Hello Andy thank you for welcoming me to smjr railway society I look forward to enjoying beeing a  member 

              Best wishes Ray

many thanks,  i have spent ages looking at the images.

unfortunately i was born to late to see anything other than the carnage left after beeching. 

i am at a loss to try and find images or track layout for chacombe / chalcombe halt.  there are one or two images of the station in the george & dragon - but no real links have been found on the web...  i wonder if any members have any clues....

kind regards  daniel 

Different view of photo you posted a few days ago, have you seen this?

thanks for this Andy.  has anybody researched the opening and closing dates of signal boxes on the SMJ?

Hi Andy,thanks for the welcome,just been trying to find any pictures at all of the SMJ between Cockley and Helmdon, not had much luck so thought would try here.

Les

Thanks for the welcome, Andy. I acquired the loco in the mid '80s. It was built by Jack Esdaile in the early 60s. He was one of Esdaile and sons who made scientific instruments from about 1919. They are best known for their various instruments used on the construction of Sydney Harbour Bridge including a cable tension measurer which enabled the two arches to be hung out over the harbour to meet in the middle.I'm predominantly into narrow gauge and own a little Baldwin loco built in 1889 which I operate up at Toronto, north of Sydney. I also make rail DVDs for a living.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rktvK9E2eys&list=UUjFlhmV5OlH-qjU1_HOaKkA&index=8&feature=plcp

If this link doesn't work, do a search on Youtube for belbinvideo channel.

Sorry to prattle on so much about myself. My family has strong connections with the English railways also which I'll save for another time.

Andy,Thanks for the welcome but you and I have communicated before. I'm the Reynolds who sent you pictures of the Birmingham museum layout and the  loco in Gayton quarries. It just that when I signed in I used the full "credit card" name without thinking. I'm the Bill Reynolds of those communications!   

Hi Andy,

Thanks for the welcome. I live in Kingsthorpe, Northampton.

A multitude of factors have brought about a fascination in the SMJ which is why I found your excellent website and decided to join the society.

My father instilled a passion for railways in me from my earliest childhood years. My particular interest has changed from trains (and weekends spent on the end of platforms!) towards an almost obsessional thirst for knowledge of disused/dismantled railways and associated railway history - specifically of my locale, though my remit seems to be expanding further afield!

Since I began working in Towcester a few years ago my journey to work following the old Northampton-Blisworth line, the ironstone quarries near Gayton, the site of the former brickworks and past the embankments of the SMJ have held me intrigued. It always bewildered me that Towcester doesn't have a train station - then like you, I found out it did!

Country walks with my wife across southern parts of Northants soon unravelled plenty more to feed my inquisitiveness. Alas, my wife shares little of my passion for defunt railways but a shared love of our area and the great outdoors has meant I have a willing companion to conduct investigations. As I was born too late to see Britain's railways at their most fullsome it is perhaps understandable that the current state of the SMJ is what I most wish to see. I see many members have walked most of the trackbed as it stands today.

My father was only too happy to share his books, maps and memories of the SMJ as well as looking forward to joining me on my explorations. I intend to post findings on this website. I should be able to persuade my father to join our ranks as well!

Ross

   Is my photo of the signalman with Harold Stones on the platform at Blakesley your uncle Frank Reynolds then?

Ian Lyman