Lovely late Summer light, a glorious English afternoon, and railway remains! Doesn't get much better than that! All that is left are the MOD rails at Kineton munition depot, Burton Dassett which also stores rolling stock. How useful this line would be nowadays, Stratford to Northampton, joining with the GCR at Woodford and Hinton,the Cockley Brake junction to Banbury route..
Hi Christina, glad you enjoyed it. There are so many routes that could have been restored if they had been mothballed properly instead of abandoned. Great shame. Have a good week. Ron
Talking while breaking spider webs, you might ingest some unintended protein while on the trail. A beautiful afternoon and a few finds, a good day all around. Thanks for the invite.
Hi Mr Parkinson’s Walks. Thank you for another fascinating walk. I was quick and organised enough this morning to follow you on Side by Side Maps (6” 1888-1913) and I think you were right the first time about Kineton station. It was on the B4086 between Brockhampton Lane and Castle Road. A signal box, signals, sidings etc so must have been quite a busy place. I have been past the end of this line where it joins the Banbury to Leamington Spa route and you can see the line going off into the distance and even in use!!! There are quite a few sidings for carriage storage I think but I’m sure someone will know. Looking forward to your next adventure. Kind regards. Marilyn
Hi Marilyn, you were well organised,. It is sometimes hard to imagine the activity that must have taken place when you look at it now. Interesting post, thank you. Ron
Times I have been over Lucy's Bridge, but always been with the family so turned left and past the weir and locks back into town. By the way watching this sat outside near the pool. with a San Miguel in Tenerife.
Hello Ron. Just got back from Cornwall so now had the time to watch your explore . A Little late but well worth it. We (Tanya) went round some of my old haunts and got some nice walks in . A short one from Talland bay to Polperro, out on Bodmin moor at Minions ,great for Mines, engine houses and quarries. Also went to Luxulyan valley ,such a wonderful and interesting place. The Via/Aquaduct never fails to impress. Stay safe. Pete
Good Morning, Ron. Well done on this one. I’m still editing my footage, on what I think has been the most challenging and frustrating railway adventure so far. It’s such a shame that more of this old railway is not accessible. I’m glad you tackled the Kineton bridges. I did them on a drive by, but access looked impossible, so I started on an little back road near Wellesbourne. The track bed at the back of Waitrose in Stratford is accessible, but it’s a bit of a hike. Take care. Ron
Hi Ron, hang in there. So much of what was once a viable railway is now just scrub as we well know, and even then access is restricted by adjacent land owners. It's not the easiest of hobbies. Take care of yourself. Ron
Good morning Ron and thank you for taking us on another intrepid journey through the undergrowth to bring us today’s video. The line you covered is an interesting one, as you said, it is one of the few that provides an east-west connection between the lines running north-south up and down the country. The line ran from Broom Junction where it left the Midland Railway’s Barnt Green, Evesham & Ashchurch line, through to Fenny Compton where it formed a junction with the GWR’s Oxford & Birmingham Railway. Initially, the East & West Junction Railway (EWJR), as it was known, was authorised to continue south down to Banbury and then strike east to join the Northampton & Banbury Junction Railway at Cockley Brake Junction. At the western end it would link up with the GWR’s Hatton and Honeybourne line at Stratford-Upon-Avon. The aim of this EWJR line was to provide a link for the transportation of Northamptonshire iron ore to the blast furnaces of south Wales where local supplies had been exhausted, and an Act of Parliament to build this route was authorised on 23rd June 1864. Sadly, this intended use of the route to transport iron ore was not realised, as imported Spanish ore proved to be cheaper. Consequently, the EWJR decided to build only the section from Fenny Compton to Kineton, which opened on 1st June 1871, and then extended it to the GWR station at Stratford on 1st July 1873. Shortly after, it ended its association with the GWR by opening it’s own station in Stratford in June 1875. Earlier in that year the EWJR fell into financial difficulties and went into receivership. Passenger traffic was suspended from 31st July 1877 to 22nd March 1885 and only goods traffic ran during this period. The EWJR supported the Evesham, Redditch and Stratford-Upon-Avon Junction Railway (ERSJR), which received an Act to build a line from Stratford to Broom Junction on 5th August 1873. Initially, Binton was the only station on this section with Bidford station not being opened until 1881. The EWJR never exercised