‘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
More building at Towcester 2 Replies
I hear there has been more building at the station site in Towcester.Anyone know what they've dug up?…Continue
Tags: Towcester
Started by Andy Thompson. Last reply by Nigel Nov 7, 2024.
Broom History Group Event 9th November 2024
Broom History Group will be holding an event at Broom Village Hall 2-4pm on 9th November 2024 including a film on the railway and Broom Junction.…Continue
Started by Simon Stevens Oct 25, 2024.
Misunderstanding Easton Neston 2 Replies
Hello, I'm a new member and I've searched through the articles and can't find anything specific to my answer/ question. Can anyone help?…Continue
Started by Matt Davis. Last reply by Matt Davis Oct 16, 2024.
Loco N° 5. 2-4-0T
Hi everybodyI’m building a OO gauge model of Fenny Compton and Clifford Sidings over here in Belgium.Quite a strange idea but so be it…In view of this I plan to transform a RTR Beatie Well Tank into SMJR N° 5 the 2-4-0T and use some etchings for the…Continue
Started by Jack Freuville Aug 29, 2024.
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Alison,
Here is a picture of a guard called Tom Phillips taken on the down platform of Blakesley Station probably around 1920, so it's not your ancestor but could it be a relation of his, son or nephew perhaps? He's the one with the shunter's pole. He was nicknamed 'Old Woster' as he hailed from Worcestershire and that's how he pronounced the county city's name. The other man was Albert Broomfield, Blakesley's station master.
For more on Blakesley Station click on 'smj photos', select 'view albums' then look for 'Blakesley', for an article about Bob Salmons - Blakesley Signalman ( in the 40s/50s) click on 'index' then look down the list, there's other stuff headed 'Blakesley' in the 'E&WJR stations' section of the index and quite a bit about Blakesley station in the 1950s/ 60s in an article I did about The Last Days of the Pickup Goods.
Best of luck with your researches.
Dick Bodily
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Many thanks - my Great Great Grandfather (mother's family) was Tom Phillips who moved up the ranks at Blakesley Station to become Station Master by 1891 - he was in this position until his death in 1912. I have a quiet fascination with all our defunct railways, a yearning over those days of rail travel. My dad was a guard with British Rail.
I am researching as I can - we stand on the shoulders as it were of our ancestors, I like to keep their memories alive.
Hello Alison,
Welcome to the SMJ site!
Peter
Welcome Alison. Andy