‘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"
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 Apr 28.
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
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
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.
This is on the Reading side of Earley station and quite close thereto. As you can see - it is a rather more eye catching beast than a Maunsell 'Mogul'!
Hello Dick,
I'm not at all good at manipulating Steamtube.
Now - this HAS been rebuilt! There were originally 88 of them starting in 1883 as South Eastern Railway 'F' class. Designed by Partick Stirling with his GNR style round roofed cab, domeless boiler and 7' driving wheels. 76 of them were rebuilt under Mr.Wainwright and were known as 'F1' and that is what you see here. Only 8 survived into BR and the last was scrapped in 1949 and that was the only one to have a BR number - 31151. I do recall them for their 'Nelly-engine' looks and the springs above the footplating on the tender. There were also running on the SR out of Reading when I was small, the old SER 'B' class 4-4-0 which were an enlarged F1 domeless boilers. 29 were built. 27 of them later received Wainwright cab and domed boilers and had tenders with the springs below the footplating. So then they were class B1.16 survived into BR but only one - 31446 - ever carried a BR number. The B1s were also regular into Reading Southern. The last one - went in 1951.
The Reading line had some of the Wainwright 'D' class 4-4-0 designed in 1921 and I recall them but the D1 and E1 I don't recall. That's is not to say they diodn't come in but infrequently if they did. The Maulsel 2-60 were in place of the older 4-4-0 for the most part. I was never any good at knowing a 'U' from an 'N' in 1951 so beyond knowing that we had lots of those 2-6-0 I would like to say what type.
Adrian
I think this should have been in Steamtube, but I know why you posted it. Thanks, its a lovely picture. Was this particular type one of the series rebuilt later by Maunsell as D1 or E1, etc? I agree it was more impresive than teh sort of motive power in use when I knew the line.
Dick
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