‘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

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.

North End and Warwick Road stations? 57 Replies

Some time ago we ahd an interesting and lively discussion on the mystery station at Tiffield, which added quite a lot to our collective knowledge.I've recently been looking closely at two of the other mystery stations- at North End (sometimes…Continue

Started by Barry Taylor. Last reply by Richard Maund Jan 27.

1873 timetable 4 Replies

Page 12 of Arthur Jordan's book features a full page reproduction of the E&WJ public timetable handbill for August 1873. Does anyone know where the original of that handbill is preserved?Incidentally, the timetable itself formed the basis of…Continue

Started by Richard Maund. Last reply by Barry Taylor Jan 25.

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Towcester

 

 

 

Blisworth
Towcester
Wappenham
Helmdon
Banbury



A modest beginning was made with the Northampton and Banbury Junction Railway being authorised in 1863. Things gathered a pace, and two years later an Act authorising an extension westwards to Chipping Norton and Blockley, Gloucestershire and in the next year, 1866, a further extension which would have taken the line to Ross-on-Wye; were authorised. However, and like so many plans of the time, the financial crisis of that year left the scheme high and dry.The final railway reached neither Northampton nor Banbury over its own metals; having to obtain running powers over the LNWR line from Blisworth to Northampton and from Cockley Brake Junction to Banbury over the LNWR’s line from Verney Junction.

 

Find out more about Towcester s Signal Box



 

The first section was opened from a station adjoining the LNWR’s premises at Blisworth; running to Towcester on 1st May 1866 – the railway had arrived! Around this time Towcester acquired an engine shed. Learn more. The extension West to Cockley Brake took another six years to complete; again because of financial problems. This section had two stations, Wappenham and Helmdon, both of which were opened to goods traffic in August of 1871. Whilst all this was going on another company appeared in the area going by the name of ‘The East and West Junction Railway’ (E&WJR). Their plan was also to create a cross-country route for all this new found iron ore in the Blisworth area, linking Towcester with Stratford-upon-Avon - authorisation by Parliament came in 1864. In 1909 the line became known as the Stratford upon Avon & Midland Junction Railway (The SMJ) and with another Act in 1910 it absorbed the N & BJR, which had pursued a more modest but uninspiring career ever since the E & W JR had made its junction near Greens Norton in 1873.


The L.M.S was created in 1923 during "The grouping" taking over the running of the SMJ’s line to Stratford.The Second World War took great toll on the railways and on the state of the national economy in general, with the result that after the war in 1948 the railways were nationalized as British Railways.


Around this time plans for Towcester’s services to be withdrawn were being hatched. I found a copy of the London Midland region map of 1961 and it showed nothing of Blisworth station on the main line, and nothing of Towcester.


The last scheduled passenger trains having run in 1952, freight struggled on into the mid 60's, when at last, it all came to an end. If you are wondering what happened to the site at Towcester - it's now a Tescos!, follow the A5; north through the town nearly to the A43 by-pass and go and pay the old place a visit! Bridge 149, which once carried the Tiffield road on the Olney branch still stands at the East of the site, but not much else!



Find more photos like this on "The Unofficial SMJ Society" at www.smj.me


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Comment by Andy Thompson on May 7, 2010 at 13:14

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