Railways Part IV , Blisworth, Northamptonshire, UK.

All pictures are presented at relatively low resolution.   Any interest in copies of a picture at a higher resolution (ie. clarity) should be directed through contacts given in the Blisworth "Round and About" parish council publication or using the comment form on the home page.  In some cases the pictures are not available due to copyright restrictions.  However, permission has been obtained, where possible, to include them here.  Printed below each image is the photographer's name, if known.

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27-42  A general view of the station from the north dated 1930s/40s.  Main line station to the left and SMJ to the right.  Note the SMJ water tower to the right.

 

 

27-42a  Wagon label for the East and West Junction Railway (forerunner of the SMJ). dated 1864 to 1908.

The railway's own postal system!  The stamp is the fee for postage on the Northampton & Banbury Junction Railway.

Explanation of the alternative names for the railway which terminates at Blisworth, going east via Tiffield: N&BJ railway was the name taken in 1870 by the company in charge of the western spur from Blisworth.  The East and West J railway, mentioned above connected Towcester with Stratford-on Avon and once combined with the N&BJ formed the SMJ, Stratford-on-Avon & Midlands Junction railway.  It is suggested you get the book by Aurthur Jordan out of the library if you require more detail, published 1982.

27-43  One of the first L.M.S. built diesels locos built in 1947 just before nationalisation (they were 10000 and 10001) drawing a freight train in Blisworth Station c.1950.  These were the early years of British Rail, the original lion and wheel emblem can be seen on the side of the loco.
27-44  An SMJ train with a 3F 0-6-0 loco at the SMJ platform.  Note the early rail-car on the other platform - perhaps the Ro-Railer - date c. 1930s.
27-45  General view of the SMJ yard at Blisworth with the main station signal box to the left and the station entrance building (gable end) in the distance straight ahead.  Date 1950s.
Mr Stanton, the superintendent for the SMJ railway, c1900, had his office at Blisworth and used an interesting mode of transport - one that could only have been used on a rather quiet branch line!
It is thought that these gentlemen are the assembled directors of the SMJ railway.  Any offers on names, please?  And what about the date and the occasion?

Picture of the landslip which closed the Northampton loop line in 1890.  After much rain, the under-stratum of weak clay beneath limestone layers gave way.  The under-stratum is a feature that is exposed by the original excavation only at the north end of Roade cutting.  The side was shored up with heavy walling and heavy steel girders were positioned to support the shoring.  The girders can be seen in the next three pictures.  Photograph - courtesy Roade Historical Society.
 

 

 

 

 

 

27-46  An early L.N.W.R. official postcard of the Roade Cutting dated 1904.

 

 

 

 

NB.  There is a 1900 picture of Roade Railway station in the "Neighbouring Villages" section.
27-47  The Roade Cutting from the 'black bridge' 27.07.1950.  The engine is one of the last un-rebuilt Royal Scot 46156 South Wales Borderer on a northbound express, note the heavy nature of the train (15  plus coaches) probably over 500 tons, being typical loads for this era when usage of trains was still high and car ownership relatively uncommon.
Photo: Courtesy of the Roade Historical Society.
27-48  An L.N.W.R. Webb compound 2-2-2-2 loco drawing a south-bound express through Blisworth Station - early 20C.
27-49  A Blisworth 'Motor-train' c. 1950s in Blisworth Station Northampton Bay.  These trains commuted from Northampton and from Daventry.  They generally comprised a tank engine and two coaches.

The last train to leave this platform was attended by quite a crowd and George Freeston, local historian, made a tape recording of the event.  Its duration is 7 minutes.  Playing the track on your computer depends on configurations - try 'play in default player'.  You might prefer to just download mp3 audio file (7MB).