‘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"
Electric train staff equipment had been brought into use between Blisworth and Towcester by 9 August 1910 (date of SMJR minute 451 (TNA file RAIL 674/3)) and presumably the new signal box at Blisworth appeared at the same time. In that this was so…Continue
SMJ board minute 1474 of 13 April 1921 (TNA file RAIL 674/4) approved that “the following expenditure be charged to Capital” for year 1920: “Blisworth: Signalling and alterations to Permanent Way, Improvements and additional signalling: £800”. In…Continue
Did this railway (as opposed to the East & West Junction Railway) go into receivership - if so, when. And when did it come out of receivership?Continue
Started by Richard Maund. Last reply by Richard Maund Feb 11.
Shall we bring this discussion under the proper heading!So far as the OS plan surveyed 1885, published 1886, is concerned: the OS liked - wherever they could - to have text running parallel to the top and bottom borders. When they came to add the…Continue
Started by Richard Maund. Last reply by Richard Maund Feb 10.
I noted from the train the other day you could see a slight embankment between the station site and the M40. I might have taken a photo, I cannot remember off hand as images are stored elsewhere.
The embankment of the LNWR line to Cockley Brake is clearly visible even today although the M40 bisects it. The point at which the M40 crossed the line is the site of the WW1 Shell Filling Plant. You can see some of the brick bunker walls in the fields either side of the motorway. There is little informatin about the site in existance but there is a brief description of it in the Buckinghamshire Railway by Bill Bedford.
Permalink Reply by Gary on October 18, 2013 at 11:13
Hi Si,
Yes I used to travel it daily and the Shell Filling site is indeed very clear and a fair size. I manage to post a picture a while back of the embankment from Southbound M40 thanks to traffic I just hadn't seen the view from the train for absolutely ages. Prone to flooding now though I noticed.
Will have to see if I can get a copy of the book so I can read more. Was it served by the line at all do we know?