‘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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Greetings from Bidford & a question re. Arrow river bridge at Broom 6 Replies

Hello everyone, I've just signed up. I'm a lifelong railway enthusiast originally from Dorset; my earliest memory is of being on the train from Wareham to Swanage. I see a few familiar names on here so some of you may know me from the Scalefour…Continue

Started by Simon Stevens. Last reply by Simon Stevens on Friday.

Burton Dassett Cableway

Please find attached a copy of the OS 6" map 1888 - 1913 series that illustrates the subject cable-way (called a tramway on the map) and also the Burton Dassett sidings. This cable-way is mentioned by Arthur Jordan in hos book on the SMJ at pp45, he…Continue

Started by Dave Hayward Jan 20.

Banbury Merton Road Shed and Britannia Works Tramway 8 Replies

By any chance does anybody have a reasonable photograph of Banbury Merton Road Loco Shed? If so I would like to include into some private research I am intending to share with a small informal group of enthusiasts, it would be greatly…Continue

Started by Dave Hayward. Last reply by Colin Franklin Dec 30, 2020.

Michael Mccarthy 2 Replies

I too have received this unusual email, I would think that it a scam. This is the second time I have received it and will always delete it.Continue

Started by Paul Loveday. Last reply by Nicholas Hemming Dec 30, 2020.

SMJ photos

EWJR Portland Cement Wagon

Hello All,

I found this item on ebay, although it's a model, what I'd like to know is, was it actually based on the real thing? As you can see it has the initials EWJR and return empty to Ettington, which all fits in with the real world.

It was listed as a Carette/Bassett-Lowke model of 1909. Carette were a German firm based in Nuremburg and did make coaches for Bassett-Lowke and, although they probably took the date of 1909 from the plate on the model, it also fits in on the time line.

For your info it was sold for £107!

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Steve Johns on May 10, 2020 at 8:23

Hi Jim,

It's understood that Bassett-Lowke models were fairly accurate representations livery wise.

Steve

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Permalink Reply by Jim Goodman on May 18, 2020 at 20:08

Hi Steve,

Thanks for your reply, interesting you should mention that Bassett-Lowke were fairly accurate models. My initial impressions of early model railways were of rather crude locos, carriages and wagons but I have a book on the history of model railways and it speaks very highly of 'Carette and Bassett-Lowke, with some impressive pictures of early models, all, of course, pre-grouping companies.

I suppose the E&WJR was rather local to Bassett-Lowke, hence the model of an unusual wagon. I shall have a go at scratch building one in 0 gauge for my layout.

Jim.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Johns on May 18, 2020 at 20:12

Hi Jim,

I was also thinking of building one in 4mm scalefour to sit behind my ex LNWR DX goods No 7.

Steve

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Permalink Reply by Jim Goodman on May 19, 2020 at 21:31

Hi Steve,

Is your ex LNWR DX in SMJ livery? There is an 0 gauge kit which I keep promising to build. The picture in my avatar is scratch built model of the SMJ's Bayer Peacock 0-6-0 No 14. Here's a picture of the cement wagon from a different angle:-

Jim.

Attachments:

smjwagon.jpg, 200 KB

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Permalink Reply by Steve Johns on May 20, 2020 at 8:34

Hi Jim,

The DX is as yet unbuilt as i'm in the process of moving house so everything is packed away at the moment. When built it will be in SMJ livery and i'm intending to build stock to go with it.

I had a look at Warwickshire Railways website run by Mike Musson and there are a number of photos of Greaves wagons. They look like GWR iron mink wagons.

Steve

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Permalink Reply by Jim Goodman on May 20, 2020 at 21:59

Hi Steve,

Same here, just moved back to Leamington, to many things to do before I can work on model railways. Interesting sight, Warwickshire Railways, I look at it a lot, good section on the SMJ.

Jim.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Johns on May 21, 2020 at 8:29

Hi Jim,

I will be moving to Oxhill just south of Kineton into the heart of SMJ country.

Steve

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Permalink Reply by Mark Reader on May 29, 2020 at 12:11

Hi Jim & Steve

Welcome to South Warwickshire. Given that you are clearly keen modellers and that you have moved into the SMJ heartland, once the lockdown is over you would both be welcome to come across to visit us at the Leamington and Warwick Model Railway Society. We are located close to Junction 12 of the M40, Gaydon and have active groups modelling in most gauges including N, OO, P4 and O (as well as a few Bassett-Lowke experts and at least one member based in Oxhill). As you might have spotted from previous posts, we have quite a strong SMJ following at the club with our N gauge group working on a model of Kineton Station, and I have just started work on an N guage model of Burton Dassett. Please feel free to get in touch if you need any further information.

Best wishes

Mark

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Permalink Reply by Steve Johns on May 30, 2020 at 19:41

Hi Mark,

Long time no see. I think the last time we met was at the NEC when you were operating Kineton a couple of years ago. My partner Jenny works at Kineton Manor. I will endeavour to get to the L&WMRS club rooms one day. The problem is, work gets in the way at the moment. Sadly the Oxhill property has fallen through but we have just had an offer accepted on a cottage in Shotteswell so fingers crossed that goes through.

I timed it on the run back home and the club is roughly 15 minutes away....result!

Regards

Steve

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Permalink Reply by Jim Goodman on May 30, 2020 at 20:34

Hi Mark,

We have met before, I've seen the Kineton layout a couple of times, very impressive merg electronics!

I had a model of Blisworth SMJ at the Kettering and District model railway society, you may have seen it once. I have visited the L&WMRS once and fully intended to join, but I've had so much work to do on the house, time has not permitted. Once the lock down is over though, I shall be over.

Steve, sorry to hear about your house purchase falling through, hopefully Shotteswell will work out better.

Regards,

Jim.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Reader on June 11, 2020 at 12:05

Hi Jim & Steve

Apologies for not remembering that we had met before. I meet so many interesting people at exhibitions but I'm totally useless at remembering names; so unless I write it down immediately, I'm at a loss. I'll send you each a link, so we can exchange info once things start to get back to normal.

Progress with the Kineton model has been slow, largely because we have opted to work in finescale. Prior to the lockdown we had started working on point rodding, and you can imagine how intricate that is in N gauge. The lockdown hasn't helped, so its likely that we will continue to have little or no progress for the foreseable future. However, once completed we aim to get it out on view to the public as often as possible.