‘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'

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Funny Story about Kineton Military Railway 1 Reply

An improbable, funny, but absolutely true story relating to the Kineton military railway.Long after my Army days I still retained an affection and passing interest in Kineton ammunition depot where I served during the 1960s. Coupled to a 'love' of…Continue

Started by Dave Hayward. Last reply by Dave Hayward Apr 28.

Blisworth - Towcester ETS working

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

Started by Richard Maund Apr 20.

Blisworth 1920

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

Started by Richard Maund Apr 20.

Evesham Redditch & Stratford-upon-Avon Junction Railway 8 Replies

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.

SMJ photos

Coach Body at Byfield.

Hello everyone,

My first post as a new member. I found this wonderful group whilst looking for information to help with a model of Byfield station. This certainly is one of the best railway sites going.

I was wondering if anyone has any idea of the identity of the grounded coach body which was sited at Byfield station. Riley and Simpson describe it as an ex-Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway vehicle and it was clearly a brake carriage as it had a guard's lookout. From the length of it it looks to have been a four or six wheeler. Unfortunately I know very little about the L&Y and it's coaching stock. If anyone knows what it was or could maybe suggest a diagram number, or knows of any good photos of it, side on, I would really appreciate the help in identifying it.

Thanks.

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Permalink Reply by Barry Taylor on April 30, 2013 at 18:09

Hi Natalie

I have part of a page cut from an old copy of the Historical Model Railway Society Journal which discusses a photo of a grounded coach previously published in their Journal Vol 12 page 29 (unfortunately I don't have this). The writer identifies this as an example of an L&Y Diagram 1 four wheel luggage & guards van. He goes on to say that there were "'dozens of these all over the LMS system including one at Byfield SMJ of all places"

So this appears to confirm its origin - on the back of my cutting (ie: the previous page) there is also part of a drawing and part of the text which also appears to relate to the same photo in the earlier issue. Unfortunately my cutting doesn't have the issue number on it - just "page 59 / 60" - but you might be able to get a photocopy from the HMRS themselves

Hope that this helps

Barry

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Permalink Reply by Natalie Graham on April 30, 2013 at 19:48

Thanks very much for that. It is strange to think the L&Y had dozens of 4 wheel luggage & guards vans in the first place, never nind that so many would have become grounded bodies. I am pretty sure I used to have that volume of the HMRS Journal. The HMRS has their Journal Index online so I will have a look at Volume 12 and see what is on there.