it’s powers to run through to Evesham & Redditch, but did operate the Stratford Broom Junction on behalf of the ERSJR with both passenger and goods services. In 1908 the EWJR was amalgamated with the ERSJR and the Stratford -Upon-Avon, Towcester & Midland Junction Railway (STMJR), to form the Stratford-Upon-Avon & Midland Junction Railway (SMJR). The SMJR had the makings of a valuable through line linking four great railways, viz: the GCR, GWR, LNWR and MR. However, this capability was hardly used and the SMJR had to survive on local traffic alone. The Broom Junction to Stratford passenger service was withdrawn on 16th June 1947, followed by the passenger service to the east of Stratford on 7th April 1952. Into the 60’s now and a southwards facing junction was put in at Stratford leading to the Racecourse station. This curve was opened 24th April 1960 and was first worked on 12th June of that year. This rendered the Broom Junction to Stratford section redundant and it closed on 13th June 1960. The ore traffic on the remaining section from Stratford to Fenny Compton ended soon after and in 1965 SMJR was closed from the MoD Ammunition Depot sidings at Burton Dassett to Stratford. The remainder of the line from Fenny Compton to the Depot being sold to the MoD. Going back to the section of line covered in the video, I can offer some details about the infrastructure and other detail which may be of interest. Stratford-Upon-Avon station (the SMJR’s headquarters from 1873 - prior to that it was at Kineton) was situated on the left hand side of the busy Seven Meadows road which has been built on the trackbed and nothing significant remains. There were extensive facilities at this two platform station, with a goods shed, turntable and numerous sidings - two of which were private. The station also featured a refreshment room. Additionally, there was an engine shed for fourteen locomotives. Built of timber, the shed was opened in 1876, was extended in 1908 and reconstructed in 1935. It closed on 22nd July 1957. The large turntable, capable of turning GCR excursion Atlantics, was installed in 1908. As you came over the viaduct (also part of Seven Meadows Road next to Lucy’s Mill bridge) from the east, you entered the station with the goods facilities extending on towards it’s junction with the Hatton & Honeybourne branch. This area is now covered by the roundabout at the end of Seven Meadows Road and here the Greenway footpath shoots off south along the trackbed of the old Hatton & Honeybourne branch. New road and house building in this area means that absolutely nothing remains of the old railway infrastructure. Heading east now over the six arch 69 yard viaduct spanning the river Avon, which was completed only three months after laying of the foundation stone on 28th September 1864, we pass the site of Clifford siding. The line between here and Stratford was doubled on 27th September 1942, otherwise, the whole route was single track. At Clifford siding the line was crossed by the Stratford and Moreton Tramway and it is here today that Seven Meadows Road departs the trackbed at a roundabout and the line (not accessible) continues into the 60 foot deep, 600 yard long, Goldicote Cutting. After passing through fairly mundane countryside and the villages of Ettington and Butlers Marston, which, remarkably, were not served by the railway, we come to Kineton. The station was brick-built, consisting of two pavilions with a central connection, and with quoined door and window openings. There was a siding to the goods shed and coal yard. This branched off an extended head shunt to the down side of the loop, and itself had a runaround loop built into it. This was extended in 1959 when the line was modernised by the Western Region. The up line also had a small carriage siding behind the platform with a staff cabin, again connected to the main line by a headshunt. The station, which was opened on 1st June1871, was situated just to the west of the town on the south west side of the B4086 road bridge. Business did not meet expectations and, in 1877, the station closed. However, following the opening of the extension to Broom Junction in 1879, trade picked up and the station was reopened on 22 February 1885. The signal box had extensions at both ends to accommodate the electric train staffs. When the station platforms were removed, a small stage was provided for the signalman to stand on when exchanging tokens with the footplate crews. The station closed, with the line, to passengers on 7th April 1952. The area is now covered by an industrial site and nothing of the station or its infrastructure remains. There is some fascinating history associated with the small industries that had sidings along the line, and the range of locomotives used is also worthy of discussion. However, I will reign myself in for today and leave it there. Thanks again Ron. Keep well and have a good week. Regards, Trev.
