‘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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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 on Saturday.

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 on Saturday.

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.

Bidford-on-Avon 5 Replies

Shall we bring this discussion under the proper heading!So far as the OS plan surveyed 1885, published 1886, is concerned: the OS liked - wherever they could - to have text running parallel to the top and bottom borders. When they came to add the…Continue

Started by Richard Maund. Last reply by Richard Maund Feb 10.

SMJ photos

Woodford - Byfield passenger closure date

I've seen different sources quoting two dates in May 1948 for the withdrawal of the LNER service between Woodford and Byfield: both were Mondays: 3 and 31 May.

Certainly, 31 May 1948 was the start date for the first timetables under the BR regime and that would be entirely plausible. And on the other hand, 3 May could simply be a typo with the figure 1 (of 31) missing.

Can anyone point me to a definitive source which can resolve the query, please?

Richard Maund

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Permalink Reply by Robin Cullup on December 22, 2015 at 12:35

The Riley/Simpson book "A History of the SMJ etc" gives a date of 31st May 1948 - i.e. "The north curve to Woodford.....did not close to passenger trains until May 31, 1948". I cannot find any reference to this closure in Arthur Jordan's book.

Hope this helps.

Robin Cullup

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Permalink Reply by Richard Maund on December 22, 2015 at 12:52

The late Charles Clinker's 1960 compilation, The Railways of Northamptonshire gives 31 May 1948 as the date. That - taken with the fact that it was the timetable change date - leads me to think it is the correct date. But if anyone comes up with any contrary evidence I would be interested to hear.....

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Permalink Reply by Barry Taylor on December 22, 2015 at 13:50

I have a couple of photos of a 3F 0-6-0 and train at Woodford from the Stephenson Loco Society archives, and they are dated 15th May 1948 - so if these are correct, then the 31st seems to be right.