‘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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Bridge sign 3 Replies

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 yesterday.

SMJ Bridge number for sale.

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

Started by Russ Firth on Wednesday.

SMJ Postage stamps 1911 and 1924

A couple of items recently up for auction.GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAY COMPANY AND STRATFORD-UPON-AVON & MIDLAND JUNCTION: 6…Continue

Started by Graham Ward May 21.

More building at Towcester 3 Replies

I hear there has been more building at the station site in Towcester.Anyone know what they've dug up?…Continue

Tags: Towcester

Started by Andy Thompson. Last reply by John Evans Apr 19.

SMJ photos

Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway Jody Iosias

I just found on Amazon Japan the book Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway by Jody Iosias. Apparently it’s worth around £ 30

I’ve never heard of this book nor of the writer before.

Is there anybody out there who could advise me on this book

Jack

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Barry Taylor on June 24, 2016 at 13:03

Hi Jack

I think that this is just an internet produced re-hash of previously published material on the SMJ.

If you have a look around (on Ebay in particular) there are others - I've seen "books" advertised on Ettington and Kineton stations for example, and the "authors" always have somewhat strange sounding names!

A friend of mine purchased a similar thing a year or so ago that purported to be on The Watermills of Northamptonshire - it was, but it was a mere cut & paste re-hash job of information which he already had in several other places.

Probably best avoided - my own history of the SMJ is at the publishers now, and Vol 1 should be out early next year - I hope that it will prove a better buy!!

REgards

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Permalink Reply by Dick Bodily on June 24, 2016 at 18:08

Jack

Usually these so called books that Barry mentioned are simply copied entries from Wikipedia or even lifted from articles on websites such as this one. Often they charge much more, even £100 plus hoping to catch out the unwary. My advice .. don't buy! If it was a genuine researched work then it would have been reviewed in the railway press.

Dick

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Permalink Reply by Peter S Lewis on June 24, 2016 at 23:53

The synopsis of this book..a new one to me(!) on Abe Books website is rather telling.."Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online"..and a look at an Amazon page . http://www.amazon.co.uk/Iosias-Jody/e/B00JCWM4SI shows the author to be quite prolific...looks like a "copy and paste" merchant..