@@abandonedrailwaya2470 Hi Ron. The tramway was not used after 1904 and the rails were lifted for scrap in 1918 to help with wartime economy measures. However, it was not until 4th August 1926 that the line was officially abandoned by an Act of Parliament. Some southern parts of the route were re-opened as a standard gauge railway and that was in use until 1929 for passengers and 1960 for goods. The tramway crossed the A34 (now the A3400) on bridges in two places. I don't have an exact date but it would have been sometime between 1926 and 1934 with somewhere between1930 and 1934 being the most likely. Regards Trev
Great read Trev, thanks for taking the time to add in so much detail, really appreciated 👍👍 Just as well you reigned yourself in .... this being an east west line going off at a tangent you might be in Scotland now!!😂😂😂
Thanks Trev. Railmaponline actually shows an Ettington station, north of the village and just east of the A429 road. Wikipedia says it closed for the last time in 1952.
Good morning Ron! This is was fascinating and well produced video, and it covers an area I have not yet explored, apart from the Kineton end of it (some confusion over how that village is pronounced - I asked in the bakery and was told it is 'Kine-e-ton' - however others insist it is 'kind-town' - you pays your money...)! I did a Military Railway video fairly recently looking at (what I could have) of the very extensive Kineton Military Railway MOD site. Shame that Lucy's Mill has gone - I presume that is the same Lucy as in the nearby village of 'Hampton Lucy' (the Lucy familiy were prominent in that part of South Warwickshire) and, worse to see a railway bridge now used as a road bridge (ugh!) - I would prefer road bridges closed and repurposed as railway ones! As Jim says below, it is shame that the trackbed has not been used as a walking and cycling trail. Great video and a super explore. Take care, Paul
Hi Paul, I enjoyed your military railway film, you did well. You actually asked how to pronounce the village name at the bakery, you wouldn't have done that pre You Tube, You have so much more confidence these days. Well done. Ron
Mornin' Ron, on time today getting up early is the only way to get anything done at the moment, and although you probably couldn't hear him a cockerel has just crowed in agreement!! Well done Molly, is what I say, I'm sure she helped you along the way. The UK postal code is a great invention it narrows things down to only one or two houses I think, over here they are numbers and basically identifies you to the area covered by your local post office. The star of the show today was that bridge weight warning sign, maybe you should ask Simon to put one on his layout for you to inspect!! It's hard to get the perspective on these cuttings especially with so much vegetation, so it was good that you found a pathway down the embankment from there you could really see the depth, the pathway looked fenced off at a low level ankle to knee height maybe they were going to open the trackbed up? As for those missing coping stones, I wonder if anyone here knows where they might be?🤔🤔😅😅😂😂😂 Yesterday we just shut ourselves in the afternoon it was like being in an oven, later though we ventured out to our village centre which is by the river and got a gentle mountain breeze coming down the valley ..... joy!! Have a great weekend!!
Hi David, I'm sure I heard that cockerel! Pauline and Molly don't get on, it can get a little fraught when they don't agree which turning to take. I don't see anyone owning up to the great copping stone robbery. That breeze must have been like heaven Stay cool Ron
Another classic adventure, Ron, many thanks indeed! Fascinating to see the story of this line gently emerge along your walk, and a particularly interesting set of bridges in Kineton. Also very interesting to see how you plan and execute your railway walks - I look forward to further such Parkinson adventures! You have given me many, many hours of entertainment and the impetus to go and retrace your steps in certain locations. I used to work in Stratford, and in fact lived in Old Town for a while. As you were filming the section of preserved track there you briefly captured a road roundabout in the background. That traffic island is actually home to a complete platform from the defunct Old Town Station - a further platform edge can be found on the opposite side of the road to where you were filming (possibly now obscured by shrubs). Something for another day! All the best, Duncan.
Great Sleuthing Ron tho Not a very Fruitful Trail today, Testing the Detective skills to the Max - Never Ceases to Amaze me how Effective the Re-Wilding Process is at Covering up the History- at least you “copped” a few Bridges and Sleeper Posts, leave the Broad gauge Posts for the Next One. Cheers & and Happy Wanderings 👍🏻
Good morning Ron. Thank you for another expertly researched adventure. Parkinson’s Walks now commands such a reputation I am sure Warwickshire Police would have happily closed off roads to prevent traffic noise interfering with your filming. Have a good week. Rodney.
Good Morning good Ron - greetings from Poland. Now we know the secrets of your planning and how you work out what to see and where to find it. I'm surprised that more hasn't been made of the trackbed, bearing in mind where abouts the line is. Superb investigating walk, finding many interesting bridges and fence posts. Wonderful video with high quality commentary. Thanks so much for taking us along.
