"Hi Jim
Unfortunately this is one of the few EWJ/SMJ files at Kew that I haven't looked at yet, as I concentrated mostly on the historical development of the line. Now that the book is complete, I don't have any immediate plans to go down…"
‘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
Planning Application for Binton Station Site 10 Replies
I've just been told by friends from Welford that there's a planning application to redevelop the Binton Station site:Binton Station Planning…Continue
Started by Simon Stevens. Last reply by Rob Davidson Apr 10.
The Shakespeare Route DVD---Hillside Publishing 2006
Copy available on e bay as, I write this, if anyone is interested. Probably now out of production so an elusive DVD to obtain.Continue
Started by ray w Apr 1.
Site problems? 1 Reply
my screen is all squashed up. Only happened recently, and jot on any other sites I use.Using Safari on iOS.Continue
Started by Simon Dunkley. Last reply by Simon Dunkley Feb 28.
Line Speed 5 Replies
Probably a question or an answer that is on here somewhere and I have missed it, but what was the line running speed? Always get the impression that the trains dawdled along rather than made any great progress.Continue
Started by Gary. Last reply by Peter S Lewis Feb 23.
SMJ photos
John Jennings's Discussions
The S&MJR Great War Roll of Honour
Started Sep 25, 2014
Bridge at Fenny Compton
4 Replies
Started this discussion. Last reply by NIGEL Jul 14, 2014.
The SMJR Great War Roll of Honour
14 Replies
Started this discussion. Last reply by Barry Taylor Dec 21, 2018.
John Jennings's Page
Latest Activity
Jim Brown replied to John Jennings's discussion 'The SMJR Great War Roll of Honour'"Barry,
i posted on this thread recently but received no replies. I am planning a trip to Kew to investigate these papers but wondered if you could save me a trip. I am after more info on TF Brown whose name appears on the plaque at Stratford…"
Jim Brown replied to John Jennings's discussion 'The SMJR Great War Roll of Honour'"David,
ive just read your posts from 2012 regarding your family member who worked for the SJMR before WW1. My grandfather (Thomas Frederick Brown) worked for SJMR up to 1916 before joining the Royal Engineers and is mentioned on the plaque on…"
Simon Stevens replied to John Jennings's discussion 'The SMJR Great War Roll of Honour'"There is a copy of the roll of honour on display in the ticket office at Stratford station."
"Harry Furniss also illustrated the Roll of Honour for the London & North Western Railway, dated June 1919, of which 34% of the workforce (31,742 men) served. One man G. Branson, a Clerk, from Blisworth Station (LNWR) served as a Rifleman. Having…"
John Jennings replied to Rob Davidson's discussion 'The very last train at Stratford Old Town Station [SMJ]'"I can categorically confirm that apart from the demolition trains the very last working over the section of the former SMJ main line between Stratford and Burton Dassett was the SLS special that ran on 24.4.65. This is well documented. It nearly…"
John Jennings replied to Gary's discussion 'Station Totems / running in boards'"I am pretty certain that Towcester was the only ex SMJ station to have a BR totem, there does not appear to be any record of others in various totem data nor any photographic evidence (known to me). I can confirm that all stations from Fenny…"
John Jennings replied to Phil Street's discussion 'Memories'"The GWR 2251 class locos that regularly visited Stratford Old Town yards were never shedded there. Until Tyseley shed (84E) closed they were allocated there and two were sub shedded at Stratford ex GW shed. Towards the end of steam working they were…"
John Jennings replied to Jim Goodman's discussion 'SMJ Rulebook'"The 1919 Rule Book is the standard RCH rulebook that nearly all of the pre group companies adopted. Its size, content and format was identical no matter which company name was printed on the front cover. The SMJ book was usually hardbound linen on…"
John Jennings replied to Phil Street's discussion 'Memories'"For the record the Collet 2251 locos were always based at the former GWR loco shed just to the north of the GW Alcester Road station. Never at the ex SMJ shed in Old Town. Until cutbacks in the early 1960's there were always two on…"
Brian Hewins commented on John Jennings's photoThe very last train to leave Stratford upon Avon ex SMJ station.
"The two men shown on the footplate were (right) my cousin Ted, the fireman, and 'Tacker' Harris, a 'number checker', who had come along for the ride. The driver was Ernie(?) Smith.
The Northampton train and the…"
John Jennings commented on NIGEL's photo
SOMEWHERE ON THE SMJ.
