‘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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SMJ Forum
magnet fishing
Hi everyone, yesterday I did some magnet fishing with the grandchildren from the SMJ bridge over the river Tove in Towester, to great excitement of the children (and myself) we pulled out three chair screws and a rivet which looked similar in style…Continue
Started by Steve Camm Sep 1.
One of the best preserved SMJ bridges? 1 Reply
I was at Ettington the other day and apart from the good shed, which has had a lot of money spent on it including full glazing, the station building is still there. But my attention went to the station bridge (No. 73?) which is in very good…Continue
Started by John Evans. Last reply by Andy Thompson Aug 30.
Passenger Trains connected to the SMJ
Following on from the previous discussion about WD passenger trains on the SMJ during the 1940s; it must be said that passenger trains ran on metals connected to the SMJ until the mid 1960s. There was a passenger service from the nearest point to…Continue
Started by Dave Hayward Jun 16.
Wartime passenger trains from Burton Dassett 3 Replies
Arthur Jordan in his book, The Stratford Upon Avon and Midland Junction Railway - The Shakespeare Route at pp 82 mentions a WW2 late night special from Stratford on Avon to Burton Dassett for soldiers at the CAD. I would envisage that this did not…Continue
Started by Dave Hayward. Last reply by Dave Hayward Jun 16.
SMJ photos
Towcester Train Register Book
I have finally located the Train Register Book from Towcester box... I'll upload more if there is interest..
http://thesmjr.ning.com/photo/dsc02503?context=album&albumId=31...
Views: 241
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Gary on
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Yes please. Be good to see such information.
Thanks for everything so far.
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Permalink Reply by Barry Taylor on
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Thanks for this Richard - it's particularly fascinating for me as on 21st July that year I was at Towcester and took a couple of photos of the station. But more to the point I went to Blisworth one evening a few days later (27th) looking for the last of the 'Duchesses' on the main line, and saw 46245 City of London. Whilst standing there I was very surprised to hear something approaching down the SMJ - most unexpected ! It turned out to be a tender first 8F 2-8-0 on a train full of old track - obviously one of the evening return trips shown in your register. Now I know just what it was .............!
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What was going on at Towcester around the dates covered by the register? Clearly the box is open for there to be a register at all. I have followed some of the days right through at it appears there are a couple of trains there at the same time. Was quarrying still taking place? How much of the closed lines around remained in place? Are all these moves train lifting trains?
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Permalink Reply by Dick Bodily on
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Barry,
Unfortunately I can't make out the writing on the log book photo. Did you make a note of the 8Fs number or more specifically allocation? All the track lifting trains that I saw were heading towards Woodford West and hauled by Woodford 8Fs. I'm wondering if Northampton was also providing 8Fs and crews and lifting track out towards Blisworth at the same time as Woodford was clearing the track. A further thought is, was track lifted by WR trains from the Stratford end?
Dick
Barry Taylor said:Thanks for this Richard - it's particularly fascinating for me as on 21st July that year I was at Towcester and took a couple of photos of the station. But more to the point I went to Blisworth one evening a few days later (27th) looking for the last of the 'Duchesses' on the main line, and saw 46245 City of London. Whilst standing there I was very surprised to hear something approaching down the SMJ - most unexpected ! It turned out to be a tender first 8F 2-8-0 on a train full of old track - obviously one of the evening return trips shown in your register. Now I know just what it was .............!
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Dick
Unfortunately I didn't record the number of the 8F - I remember it caught me by surprise and had gone under the bridge and away into the sidings, and I didn't bother to chase it down towards the station to find out.
However, the detail on the register photo which I've managed to enlarge shows that the trains listed at Towcester were all going to, and coming from, the Ravenstone line - so it was the lifting of that line that was in progress and not the line on towards Woodford - I'm sure that you are right about that part being done from the Woodford end and not Northampton.
A typical entry in the register (Weds 5th Aug) shows signalman Hooper booking on at 6.45am-15 wagons to Ravenstone branch 7.45 - train off branch 1.30pm - light engine to Blisworth 1.55 - train to Ravenstone 2.15 - 20 loads to Blisworth 7.35 (which would be the train that I saw) - signalman off duty 8.00pm
On other days there is mention of the train being 'ex Blisworth' in the morning but they don't seem to have bothered recording that every time - obviously getting a bit demob happy towards the end then !
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