Hi Michael I was starting to get worried about you, hoping you were alright. I always enjoy a walk more when I can share it with old friends. Take care of yourself. Pauline & Ron
I'm fine thanks Ron. Hospital yesterday having the plumbing checked. Had to have a pipe changed! Monday is CT scan. He week after next is kidney doctor check up and blood tests. Learnt yesterday that the waiting list to have prostrate removed is 14 months! I have to have unbind checked every 4 weeks.
@@michaelpilling531 Hi Michael, good to know at least you seem to have been well checked over. Not much fun this getting old lark, trouble is the alternative isn't a lot better. Love from Pauline and Ron
Some fading remains along the way. It looks quite a scenic route and it would be nice if some of it was preserved, in say, the form of a footpath, or a piece of railway architecture, as is done elsewhere. Thanks for an interesting film. Uncovering what remains may help to stimulate interest in preserving more of the country's railway heritage.
Good morning Ron, thanks to you and Molly for a very interesting day out. We watched this in the garden since it's a nice day here and I kept pausing to see if the birds were here or there...mostly there, definitely the sheep was! speaking of sheep, OVM is going for a much needed groom this week. Her impatient owner cut the hair around her eyes this week as it was really blocking her seeing clearly...let's just say dog grooming is not her forte. Have a good week Ron.
Pauline and I both enjoyed that one James, with this changeable weather it's hard to know if sumac will be glad to have been shorn or wish she hadn't. Best to take her coat when walking just in case. Go gently. Ron
Thanks for this, Ron and very interesting to see how you plan ahead and some of the 'tools ' you use to make things a little easier to find the clues. Your video also demonstrates the frustrations often found when exploring the suburbs for evidence of old railway track beds and infrastructure. Personally, I prefer rural exploration where there is less chance of being mown down by traffic and enabling becoming submerged in the beauty of nature! Have you explored the Gloucester - Ross route on the abandoned section form Grange Court via Longhope? Probably my favourite part of dear old Gloucestershire with very fond memories of my childhood. Even a now distant memory of travelling on the route in the mid War years on my way to Hereford and on to Craven Arms to visit grandparents on the family farm near Montgomery.
Thanks, Ron. It would have been so much better if the powers-that-be had maintained at least part of the track-bed as public walking area. Probably too late to do anything about it now, I guess.
Hi Jim, more and more councils are waking up to the idea of using old lines as cycling/walking routes, but it depends what has been built over it in the meanwhile. Keep flying. Ron
Morning Ron, you discovered more than I did walking from West Bay to Bridport. Not even one old soldier did I spy. When you said at one location you didn't expect to find anything and then you said "I've found this old thing" I was expecting my wife to come into view and not a bridge.......
Hi Ron, another brilliant video. Out of curiosity have you ever thought of adding music to the video? A light guitar would go great with some of these fantastic shots!
Hello Ron. Not one of your most productive walks. Didn’t appear to be a great deal left of that line and what their was is well hidden. But I still enjoyed it as always. Trust you are keeping well.
Hi Ron, another pleasant dip into the hidden infrastructure of my local area. If you ever come back it's well worth noting that the other side of the road by the old buffer stop is one of the two Midland Railway platforms still in place and visible even from the road. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stratford_Old_Town_railway_station
Lovely late Summer light, a glorious English afternoon, and railway remains! Doesn't get much better than that! All that is left are the MOD rails at Kineton munition depot, Burton Dassett which also stores rolling stock. How useful this line would be nowadays, Stratford to Northampton, joining with the GCR at Woodford and Hinton,the Cockley Brake junction to Banbury route..
Hi Christina, glad you enjoyed it. There are so many routes that could have been restored if they had been mothballed properly instead of abandoned. Great shame. Have a good week. Ron
@ParkinsonsWalks you too! Looking forward to the next.
Talking while breaking spider webs, you might ingest some unintended protein while on the trail. A beautiful afternoon and a few finds, a good day all around. Thanks for the invite.
Thanks for the tip Jim. Ron
Hi Mr Parkinson’s Walks. Thank you for another fascinating walk. I was quick and organised enough this morning to follow you on Side by Side Maps (6” 1888-1913) and I think you were right the first time about Kineton station. It was on the B4086 between Brockhampton Lane and Castle Road. A signal box, signals, sidings etc so must have been quite a busy place. I have been past the end of this line where it joins the Banbury to Leamington Spa route and you can see the line going off into the distance and even in use!!! There are quite a few sidings for carriage storage I think but I’m sure someone will know. Looking forward to your next adventure. Kind regards. Marilyn
Hi Marilyn, you were well organised,. It is sometimes hard to imagine the activity that must have taken place when you look at it now. Interesting post, thank you. Ron
Times I have been over Lucy's Bridge, but always been with the family so turned left and past the weir and locks back into town.
