Aston Le Walls - The SMJ Society2024-03-29T08:30:22Zhttps://thesmjr.ning.com//forum/topics/aston-le-walls?feed=yes&xn_auth=noSome information about Aston-…tag:thesmjr.ning.com,2009-11-28:3138568:Comment:62912009-11-28T19:08:12.000ZDick Bodilyhttps://thesmjr.ning.com/profile/Dick
Some information about Aston-le-Walls siding with many thanks to Rex Partridge.<br />
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'During the construction of RAF Chipping Warden airbase building materials were unloaded at the the little ramp like platform that was immediately to the Byfield side of the bridge and south of the line. These materials were then taken in RAF lorries to the base. A man named Fred Horton who is believed to have originated from The Black Country was employed as a shunter there during the war and possibly for a while…
Some information about Aston-le-Walls siding with many thanks to Rex Partridge.<br />
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'During the construction of RAF Chipping Warden airbase building materials were unloaded at the the little ramp like platform that was immediately to the Byfield side of the bridge and south of the line. These materials were then taken in RAF lorries to the base. A man named Fred Horton who is believed to have originated from The Black Country was employed as a shunter there during the war and possibly for a while afterwards. He became bored with the job as he had so little to do and sucessfully applied for a shunter's job at Woodford.'<br />
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There has been a delay in the printing of Rex's article about the SMJ. He doesn't know exactly when it will appear now. Thanks Barry - all good stuff…tag:thesmjr.ning.com,2009-11-27:3138568:Comment:62812009-11-27T10:08:30.000ZAndy Thompsonhttps://thesmjr.ning.com/profile/Andy
Thanks Barry - all good stuff. Andy<br />
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<cite>Barry Dunwoody said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://thesmjr.ning.com/forum/topic/show?id=3138568%3ATopic%3A6218&xgs=1&xg_source=msg_share_topic#3138568Comment6263"><div>My wife's family moved to Aston in 1961, unfortunately long after the track had gone. Her father worked on the farm owned by Alexander Thorneycroft and he lived in the manor house shown on the map. He had about 300 acres which were below the manor house down to the line and then…</div>
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Thanks Barry - all good stuff. Andy<br />
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<cite>Barry Dunwoody said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://thesmjr.ning.com/forum/topic/show?id=3138568%3ATopic%3A6218&xgs=1&xg_source=msg_share_topic#3138568Comment6263"><div>My wife's family moved to Aston in 1961, unfortunately long after the track had gone. Her father worked on the farm owned by Alexander Thorneycroft and he lived in the manor house shown on the map. He had about 300 acres which were below the manor house down to the line and then beyond that down to the brook. He told me that when he started farming he had two gated level crossings across the line. I often drove tractors along the line in the 1960's at harvest time and I had some bee hives to the side of the track bed.<br/> There was a coal merchant's yard in the village which belonged to the Cooknell family and until closure of the line their coal supplies were delivered by rail to the siding, which I believe was to the west of the road bridge.<br/>
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Barry</div>
</blockquote> Good point, the SMJ was used…tag:thesmjr.ning.com,2009-11-26:3138568:Comment:62802009-11-26T20:02:00.000ZDick Bodilyhttps://thesmjr.ning.com/profile/Dick
Good point, the SMJ was used by armament trains in WW2, not just to and from Kineton and also by troop trains. Armament trains were still running occasionally to Kineton in the 50s. I saw trainloads of armoured vehicles on the SMJ during the mid 50s. I believe in WW2 bombs for RAF Silverstone's bombers were brought in via Towcester and Wappenham SMJ stations, so its quite possible Aston-le-Walls was used for military purposes too<br />
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Dick<br />
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<cite>Martin Broughton said:…</cite>
Good point, the SMJ was used by armament trains in WW2, not just to and from Kineton and also by troop trains. Armament trains were still running occasionally to Kineton in the 50s. I saw trainloads of armoured vehicles on the SMJ during the mid 50s. I believe in WW2 bombs for RAF Silverstone's bombers were brought in via Towcester and Wappenham SMJ stations, so its quite possible Aston-le-Walls was used for military purposes too<br />
