‘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"
An East and West Junction and Stratford-On-Avon, Towcester and Midland Junction Railways bridge weight notice, cast iron, 16½"x11¾", the front repainted. As is usual, the company title has been altered to Stratford-On-Avon and Midland Junction…Continue
Started by Graham Ward. Last reply by Russ Firth on Sunday.
Stratford & Midland Junction Railway bridge number 42. This is a very rare bridge number, which hardly ever comes up for sale! 28cm x 20cm. It was from a cattle creep between Byfield & Morton Pinkney. £500. PayPal payment required and I can…Continue
Does anyone know the date of the final banana special to run over the SMJ - enroute from Avonmouth to Somers Town?
Also in which year did the Race Day Excursions last run? - the races were on Easter Monday each year. In one of Dr Ian Allen's photographic albums there is a photograph of a locomotive - I think a "3F" - with "British Railways" written in full on the tender, so this gives a date of certainly 1948, but probably 1949 or later, so this is the first clue.
So far as Towcester Races are concerned Easter Monday was for many years the traditional date. It is a steeplechase course and until comparatively recently Lord Hesketh, the then owner, only opened the course for racing on this day (and in latter years Boxing Day). The last passenger services over the SMJ were withdrawn as from Saturday 5th April 1952 and that year Easter Monday was on 14th April. This leads one to suppose that the once-heavy Easter Monday traffic was no longer expected at Towcester by the time of the ending of passenger services.