By the way watching this sat outside near the pool. with a San Miguel in Tenerife.
Hi, haven't heard from you in a while, are things a little warm where you are? Ron
@@ParkinsonsWalks not too bad for me but some in the party are finding it a bit warm.
Hello Ron. Just got back from Cornwall so now had the time to watch your explore . A Little late but well worth it. We (Tanya) went round some of my old haunts and got some nice walks in . A short one from Talland bay to Polperro, out on Bodmin moor at Minions ,great for Mines, engine houses and quarries. Also went to Luxulyan valley ,such a wonderful and interesting place. The Via/Aquaduct never fails to impress. Stay safe. Pete
Hi Pete, there is so much more to Cornwall than just beaches, I hope Tanya was impressed. Ron
A good and interesting film, not sure it's quite autumn yet though!
Hi Francis, it won't be long!! Ron
another excellent production Ron keep up the good work
Thanks, will do. Ron
Good Morning, Ron. Well done on this one. I’m still editing my footage, on what I think has been the most challenging and frustrating railway adventure so far. It’s such a shame that more of this old railway is not accessible. I’m glad you tackled the Kineton bridges. I did them on a drive by, but access looked impossible, so I started on an little back road near Wellesbourne. The track bed at the back of Waitrose in Stratford is accessible, but it’s a bit of a hike. Take care. Ron
Hi Ron, hang in there. So much of what was once a viable railway is now just scrub as we well know, and even then access is restricted by adjacent land owners. It's not the easiest of hobbies. Take care of yourself. Ron
Good morning Ron and thank you for taking us on another intrepid journey through the undergrowth to bring us today’s video. The line you covered is an interesting one, as you said, it is one of the few that provides an east-west connection between the lines running north-south up and down the country.
The line ran from Broom Junction where it left the Midland Railway’s Barnt Green, Evesham & Ashchurch line, through to Fenny Compton where it formed a junction with the GWR’s Oxford & Birmingham Railway. Initially, the East & West Junction Railway (EWJR), as it was known, was authorised to continue south down to Banbury and then strike east to join the Northampton & Banbury Junction Railway at Cockley Brake Junction. At the western end it would link up with the GWR’s Hatton and Honeybourne line at Stratford-Upon-Avon. The aim of this EWJR line was to provide a link for the transportation of Northamptonshire iron ore to the blast furnaces of south Wales where local supplies had been exhausted, and an Act of Parliament to build this route was authorised on 23rd June 1864. Sadly, this intended use of the route to transport iron ore was not realised, as imported Spanish ore proved to be cheaper. Consequently, the EWJR decided to build only the section from Fenny Compton to Kineton, which opened on 1st June 1871, and then extended it to the GWR station at Stratford on 1st July 1873. Shortly after, it ended its association with the GWR by opening it’s own station in Stratford in June 1875. Earlier in that year the EWJR fell into financial difficulties and went into receivership. Passenger traffic was suspended from 31st July 1877 to 22nd March 1885 and only goods traffic ran during this period. The EWJR supported the Evesham, Redditch and Stratford-Upon-Avon Junction Railway (ERSJR), which received an Act to build a line from Stratford to Broom Junction on 5th August 1873. Initially, Binton was the only station on this section with Bidford station not being opened until 1881. The EWJR never exercised it’s powers to run through to Evesham & Redditch, but did operate the Stratford Broom Junction on behalf of the ERSJR with both passenger and goods services. In 1908 the EWJR was amalgamated with the ERSJR and the Stratford -Upon-Avon, Towcester & Midland Junction Railway (STMJR), to form the Stratford-Upon-Avon & Midland Junction Railway (SMJR). The SMJR had the makings of a valuable through line linking four great railways, viz: the GCR, GWR, LNWR and MR. However, this capability was hardly used and the SMJR had to survive on local traffic alone. The Broom Junction to Stratford passenger service was withdrawn on 16th June 1947, followed by the passenger service to the east of Stratford on 7th April 1952. Into the 60’s now and a southwards facing junction was put in at Stratford leading to the Racecourse station. This curve was opened 24th April 1960 and was first worked on 12th June of that year. This rendered the Broom Junction to Stratford section redundant and it closed on 13th June 1960. The ore traffic on the remaining section from Stratford to Fenny Compton ended soon after and in 1965 SMJR was closed from the MoD Ammunition Depot sidings at Burton Dassett to Stratford. The remainder of the line from Fenny Compton to the Depot being sold to the MoD.