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Dick<br />
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<cite>Martin Broughton said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://thesmjr.ning.com/forum/topics/aston-le-walls?page=1&commentId=3138568%3AComment%3A6273&x=1#3138568Comment6273"><div>Andy<br/>To the bottom right hand side of your satalite picture you will see some parts of the old runways of Chipping Warden Airfield. The airfield was built in the 2nd world War and was only in use until the end of the war. The SMJ played its part in delivering materials for the construction of this project. Aston le Walls siding and Byfield would of been the two closest Stations to Chipping Warden. Although Aston le Walls was not a passenger station it would of been used for goods and supplies. Byfield would no doubt have benefited from the servicemen and women.<br/><br/>Martin</div>
</blockquote> Martin First off, welcome abo…tag:thesmjr.ning.com,2009-11-26:3138568:Comment:62772009-11-26T18:57:49.000ZAndy Thompsonhttps://thesmjr.ning.com/profile/Andy
Martin First off, welcome aboard the good ship SMJ, and second thanks for that info. Its funny but I never noticed but now you say - it's obvious! Enjoy the stay<br />
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Andy<br />
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<cite>Martin Broughton said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://thesmjr.ning.com/forum/topics/aston-le-walls?page=1&commentId=3138568%3AComment%3A6273&x=1#3138568Comment6273"><div>Andy<br></br> To the bottom right hand side of your satalite picture you will see some parts of the old runways of Chipping Warden Airfield. The…</div>
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Martin First off, welcome aboard the good ship SMJ, and second thanks for that info. Its funny but I never noticed but now you say - it's obvious! Enjoy the stay<br />
<br />
Andy<br />
<br />
<cite>Martin Broughton said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://thesmjr.ning.com/forum/topics/aston-le-walls?page=1&commentId=3138568%3AComment%3A6273&x=1#3138568Comment6273"><div>Andy<br/> To the bottom right hand side of your satalite picture you will see some parts of the old runways of Chipping Warden Airfield. The airfield was built in the 2nd world War and was only in use until the end of the war. The SMJ played its part in delivering materials for the construction of this project. Aston le Walls siding and Byfield would of been the two closest Stations to Chipping Warden. Although Aston le Walls was not a passenger station it would of been used for goods and supplies. Byfield would no doubt have benefited from the servicemen and women.<br/>
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Martin</div>
</blockquote> Andy
To the bottom right hand…tag:thesmjr.ning.com,2009-11-26:3138568:Comment:62732009-11-26T17:46:52.000ZMartin Broughtonhttps://thesmjr.ning.com/profile/MartinBroughton
Andy<br />
To the bottom right hand side of your satalite picture you will see some parts of the old runways of Chipping Warden Airfield. The airfield was built in the 2nd world War and was only in use until the end of the war. The SMJ played its part in delivering materials for the construction of this project. Aston le Walls siding and Byfield would of been the two closest Stations to Chipping Warden. Although Aston le Walls was not a passenger station it would of been used for goods and supplies.…
Andy<br />
To the bottom right hand side of your satalite picture you will see some parts of the old runways of Chipping Warden Airfield. The airfield was built in the 2nd world War and was only in use until the end of the war. The SMJ played its part in delivering materials for the construction of this project. Aston le Walls siding and Byfield would of been the two closest Stations to Chipping Warden. Although Aston le Walls was not a passenger station it would of been used for goods and supplies. Byfield would no doubt have benefited from the servicemen and women.<br />
<br />
Martin My wife's family moved to Ast…tag:thesmjr.ning.com,2009-11-26:3138568:Comment:62632009-11-26T10:12:24.000ZBarry Dunwoodyhttps://thesmjr.ning.com/profile/BarryDunwoody
My wife's family moved to Aston in 1961, unfortunately long after the track had gone. Her father worked on the farm owned by Alexander Thorneycroft and he lived in the manor house shown on the map. He had about 300 acres which were below the manor house down to the line and then beyond that down to the brook. He told me that when he started farming he had two gated level crossings across the line. I often drove tractors along the line in the 1960's at harvest time and I had some bee hives to…
