on whose former trackbed the Swindon & Cricklade is being built
on whose former trackbed the Swindon & Cricklade is being
built
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The Midland & South Western Junction Railway
was a minor railway of just under 60 route miles. While its passenger services
ran between Southampton and Cheltenham, its own metals began at Red Post
Junction outside Andover and ended at Andoversford. The towns along the line
included Marlborough, Swindon, Cricklade and Cirencester. In Swindon, the MSWJ had its own station at Swindon Town. This was quite separate from the Great Western station on the London to Bristol main line. The early years of the line were made difficult by the Great Western, who were strongly opposed to any competition within an area where it had a monopoly. In the event the MSWJ, at its fullest extent, never attracted enough business to make a significant impact. The only exceptions occurred during the two World Wars, when exceptionally heavy traffic was carried, including that to military camps on Salisbury Plain. The MSWJ's only branch was from Ludgershall to Tidworth, where services were dominated by military needs.
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 Swindon, Marlborough & Andover Railway 2-4-0T locomotive |
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During its independent existence the MSWJ (and its predecessor,
the Swindon, Marlborough and Andover Railway) purchased a total of 38
locomotives. Almost without exception, these were from well-known builders,
including Dubs, Beyer Peacock, Sharp Stewart and North British. At the 1923 Grouping, 29 locomotives passed to the GWR. While one or two were scrapped quite quickly, the majority received standard GWR features and lasted into the 1930s. A small class of three 2-4-0s, built by Dubs in 1894, survived into British Railways ownership. The last example was withdrawn in 1954. MSWJ locomotives were a varied and interesting collection, and offer several interesting prototypes for the modeller. |
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 The original station at Blunsdon - little more than a halt for handling milk traffic. |
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Most MSWJ stations were opened between 1881 and 1891, reflecting
the initial construction of the line between Swindon and southwards towards
Red Post Junction (for Andover), and its later completion northwards to
Andoversford near Cheltenham. Blunsdon, home of the Swindon & Cricklade Railway, was the last to appear. Opened in 1895, mainly for milk traffic, Blunsdon did boast a single siding, although its curve was so sharp that locomotives were forbidden to enter - wagons had to be backed in from the main line. Having been the last station to open, Blunsdon was one of the first to close. In 1924 it lost the final vestige of its passenger service, when a single train ceased to call on Sundays! It closed for goods traffic in 1937. Milk, hay, cattle cake and straw were major traffics in the station's busier days. Survivals
With the exceptions of a few bridges, very little remains in
the way of MSWJ structures. This signal box is a unique survivor. To quote
from John Hinson's
'There was no box originally, but this cabin was possibly originally erected at nearby Wolfhall Junction. It was moved here in 1898. The box contained an 18-lever Gloucester Wagon Company frame, which no doubt came with the box from its original location. The box ceased to function as a proper block post in 1933, although it was retained until the line closed in 1959 to act as a ground frame.' Our thanks to John for permission to reproduce his picture. We recommend you visit his website at www.signalbox.org if you have the slightest interest in signalling matters! Happy accidents?
The MSWJ was a small concern that struggled all its life to
make ends meet. It did, however, have larger ambitions, and these bought
a major benefit to the Swindon & Cricklade. |
'Signalbox' website, 'Only one signal box survives from the
former MSWJ, and here it is. Located at Savernake High Level station, it
is now on private land. This part of the line was opened by the Swindon,
Marlborough & Andover Railway, and all of the initial signalling was
provided in 1882 by the Gloucester Wagon Company. In 1884 the MSWJ took over,
and subsequent boxes were built to Dutton & Co or London & South
Western Railway designs.