‘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
Funny Story about Kineton Military Railway 1 Reply
An improbable, funny, but absolutely true story relating to the Kineton military railway.Long after my Army days I still retained an affection and passing interest in Kineton ammunition depot where I served during the 1960s. Coupled to a 'love' of…Continue
Started by Dave Hayward. Last reply by Dave Hayward on Sunday.
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 Apr 20.
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 Apr 20.
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.
SMJ photos
1930's reference to SMJ siding and A5 upgrade.
From Toby's Tale "The early thirties" a man who lived in Caldecote near Towcester.
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Comment by Dick Bodily on September 22, 2015 at 11:59
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In those days the Greens Norton road ran along the route of the present day road leading to the Tidy tip and Aldi so it was right next to the railway embankment. Bill Kendall's article (British Railway Journal 76) talked of road stone being unloaded manually at Towcester station yard for repairs to the A5, which was taken by local hauliers Challis' lorries to where it was needed, this would presumably have been used as a hardcore base rather than the top surface. Whether this was at the same time I've no idea. I wonder how they rolled the tarmac, Towcester RDC had an Aveling steamroller ideal for laying a hardcore base, which is incidentally preserved, but this wouldn't have been very suitable for the tarmacing. After the war in the 50s this section of the A5 was concreted possibly as flooding precaution as the river frequently overflowed onto the road there. The joins in the concrete are still detectable in that although metalled over nowadays they cause a clicking sound from your tyres as you drive over them.
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