My wife's family moved to Aston in 1961, unfortunately long after the track had gone. Her father worked on the farm owned by Alexander Thorneycroft and he lived in the manor house shown on the map. He had about 300 acres which were below the manor house down to the line and then beyond that down to the brook. He told me that when he started farming he had two gated level crossings across the line. I often drove tractors along the line in the 1960's at harvest time and I had some bee hives to the side of the track bed.<br />
There was a coal merchant's yard in the village which belonged to the Cooknell family and until closure of the line their coal supplies were delivered by rail to the siding, which I believe was to the west of the road bridge.<br />
<br />
Barry 2 miles and 10 chains west of…tag:thesmjr.ning.com,2009-11-25:3138568:Comment:62452009-11-25T14:55:24.000ZDick Bodilyhttps://thesmjr.ning.com/profile/Dick
2 miles and 10 chains west of Byfield station.<br />
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<cite>Andy Thompson said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://thesmjr.ning.com/forum/topics/aston-le-walls?page=1&commentId=3138568%3AComment%3A6243&x=1#3138568Comment6243"><div>Where was the halt gents? Between Kineton and Ettington? Or Ettington and Stratford??<br/><br/>Andy</div>
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2 miles and 10 chains west of Byfield station.<br />
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<cite>Andy Thompson said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://thesmjr.ning.com/forum/topics/aston-le-walls?page=1&commentId=3138568%3AComment%3A6243&x=1#3138568Comment6243"><div>Where was the halt gents? Between Kineton and Ettington? Or Ettington and Stratford??<br/><br/>Andy</div>
</blockquote> Where was the halt gents? Bet…tag:thesmjr.ning.com,2009-11-25:3138568:Comment:62432009-11-25T14:02:03.000ZAndy Thompsonhttps://thesmjr.ning.com/profile/Andy
Where was the halt gents? Between Kineton and Ettington? Or Ettington and Stratford??<br />
<br />
Andy
Where was the halt gents? Between Kineton and Ettington? Or Ettington and Stratford??<br />
<br />
Andy I've added two pictures to th…tag:thesmjr.ning.com,2009-11-25:3138568:Comment:62412009-11-25T11:56:37.000ZDick Bodilyhttps://thesmjr.ning.com/profile/Dick
I've added two pictures to the Photos Section showing extracts related to this siding from the SMJ 1916 Appendix to the Working Timetables of which I have a partly destroyed example.<br />
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It was apparantly allowable at the time for a single milk van to be propelled to Woodford & Hinton GC ( later known as Woodford Halse) from Aston-le-Walls. At the time until some point after The Great War according to research by Blakesley's local historian Doug Blake, stations west of Byfield despatched their…
I've added two pictures to the Photos Section showing extracts related to this siding from the SMJ 1916 Appendix to the Working Timetables of which I have a partly destroyed example.<br />
<br />
It was apparantly allowable at the time for a single milk van to be propelled to Woodford & Hinton GC ( later known as Woodford Halse) from Aston-le-Walls. At the time until some point after The Great War according to research by Blakesley's local historian Doug Blake, stations west of Byfield despatched their milk churns on a milk van attached to the first train from Stratford each morning. Similarly the first train from Blisworth collected churns at Towcester and Blakesley and possibly Morton Pinkney as well for transfer at Byfield. These churns were taken from Byfield to Woodford from where they were rushed to an Express Dairies plant in London. Each SMJ train then continued on its way dropping off empty churns that had returned via Woodford and Byfield.<br />
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Whether it was normal practice to propel a single van from Aston-le-Walls is conjecture. Perhaps the first train didn't stop there or possibly there were enough churns to fill a single van there, possibly by taking on Byfield's churns also. Did a GC loco pop up to fetch the van? I'm just guessing here. Who knows! Correction - my shot was obvo…tag:thesmjr.ning.com,2009-11-25:3138568:Comment:62382009-11-25T09:11:44.000ZBarry Taylorhttps://thesmjr.ning.com/profile/BarryTaylor
Correction - my shot was obvously in the 80's as per the title attached !!
Correction - my shot was obvously in the 80's as per the title attached !!