Going back to the section of line covered in the video, I can offer some details about the infrastructure and other detail which may be of interest. Stratford-Upon-Avon station (the SMJR’s headquarters from 1873 - prior to that it was at Kineton) was situated on the left hand side of the busy Seven Meadows road which has been built on the trackbed and nothing significant remains. There were extensive facilities at this two platform station, with a goods shed, turntable and numerous sidings - two of which were private. The station also featured a refreshment room. Additionally, there was an engine shed for fourteen locomotives. Built of timber, the shed was opened in 1876, was extended in 1908 and reconstructed in 1935. It closed on 22nd July 1957. The large turntable, capable of turning GCR excursion Atlantics, was installed in 1908. As you came over the viaduct (also part of Seven Meadows Road next to Lucy’s Mill bridge) from the east, you entered the station with the goods facilities extending on towards it’s junction with the Hatton & Honeybourne branch. This area is now covered by the roundabout at the end of Seven Meadows Road and here the Greenway footpath shoots off south along the trackbed of the old Hatton & Honeybourne branch. New road and house building in this area means that absolutely nothing remains of the old railway infrastructure.
Heading east now over the six arch 69 yard viaduct spanning the river Avon, which was completed only three months after laying of the foundation stone on 28th September 1864, we pass the site of Clifford siding. The line between here and Stratford was doubled on 27th September 1942, otherwise, the whole route was single track. At Clifford siding the line was crossed by the Stratford and Moreton Tramway and it is here today that Seven Meadows Road departs the trackbed at a roundabout and the line (not accessible) continues into the 60 foot deep, 600 yard long, Goldicote Cutting. After passing through fairly mundane countryside and the villages of Ettington and Butlers Marston, which, remarkably, were not served by the railway, we come to Kineton. The station was brick-built, consisting of two pavilions with a central connection, and with quoined door and window openings. There was a siding to the goods shed and coal yard. This branched off an
extended head shunt to the down side of the loop, and itself had a runaround loop built into it. This was extended in 1959 when the line was modernised by the Western Region. The up line also had a small carriage siding behind the platform with a staff cabin, again connected to the main line by a headshunt. The station, which was opened on 1st June1871, was situated just to the west of the town on the south west side of the B4086 road bridge. Business did not meet expectations and, in 1877, the station closed. However, following the opening of the extension to Broom Junction in 1879, trade picked up and the station was reopened on 22 February 1885. The signal box had extensions at both ends to accommodate the electric train staffs. When the station platforms were removed, a small stage was provided for the signalman to stand on when exchanging tokens with the footplate crews. The station closed, with the line, to passengers on 7th April 1952. The area is now covered by an industrial site and nothing of the station or its infrastructure remains.
There is some fascinating history associated with the small industries that had sidings along the line, and the range of locomotives used is also worthy of discussion. However, I will reign myself in for today and leave it there. Thanks again Ron. Keep well and have a good week. Regards, Trev.
A fascinating read, Trev. Do you have any date for the demolition of the tramway and A34 road bridges? The other Ron.
@@abandonedrailwaya2470 Hi Ron. The tramway was not used after 1904 and the rails were lifted for scrap in 1918 to help with wartime economy measures. However, it was not until 4th August 1926 that the line was officially abandoned by an Act of Parliament. Some southern parts of the route were re-opened as a standard gauge railway and that was in use until 1929 for passengers and 1960 for goods. The tramway crossed the A34 (now the A3400) on bridges in two places. I don't have an exact date but it would have been sometime between 1926 and 1934 with somewhere between1930 and 1934 being the most likely. Regards Trev
@@757trev thanks for that, Trev. Ron.
Great read Trev, thanks for taking the time to add in so much detail, really appreciated 👍👍
Just as well you reigned yourself in .... this being an east west line going off at a tangent you might be in Scotland now!!😂😂😂
Thanks Trev. Railmaponline actually shows an Ettington station, north of the village and just east of the A429 road. Wikipedia says it closed for the last time in 1952.
