1960 Swindon

[Reg Smeeton]

Good watch, that. Where the train was running up the old Swindon Loop is where I cycle most weekends. Bit odd to actually see it from the same viewpoint when it was functioning.

And was that Reg hosting the opening of the new Queens Park?

Think my grandfather was in that...apparently I look like him.

I once saw a pic of a stone train, on The Loop in about 1970....some years after it closed, but the metals were still there. It was delivering the stone for the construction of the M4. Finding the thing again, has so far eluded me.

[Arriba]

What way did the trainline go out of old town to go onto andover?
I presume it went out Evelyn street way due to the bridge but where did it go from there?

[Pete]

What way did the trainline go out of old town to go onto andover?

Through Broome Manor down to Chiseldon according to this map

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid=214165614467799124580.0004c922b0115cb630016&msa=0

I've only ever walked the front of Old Town bit up to Newport Street, where the station used to be apparently.

[Arriba]

Through Broome Manor down to Chiseldon according to this map

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid=214165614467799124580.0004c922b0115cb630016&msa=0

I've only ever walked the front of Old Town bit up to Newport Street, where the station used to be apparently.

cheers Pete.

[Samdy Gray]

Which is also now all cycle path too, all the way to Marlborough.

[ronnie21]

Through Broome Manor down to Chiseldon according to this map

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid=214165614467799124580.0004c922b0115cb630016&msa=0

I've only ever walked the front of Old Town bit up to Newport Street, where the station used to be apparently.

You can still see bits of it going down through the Collingbournes, the lines are (or were last year) still in situ at Ludgershall whee the army has a train depot.  Of course going north the line is being preserved at Blunsdon Station, I think it now runs almost up to Mouldon Park and they do hope to get it as far as Cricklade in the other direction.

[Reg Smeeton]

You can still see bits of it going down through the Collingbournes, the lines are (or were last year) still in situ at Ludgershall whee the army has a train depot.  Of course going north the line is being preserved at Blunsdon Station, I think it now runs almost up to Mouldon Park and they do hope to get it as far as Cricklade in the other direction.

Up until about I suppose 7 or 8 years ago now, you could walk all the way to South Cerney on the old track bed...not sure what happened at Ciren as never tried it. The Swindon starting end picking up just beyond Mannington, where it got lost before the OT cycle path. The last time I did it though, whereas before the route was doable previously a fucking great housing estate had been dumped on it and the track bed ripped out     I was coming back from South Cerney.

Couple of years ago went up there to investigate the latest situation having read about the Moulden Hill thing and no evidence of a link.

I've explored the line south of Marlborough....last time I did it again a while back, the bit heading out of Marlborough, was completely overgrown, it was just about followable up to the cutting opposite Granham Farm, but at this point waded into 12 foot high scrub....in the spirit of adventure gave it my best shot, but without a machete impossible.

Marlborough, used to have 2 lines, and so 2 stations, Marlborough Low level, I think was on the M and SWJ, and Marlborough High Level was on the Pewsey main line branch. Confusingly the next stops, were Savernake High and Savernake Low respectively.

[bassett boy]

There used to a train line in Stratton there was a bridge  next to a shop called the  little shop with a big reputation near the coop on ermin street  that went North to Highworth not sure were the line went after that

[dave_bambers_right_sock]

Wondered which way the line used to run out to Highworth as I seem to recall a crossing gate on the Blunsdon to Highworth road near to the Stanton Fitzwarren turn, unless a farmer put it there

[Reg Smeeton]

Wondered which way the line used to run out to Highworth as I seem to recall a crossing gate on the Blunsdon to Highworth road near to the Stanton Fitzwarren turn, unless a farmer put it there

You can still walk bits of the Highworth Branch out near Stanton. That's another one where, some sort of tram or light railway, could have had a future with a bit of foresight.

[ronnie21]

You would struggle to find the old Highworth station area now, all housing, but the gate is still there on the Blunsdon road and if you go on up the road and turn left at the Freke Arms you can see where it crossed the Hannington road, an enterprising farmer has reclaimed it on the right hand side as a dump for manure and silage.  You can also follow this line from South Marston industrial estate by taking the old track bed just past Cats Brain Farm (what a wonderful name!) on the Highworth road- by the almost derelict gas pumping station - and walking it across the field and through the woods to the Blunsdon road.  Of course that line can still be seen in Gypsy Lane as it formed the Pressed Steel sidings and I believe it still may be used ocasionally by EMR (formerly Coopers) scrap yard.

[Reg Smeeton]

Here's a shot from about 4 years ago...think it should link to the site OK.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevekingd1015/3685107896/

[Peter Venkman]

Here's a shot from about 4 years ago...think it should link to the site OK.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevekingd1015/3685107896/

Ah up to the old "bunky bridge" spent a few years there as a pre teen.

[Reg Smeeton]

Another shot of the Highworth Branch....from the wonderfully strange "Man with a stick" Collection.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/7226305602/in/photostream/

[Pete]

Another shot of the Highworth Branch....from the wonderfully strange "Man with a stick" Collection.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/7226305602/in/photostream/

What's the story about him, was it some kind of survey or was he just the local nutcase?