‘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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Would the GCR have gone via Towcester? 14 Replies

Looking through Mac Hawkins book on the GCR then and now, he mentions that the GCR were thinking of running a line connecting Brackley to Northampton and had provisionally made a mound ready for a platform to be later constructed but they dropped…Continue

Started by Gary. Last reply by Andrew Emmerson on Sunday.

EWJR Portland Cement Wagon 13 Replies

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…Continue

Started by Jim Goodman. Last reply by Jim Goodman on Sunday.

MORTON PINKNEY LEVEL CROSSING 14 Replies

There was a public level crossing between Blakesley and Morton Pinkney, complete with a gatehouse.Does anyone know how this was operated?Presumably the gates must have been manual and kept closed against road traffic.Early Working Timetables mention…Continue

Started by Barry Taylor. Last reply by Andrew Emmerson on Saturday.

Byfield station woodwork colour 1 Reply

Hi, as anyone any idea what colour the doors would have been on the station building. I have a vague recollection that they were a maroonish/brownish colour, similar to the signal box.Thanks in advanceCliveContinue

Started by Clive. Last reply by Andrew Emmerson on Saturday.

SMJ photos

Towcester Museum 100 Club

Dear SMJ Society member

Below is a conversation I am currently having with Martin John, a contact via the museum in Towcester. Some of you may remember the stop-start-stop-start problems the museum has had and the attempts I have made to make contact with someone there to show our support.

The museum is offering membership to support the museum called the 100 Club. People pay £100 to join and subsequently get various benefits. If you want to know more, click here

I have suggested to Martin that the membership would give a pound each and as such, the society become a member.

This is what Martin wrote:

"Thanks for your interest in Towcester's museum and Happy New Year.

Yes, it's been a long hard journey to get the museum open, I've been involved for about 16 years. The upper floor of the museum is currently given to the period from the Iron Age through to the end of the Roman period. On the ground floor is a small gift shop and room that we will use for temporary exhibitions.

There's a good deal of interest locally in Towcester's railway station.Although railways are not my particular interest I know there is considerable interest in railways in general and indeed in Towcester railway station and the Stratford Upon Avon & Midland line.

It would be great to put on an exhibition focusing on Towcester's railway history and any help would be welcome. The loan of memorabilia relating to the station would be fantastic. I know there is a model of the station stored in Coventry Museum, unfortunately it's somewhat too big for our museum to display. Your club is very welcome to have joint membership of the 100 Club, details are on our developing website. We still have copies of a book about Towcester station. If you wish I can send you a copy, although I suspect you will have one already.

"Towcester Memories of the"Slow, Miserable and Jolty" (Stratford & Midland Junction Railway)"
by Robert Stevens
A collection of childhood memories of Towcester Railway Station, covering its history from 1938 until the 1950s. With photographs, maps and line drawings.
36 pages; ISBN 0 9524619 0 0; £3.00
Reprinted 1999

Best wishes