‘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.
The Olney Branch route is very overgrown and impassable between 3rd Lodge and Bridge 149, with the exception being a 100 yard section behind the large Oak Tree at the back of Coulthard Close. The section of the line running next to the A43 is still in situ, but don't mistake it for the embankment. The clay embankment is spoil pushed aside when the A43 was built, with the trackbed running along the bottom of the south side. The approach to bridge 149 is where it starts to get confusing, because the A43 spoil was dumped onto the existing, much smaller embankment on the approach to bridge 149, creating the much larger embankment we see today.
I was walking along that part over the weekend, after a walk to Lloyds siding. Most people assume that the A43 dual carriageway was built on the track bed, but of course it wasn't. You can follow the route from opposite the 3rd Lodge to the Hulcote turn and into Towcester to Bridge 149.
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