‘The Stratford Upon Avon & Midland Junction Railway’ (or S.M.J.) was a small independent railway company which ran a line across the empty, untouched centre of England. It visited the counties of Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire and a little of Buckinghamshire, only existing as the SMJ from 1909 to 1923. In 1923 the S.M.J.became a minor arm of the London Midland and Scottish (L.M.S.), then in 1948 'British Railways'
Gone but not forgotten: "the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth"
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SMJ Forum
NEW BOOK ON THE SMJ - AVAILABLE SHORTLY 18 Replies
Hi allI'm pleased to announce that the first volume of my history of…Continue
Started by Barry Taylor. Last reply by Barry Taylor Nov 7.
Malcolm Ranieri
Sad to report the untimely death last week of SMJ Society member Malcolm Ranieri. Malcolm was well known for his excellent steam train photographs that have appeared for many years in the rail preservation press. He was also one of the main…Continue
Started by Dick Bodily Oct 19.
Salvaged track bolts 1 Reply
Does any know if the bridges were numbered? Similar to how the canals number thier's. Because a few weeks ago I was magnet fishing under the if I bridge behind the bellebaulk housing estate in Towcester and pulled out a number of chair bolts and I…Continue
Started by John Godwin. Last reply by Dick Bodily Sep 28.
Planning Application for Binton Station Site 8 Replies
I've just been told by friends from Welford that there's a planning application to redevelop the Binton Station site:Binton Station Planning…Continue
Started by Simon Stevens. Last reply by Simon Stevens Sep 20.
Proposed conversion of numbers 5 and 6.
According to Dunn, the problems with the two BP tanks ns 5 and 6 running backwards were twice addressed with the idea of converting them to 2-4-2Ts, and that drawings were prepared on at least one occasion.Has anyone ever seen anything of these…Continue
Started by Simon Dunkley Jun 27.
Broom Junction station site for sale 1 Reply
Great opportunity for an SMJ enthusiast perhaps. I'm not sure what you could actually do with this site though!…Continue
Started by Simon Stevens. Last reply by Simon Stevens May 17.
Need Site Help?
Article in the Meccano Magazine (Aug 1956) describing the SMJR Railtour
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by alwyn sparrow on -
Souvenir of that trip.
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Permalink Reply by Dick Bodily on -
Robin
Great stuff!
There's a famous photo of the Claud at Kings Cross complete with SMJ headboard. It appeared in the 1958 Observer's Book of Railway Locomotives of Britain. I wonder why it was taken off at Hitchin as Clauds sometimes ran through to Bletchley and where frequently seen at Northampton Castle in the late 50s, was there a problem? Do you have the date of this magazine so that I can add it to the list of articles on the appropriate webpage?
Dick
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Permalink Reply by Robin Cullup on -
Thanks for this, Dick. The article is in the August 1956 edition of Meccano Magazine (page 402) - I've seen (got) many photographs of 43222 on this special, but I've not seen this particular view before.
Robin
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Permalink Reply by Robin Cullup on
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The station is indeed Byfield.
There must have been many hundreds of photos taken of 43222 and train on the SMJ on this Sunday. What is perhaps amazing to us today is that the special ran on a Sunday meaning that several signal boxes must have been opened specially for the train to pass - would the railways go to that trouble and expense today? I doubt it.
Would that we could travel behind a 3F today.....
Robin
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