"Sorry for the delay in reply. Yes I can confirm it is the bridge over the GWR line at Stratford the signal ladder is indeed that of the S&M Junction starting signal situated in front of the bridge on the down GW line, this same…"
John Jennings replied to Timothy Collier's discussion 'Books'"Although there are a lot of sources available and Dick has already pointed you in that direction I would add that the history written by Arthur Jordan is the only one that I cannot find any historical or "Stratford related" fault with.…"
John Jennings posted a discussionThe S&MJR Great War Roll of Honour
I am pleased to report that following my previous posts on this site concerning the R o H the Railway Heritage Trust have had the best known condition original professionally scanned and cleaned up and have also faithfully copied the oak frame in its correct style and moulding. This is part of a general assessment of all railway war memorials. The finished product is now firmly fixed to the wall between the two booking windows at Stratford on Avon (ex GWR) station thanks to permission from…See More
A discussion started by John Jennings was featuredBridge at Fenny Compton
GentlemenWhile bridges appear to be a popular dicussion point how about the two attached images? They came to my collection with a heap of paperwork a few years ago. There is absolutely nothing on the back of them or in the paperwork to aid identification other than the date imprinted on the original negatives as shown on the prints. It appears that the bridge is a rather substantial structure for an occupation bridge but even at that date I would have thought if it was a public road the…See More
John Jennings's photos
John Jennings's Blog
Down Memory Lane. First Hand information by an ex LNW / LMS man who worked the SMJ line.
Posted on August 13, 2012 at 21:41 0 Comments 0 Likes
Evesham Road Box 1960 - 1965 Working the Triangle
Posted on July 20, 2009 at 14:28 0 Comments 0 Likes
Comment Wall (10 comments)
- At 8:55 on November 29, 2012,
Steven Saunderson said…
I take your point about No 16 being camera shy. There are two photos on the Warwickshire Railways site and it looks like No 16 became LMS 2309. I've stalled on my idea of adding nameplates because I don't think they will look right. The photos I've found show that the model is very accurate so perhaps the builder had access to drawings and pictures. The model was finished in 1978 and the builder has long gone. If you want to see my page on the loco the report is here.
Cheers,
Steven
- At 10:20 on July 18, 2011,
Dick Bodily said…
John
Thanks for that. I'd very much like to see the general notes on Stratford you mentioned. Thanks again for all your help. You can contact me on valdick.bodily@btinternet.com
Dick
- At 8:57 on July 18, 2011,
Thanks a lot John,
Any details on the trip workings to Old Town yard from the GWR, presumably 22xx worked?
I've also foundthat that the last goods at Byfiled was probably brought in from Woodford after the Stratford - Blisworth pick ups ceased and was steel rods for the building of the radar tower thing near Charwelton.
Blaklesley & Towcester coal merchants were still supplied by the continuing Blisworth - Woodford West pick up until late 63, possibly early Jan 64.
Dick
- At 10:21 on July 16, 2011,
John
I wondered if you could help me in finishing my article about pick up SMJ line freights for the website by answering the following questions?
After the discontinuation of the Stratford-Blisworth pick ups were there any other pick up or local workings at the Stratford end of the line? ( I have quite extensive info on what went on east of Byfield)
Were there trips workings at any time in your memory from the SMJ to the GWR at Stratford or to and from Clifford Sidings?
Clifford Sidings remained open officially after the end of the Stratford - Blisworth pick ups, did any trains actually call there during that period?
Any details about working or locos would be much appreciated
All the best
Dick Bodiliy
- At 16:04 on January 22, 2010,
- John
I don't think I will put the Ettington pix in an album if you think they are still copyright. Your great colour picture of the final railtour is in various albums inc. 'Stratford upon Avon', 'The SMJR Remembered' and 'Final Days'. I put several Albums together so that people can watch slideshows when I was editing the picture collection for Andy a little while ago. It would be nice to have albums for 'Ettington' and the stations beyond Stratford towards Broom as we have for the other stations but we have so few pix of them on the website.
Dick
- At 21:02 on January 21, 2010,
John Jennings said… - .
Hi Dick
I obtained these images by scanning from magazines. They are almost certainly still in copyright although the titles concerned are no longer published. I think a warning note to any user should point out that the images must only be used for personal research and not for commercial gain. If you have not already used the colour image on my page of the last train at Stratford GW it is my own image and I have no problem with it being used on the site John
- At 19:07 on January 21, 2010,
- John
re. the images of Ettington station that you attached to Si's discussion about Small SMJ stations would it be okay for me to copy and paste them into the SMJR photos section so they could appear in an eventual Ettington album or would there be copyright issues?
Dick
- At 10:51 on May 6, 2009,
Andy Thompson said…
- Hi John. We'd all love to see some more of your undoubted SMJ expertise on the site.
...Look out for it!
Andy
- At 21:46 on May 5, 2009, Peter S Lewis said…
- Hello John,
I think it was you who responded to my efforts in early 1998 to research the SMJ.....I hope that we can see a growing archive here!
Peter
- At 16:10 on April 14, 2009,
- Hi John, its great to have you on board. I hope you can offer much to the site
Andy
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