‘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"
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 1 hour ago.
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
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.
Ever keen to steal a
march on the competitors, namely the G.W.R, the L.M.S. thought to
tap into Stratford-Upon-Avon’s tourist potential. They bought a
large house near the town and named it the ‘Welcombe Hotel’,
introducing specials from Blisworth, they even ran evening
specials to connect at Blisworth with the line to Stratford from
London. In 1932 the LMS offered a unique service when they
introduced the ‘Ro-Railer’.
Built by Karrier
Motors in Huddersfield, the ‘Ro-Railer’ was, on the outside an
ordinary road going, single deck bus, but the ‘Ro-Railer’ had
a hidden secret. Mounted on the buses axels; flanged wheels,
raised and lowered as required allowed the ‘Ro-Railer’ both to
run through the streets of Stratford and along the line to
Blisworth. The ‘Ro-Railer’ ran from Blisworth to Stratford station,
and via the streets of Stratford, on to the hotel but the
experiment was withdrawn in June of 1932 due to
the vibrations, mechanical problems and a lack of
passengers.
The LMS Ro-Railer
UR7924 was ordered by the LMS carriage division at Wolverton in Feb
1931. The supplier Karrier Motors of Huddersfield was a
surprise to some as they were running down their bus
production having earned a poor reputation for reliability in
the 1920's. The chassis was a standard Karrier Chaser powered
by a 6 cyl engine with a max rating of 120hp. The Chaser was
the last serious bus design by Karrier. The body was built by
Cravens to their B26C design and featured 14 front
facing seats in the forward vestibule and 12 longitudinal
seats in the rear smoking saloon. Luggage space was provided
on the roof or by folding up some of the seats in the rear
vestibule. It weighed 7 tons 2cwt and was fitted with railway
sanding gear, lamp irons and emergency drawgear for locomotive
haulage. Loco haulage was limited to 20mph although apart from
the presumed rescue on its demise there is no record of loco
haulage taking place. The pneumatic road wheels and
traditional flanged rail wheels were mounted on a manually set
eccentric arrangement and could be switched from road to rail
in under five minutes by one man whilst the vehicle stood over
a sleepered crossing.
You need to be a member of The SMJ Society to add comments!
Join The SMJ Society