‘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
SMJ track recovery train near Roade 29 7 1964
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Comment by Andy Thompson on April 1, 2010 at 12:39
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There you go Martin - what do I know! Andy
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Comment by David Blagrove on April 1, 2010 at 10:57
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The picture is taken in one of three possible locations:
1. From the Roade-Hartwell Road looking east. The cutting has now been entirely infilled and is almost untraceable unless you know where to look.
2. From the Roade-Ashton road, also looking east and about 200 yards north of the WCML bridge. This is doubtful, since the line did not really run in a cutting at this point. Again most of the trackbed has been obliterated, but the bridge is still there.
3. From the Stoke Bruerne-Blisworth Road adjacent to Stoke Station, looking east. I would suggest this is the most likely spot. Near the point where the line emerges from the cutting, on the left side of the line is a ventilation shaft for Blisworth canal tunnel and a short distance further on the line crossed the line of the Blisworth Hill tramway, a horse-worked plateway laid down in 1800 during the construction of the canal tunnel and said to be the first railway in the south of England. It was taken up in 1805 and relaid from Blisworth Arm to Northampton; taken up again in 1815 when the parallel canal arm was opened and parts of it were recycled yet again to serve a quarry near Blisworth and some supposedly bought by Sir Marc Brunel to be used in the building of the Thames Tunnel. Today the stretch of line that runs under the course of the SMJ is well-preserved and forms part of the old "boat horse road" by which horses were led over the tunnel top while boats were worked through. The bridge that took the SMJ over the tram road was removed c1964/65 and the train seen here may have been engaged in this work. The scrap wagons stored on the line at this spot were removed in the summer of 1963.
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Comment by Martin Broughton on March 31, 2010 at 14:33
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Interesting photo.... the amount of vegatation and encroachment of hedge growth contradicts the brightness of the rails.
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Given the date Richard - I would say so. Andy
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So is this Track lifting then?
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