74. The construction of Roade's bypass-25.11.21

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2021 > 74. The construction of Roade's bypass-25.11.21
With the preparations for the construction of Roade's much awaited bypass underway, the contractors have cleared a section of the former Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway (SMJR) trackbed. With the contractors absent, I took one of my regular village walks to the site to discover what the extensive clearance had revealed.
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Route of bypass with former SMJR route (R-L) SP750509 Taking this photograph I am standing in the middle of what will be the A508 Roade bypass as it approaches the intersection with the original road that will be in the middle distance. In this view looking roughly south the route of the former Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway runs from left to right directly in front of me. The line of trees to the right shows its route with the lines heading in the direction of Towcester. Keywords: Route of bypass with former SMJR SP750509
Route of former SMJR, SP751508 The Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway (SMJR) was a strange little line that stretched from Broom Junction (Warwickshire) to Bedford in the east. Built to take advantage of the movement of iron ore from Northamptonshire to South Wales it was never a money-spinner and fell into decline but did see a rise in fortunes during the two wars due to its route traversing the Midlands linking the arterial mainlines. For the most, it was double-tracked with a number of stations that served very low population centres. In this view, looking west, the former trackbed is seen just south of the village of Roade with the next station being Stoke Bruerne. Keywords: Route of former SMJR SP751508
Route of former SMJR, SP751508 With the trackbed of the former Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway (SMJR) now cleared for the first time in many years its route, looking east just south of the village of Roade, is clear to see. Unfortunately, the clearance is not any form of precursor to its reopening but is required in order for the Roade bypass to be constructed. The new A508 route will go from left to right in this view with it about to rejoin the existing carriageway to my right. Keywords: Route of former SMJR SP751508
Route of former SMJR, SP751508 With Hill View Farm in view through the trees, the cleared embankment of the former Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway (SMJR) is seen in the foreground. The very busy A508 Market Harborough to Old Stratford road passes between the trees running from left to right in the middle distance. The clearance of the SMJR route is in connection with the construction of the southern section of Roade's much-awaited bypass that will see the A508 sweep westwards around the village. Keywords: Route of former SMJR SP751508 Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway
Route of former SMJR, SP751508 Looking westwards along the route of the former Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway route towards Stoke Bruerne and Towcester sees a section of the trackbed cleared. Roade's new bypass will pass from left to right at this spot with a large roundabout at the spot where it rejoins the existing route just off to the left. This is the first time that the trackbed of the SMJR has been exposed in this way for many years with regular services having been withdrawn on this section in 1958. However, this section of the line remained in use for a number of years being used to store lines of redundant and withdrawn stock that made for some incongruous scenes! Keywords: Route of former SMJR SP751508 Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway
Telegraph pole, route of former SMJR, SP751508 Felled and rotting into oblivion is the remains of a former telegraph pole lying on the embankment of the former Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway route just south of Roade. It is a testament to the treatment afforded to the poles that it has remained in this condition many years after it was unceremoniously felled in the 1960s and even longer after it was originally erected. Keywords: Telegraph pole route of former SMJR SP751508 Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway
A508 bridge brickwork, route of former SMJR, SP751508 Just south of the village of Roade the A508 road used to pass under a narrow and low bridge that carried the Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway (SMJR). A number of years after the railway closed the bridge was demolished over a weekend in the early 1970s. Whist the brickwork was largely removed from the site this chunk appears to have survived and laid in the undergrowth. Recent clearance of the railway's route in association with the construction of Roade's new bypass has revealed the chunk of brickwork again. Keywords: A508 bridge brickwork route of former SMJR SP751508 Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway
Fence post, route of former SMJR, SP751508 A fence post that once lined the Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway (SMJR) just south of the village of Roade still stands even if at a somewhat jaunty angle! The recent clearance of the undergrowth and trees seen in this image is part of the construction of the Roade bypass that will see the A508 road pass to the west of the village much to the pleasure of the majority of the village's residents. Keywords: Fence post route of former SMJR SP751508 Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway
Clinker & coal, route of former SMJR, SP751508 A large chunk of clinker and a small piece of coal lay on the embankment of the former Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway (SMJR) railway just south of Roade. One can only wonder what locomotive will have dropped this material from its firebox and tender many years ago! Keywords: Clinker & coal route of former SMJR, SP751508
Embankment & fence posts, route of former SMJR, SP751508 Looking up the embankment of the Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway (SMJR) with its recent clearance clear to see. This is not in association with any grand reopening plan but to facilitate the construction of a roundabout at the southern end of a bypass that will pass around the western side of the village of Roade. Notice the two fence posts still extant, one standing and one laying on the bank next to the felled tree. Keywords: Embankment & fence posts route of former SMJR SP751508 Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway

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