The LNER Encyclopedia

In 1893, shortly before Sir Edward Watkin's retirement, the MS&L set their sights on the East & West Junction Railway and Evesham, Redditch & Stratford-upon-Avon Junction Railway, acquiring majority shares of both companies' stock. They were not very strong entities on their own, but they, along with the Birmingham, North Warwickshire & Stratford Railway, would be useful as part of a MS&L line to Birmingham.

In 1895, as part of the warming relations between the Great Western and MS&L, the latter withdrew from their plans for a line to Birmingham.

However, what if the MS&L (and later the GCR) managed to obtain a connection to Birmingham, shorter than the GWR's route, slightly longer than the LNWR's?

As an alternative, perhaps a more acceptable agreement for the GWR would be for both the GWR and GCR to operate the North Warks line jointly?

If you are talking about the GW & GC Joint line especially 'the Bicester cut off' which apparently was a well laid fast road and slightly shorter to the LNWR route to Birmingham yeah it was interesting with it's mixture of ex-GWR locos & rolling stock running along the same stretch of railway with ex-LNER locos & rolling stock along with B.R. Mk1 coaching stock during the later 1950s and it's predominantly GWR lower quadrant signalling with a few upper quadrant signals thrown in for good measure.

Mickey wrote: ↑Fri Apr 03, 2020 6:17 pm If you are talking about the GW & GC Joint line especially 'the Bicester cut off' which apparently was a well laid fast road and slightly shorter to the LNWR route to Birmingham yeah it was interesting with it's mixture of ex-GWR locos & rolling stock running along the same stretch of railway with ex-LNER locos & rolling stock along with B.R. Mk1 coaching stock during the later 1950s and it's predominantly GWR lower quadrant signalling with a few upper quadrant signals thrown in for good measure.

Thanks, my post was worded poorly. I was asking if it would be possible for the North Warwickshire Line (Birmingham-Stratford) to be operated in a similar manner to the GW/GC joint.

Your original post is worded alright no problem. I know a little bit about the GW & GC Joint through watching mainly GWR dvds which feature amateur film footage shot during the late 1950s and early 1960s usually featuring ex LNER A3s and ex GWR Kings amongst others running along the same route.

It's an interesting question - who had a better chance of reaching Birmingham: the Great Central or the Great Northern?

By physical proximity of their respective main line routes, the GC every time. Except that the London Extension had left their investor's money 'Gone Completely'.