‘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
Burton Dassett Cableway 1 Reply
Please find attached a copy of the OS 6" map 1888 - 1913 series that illustrates the subject cable-way (called a tramway on the map) and also the Burton Dassett sidings. This cable-way is mentioned by Arthur Jordan in hos book on the SMJ at pp45, he…Continue
Started by Dave Hayward. Last reply by Mark Reader Feb 22.
Greetings from Bidford & a question re. Arrow river bridge at Broom 6 Replies
Hello everyone, I've just signed up. I'm a lifelong railway enthusiast originally from Dorset; my earliest memory is of being on the train from Wareham to Swanage. I see a few familiar names on here so some of you may know me from the Scalefour…Continue
Started by Simon Stevens. Last reply by Simon Stevens Jan 22.
Banbury Merton Road Shed and Britannia Works Tramway 8 Replies
By any chance does anybody have a reasonable photograph of Banbury Merton Road Loco Shed? If so I would like to include into some private research I am intending to share with a small informal group of enthusiasts, it would be greatly…Continue
Started by Dave Hayward. Last reply by Colin Franklin Dec 30, 2020.
Michael Mccarthy 2 Replies
I too have received this unusual email, I would think that it a scam. This is the second time I have received it and will always delete it.Continue
Started by Paul Loveday. Last reply by Nicholas Hemming Dec 30, 2020.
SMJ photos
Wheldons Siding 1888 -inspection of new siding
Now it is on the down side of the line - note the location of 1 mile from Blisworth. Also see the 'iron ore shoot' crossing above the siding.
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Comment by Barry Taylor on February 27, 2013 at 15:11
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Hi Dick
This becoming a bit of a nightmare! I quite agree with you in terms of the curvature being wrong - I've only dug these out since the first query appeared and haven't stopped to compare them side by side. In fact the curvature of the 1888 siding fits better with the 1905 - apart from the fact that the siding is on the wrong side of the line!
I'm going to have another look at this whole thing, but in the meantime I've just added a photo of the Inspection report of the 1905 siding (this actually didnt take place until later in 1906 although they had been given provisonal approval earlier). Here you can see that it clearly states that 'an EXISTING ironworks siding on the north side extended eastwards and a new connection with the main line' also the 1905 plan (Eastern bit) shows in dotted lines where theold points were situated and have been replaced by the new connection into the quarry line (through the engine shed as you pointed out) So - from this it is certain that the 1905 arrangement was an alteration to an existing layout - and thus fits the 1881 siding apart from the line curving the wrong way !
A big puzzle - and we need to get to the bottom of it now having got this far!
More later
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Comment by Dick Bodily on February 26, 2013 at 20:26
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Barry
Just when I thought everything made sense, I've realised that the curvature for the line and sidings in 1881 and 1888 plans are the wrong way around for whereabouts we think they were located! The 1881 curves the opposite way to the 1905 siding so the 1881 siding can't have been where we thought it was. I've looked at the curvature of the line using Google Maps satelitte image and it seems to me that the 1881 siding might have been near Bridge 5 and the 1888 one near Bridge 4. Please have a look at Google Maps and see what you think. If I'm right then the 1 mile from Blisworth would be about right and the posts that Mike Burrows found near there might have been to do with the chute.
All the best
Dick
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Dick
You're quite right - a bit worrying !
However I think that they must just have been estimating the distance, which is a bit surprising .
I've just looked back at the correspondence that went with that plan from 1888, and both the Board of Trade inspection report, and the NBJR request for the inspection, state 'about 1 mile' and the NBJR do say that they have moved the siding closer to Blisworth than the old one.
So I think we have got it in the right place despite the apparent inaccuracy . The BOT report is almost impossible to read, but I'll put up the photo of the NBJR request in a minute or two
Barry
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Barry
If I mile from Blisworth and was an accurate measurement that would put it between bridges 3 & 4.
Dick
Dick
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