the original Snow Hill station before it was so tragically ripped down in the 70's. I'm sure there were more platforms that there are now and I'm interested in any associated plans of the station itself. The problem is that I am a complete novice to all of this and I have no idea where to start looking.

The reason for my interest is that I'm finally getting to grips with a promise I made to myself many years ago to construct a replica of the old station in OO/HO gauge. Finally I've got to a stage where I think it is doable, but now I need information on its layout. Any pointers you may give me would be much appreciated. By the way, I'm using my dad's email at the moment. My email address is: paulmarson@blueyonder.co.uk.

Thank you for your help - Paul Marson

Dear Mike. Some time ago I sent you a potted history of Monument Lane engine shed taken from research that I carried out in preparation for a book about the shed. The book is now completed and my research has unearthed some additional information and corrections to the original note that I sent you. I have therefore attached an updated version. The book is called 'Monument Lane Loco Shed' and can be obtained from me at 22 Maxstoke Close, Matchborough West, Redditch B98 0EJ, price £11.95 plus £1.40p&p.

Keep up the good work on your excellent site and very best wishes for Christmas and the New Year. Tony Higgs

I think you have done a great job with this site. I worked on the railways as a cleaner/fireman, I started in Pwllheli in 1960 and then transferred to Leamington Spa in 1961 and stayed there until 1964, but I was young then, and made the mistake of transferring again to Willesden Junction, I stayed there about a year, then I left the railway to go on the Queen Mary as a fireman, your site brings back many great memories.

Thanks - Bernard Roberts

A really interesting site, well done. My grandfather was a signalman at Newbold on Avon signal box in the early 1900s.

Sheila Steane

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