Afternoon Ron enjoyed the film can't beat a bit of grubbing around looking at a bit of old railway formation take care.Lee over in Gloucester 3:07
Hi Lee it's nice when there is actually something left to find. Keep smiling. Ron
Good morning Ron!
This is was fascinating and well produced video, and it covers an area I have not yet explored, apart from the Kineton end of it (some confusion over how that village is pronounced - I asked in the bakery and was told it is 'Kine-e-ton' - however others insist it is 'kind-town' - you pays your money...)! I did a Military Railway video fairly recently looking at (what I could have) of the very extensive Kineton Military Railway MOD site.
Shame that Lucy's Mill has gone - I presume that is the same Lucy as in the nearby village of 'Hampton Lucy' (the Lucy familiy were prominent in that part of South Warwickshire) and, worse to see a railway bridge now used as a road bridge (ugh!) - I would prefer road bridges closed and repurposed as railway ones!
As Jim says below, it is shame that the trackbed has not been used as a walking and cycling trail.
Great video and a super explore.
Take care,
Paul
Hi Paul, I enjoyed your military railway film, you did well. You actually asked how to pronounce the village name at the bakery, you wouldn't have done that pre You Tube, You have so much more confidence these days. Well done. Ron
Mornin' Ron, on time today getting up early is the only way to get anything done at the moment, and although you probably couldn't hear him a cockerel has just crowed in agreement!!
Well done Molly, is what I say, I'm sure she helped you along the way. The UK postal code is a great invention it narrows things down to only one or two houses I think, over here they are numbers and basically identifies you to the area covered by your local post office.
The star of the show today was that bridge weight warning sign, maybe you should ask Simon to put one on his layout for you to inspect!!
It's hard to get the perspective on these cuttings especially with so much vegetation, so it was good that you found a pathway down the embankment from there you could really see the depth, the pathway looked fenced off at a low level ankle to knee height maybe they were going to open the trackbed up?
As for those missing coping stones, I wonder if anyone here knows where they might be?🤔🤔😅😅😂😂😂
Yesterday we just shut ourselves in the afternoon it was like being in an oven, later though we ventured out to our village centre which is by the river and got a gentle mountain breeze coming down the valley ..... joy!!
Have a great weekend!!
Hi David, I'm sure I heard that cockerel!
Pauline and Molly don't get on, it can get a little fraught when they don't agree which turning to take.
I don't see anyone owning up to the great copping stone robbery.
That breeze must have been like heaven
Stay cool Ron
@@ParkinsonsWalks It was!! And Nuria doesn't get on with Molly's Spanish cousin either!!
Another classic adventure, Ron, many thanks indeed! Fascinating to see the story of this line gently emerge along your walk, and a particularly interesting set of bridges in Kineton. Also very interesting to see how you plan and execute your railway walks - I look forward to further such Parkinson adventures! You have given me many, many hours of entertainment and the impetus to go and retrace your steps in certain locations. I used to work in Stratford, and in fact lived in Old Town for a while. As you were filming the section of preserved track there you briefly captured a road roundabout in the background. That traffic island is actually home to a complete platform from the defunct Old Town Station - a further platform edge can be found on the opposite side of the road to where you were filming (possibly now obscured by shrubs). Something for another day! All the best, Duncan.
Hi Duncan, I think this adventure was suggested by you, thanks for your help. Ron
Great Sleuthing Ron tho Not a very Fruitful Trail today, Testing the Detective skills to the Max - Never Ceases to Amaze me how Effective the Re-Wilding Process is at Covering up the History- at least you “copped” a few Bridges and Sleeper Posts, leave the Broad gauge Posts for the Next One. Cheers & and Happy Wanderings 👍🏻
Hi Donni, a day spent in the country is never a wasted day, always good to get away from it all. Take care, Ron
Good morning Ron. Thank you for another expertly researched adventure. Parkinson’s Walks now commands such a reputation I am sure Warwickshire Police would have happily closed off roads to prevent traffic noise interfering with your filming. Have a good week. Rodney.
I'm putting you down for the post of Chief of Police Rodney, I could use some help. Keep smiling. Ron
Kineton Station was just to the west of the first bridge you visited (in Kineton) on the Wellesbourne road, now covered with Industrial buildings!
Good Morning good Ron - greetings from Poland.
Now we know the secrets of your planning and how you work out what to see and where to find it.
I'm surprised that more hasn't been made of the trackbed, bearing in mind where abouts the line is. Superb investigating walk, finding many interesting bridges and fence posts. Wonderful video with high quality commentary. Thanks so much for taking us along.
Hi Michael I was starting to get worried about you, hoping you were alright. I always enjoy a walk more when I can share it with old friends. Take care of yourself. Pauline & Ron
I'm fine thanks Ron. Hospital yesterday having the plumbing checked. Had to have a pipe changed! Monday is CT scan. He week after next is kidney doctor check up and blood tests.
Learnt yesterday that the waiting list to have prostrate removed is 14 months! I have to have unbind checked every 4 weeks.
@@michaelpilling531 Hi Michael, good to know at least you seem to have been well checked over. Not much fun this getting old lark, trouble is the alternative isn't a lot better. Love from Pauline and Ron
Some fading remains along the way. It looks quite a scenic route and it would be nice if some of it was preserved, in say, the form of a footpath, or a piece of railway architecture, as is done elsewhere. Thanks for an interesting film. Uncovering what remains may help to stimulate interest in preserving more of the country's railway heritage.
I agree with you Malcolm there are some good cycle paths around but not enough. Take care. Ron
Good morning Ron, thanks to you and Molly for a very interesting day out. We watched this in the garden since it's a nice day here and I kept pausing to see if the birds were here or there...mostly there, definitely the sheep was! speaking of sheep, OVM is going for a much needed groom this week. Her impatient owner cut the hair around her eyes this week as it was really blocking her seeing clearly...let's just say dog grooming is not her forte. Have a good week Ron.
Pauline and I both enjoyed that one James, with this changeable weather it's hard to know if sumac will be glad to have been shorn or wish she hadn't. Best to take her coat when walking just in case. Go gently. Ron
Hi Ron,I think this line joined the Great Central at Woodford Halse once a busy junction but not much to see today.
Thanks for the info Paul. Ron
Beautiful nature 😊
You found nice walking course! +1🤝🎁
There are lots more out there, get your walking boots on. Ron
Thanks for this, Ron and very interesting to see how you plan ahead and some of the 'tools ' you use to make things a little easier to find the clues. Your video also demonstrates the frustrations often found when exploring the suburbs for evidence of old railway track beds and infrastructure.
Personally, I prefer rural exploration where there is less chance of being mown down by traffic and enabling becoming submerged in the beauty of nature! Have you explored the Gloucester - Ross route on the abandoned section form Grange Court via Longhope? Probably my favourite part of dear old Gloucestershire with very fond memories of my childhood. Even a now distant memory of travelling on the route in the mid War years on my way to Hereford and on to Craven Arms to visit grandparents on the family farm near Montgomery.
Memories David, precious memories, thanks for sharing. Ron
Hi David, just re-read this. Yes I have covered Ross to Gloucester, it will be in my playlist somewhere. Enjoy your weekend. Ron
Thanks, Ron. It would have been so much better if the powers-that-be had maintained at least part of the track-bed as public walking area. Probably too late to do anything about it now, I guess.
Hi Jim, more and more councils are waking up to the idea of using old lines as cycling/walking routes, but it depends what has been built over it in the meanwhile. Keep flying. Ron
Morning Ron, you discovered more than I did walking from West Bay to Bridport. Not even one old soldier did I spy. When you said at one location you didn't expect to find anything and then you said "I've found this old thing" I was expecting my wife to come into view and not a bridge.......
Simon! Sailing close to the wind again. Keep smiling. Ron
@@ParkinsonsWalks Calm waters aren't as much fun!
@@ngaugeonashelf4417 True, but at least they are survivable. Take care. Ron
Hi Ron, another brilliant video. Out of curiosity have you ever thought of adding music to the video? A light guitar would go great with some of these fantastic shots!
Hi, yes I do add music, unfortunately a lot of the music I like is covered by copyright, and most of the non copyright doesn't inspire me. Ron
Hello Ron. Not one of your most productive walks. Didn’t appear to be a great deal left of that line and what their was is well hidden. But I still enjoyed it as always. Trust you are keeping well.
It's the curse of old railways Lionel, you can never tell what is available until you get there. Nice day out though. Take care. Ron
Hi Ron, another pleasant dip into the hidden infrastructure of my local area. If you ever come back it's well worth noting that the other side of the road by the old buffer stop is one of the two Midland Railway platforms still in place and visible even from the road. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stratford_Old_Town_railway_station
Thanks for the information. Are there any other finds nearby? Ron