‘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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Malcolm Ranieri

Sad to report the untimely death last week of SMJ Society member Malcolm Ranieri. Malcolm was well known for his excellent steam train photographs that have appeared for many years in the rail preservation press. He was also one of the main…Continue

Started by Dick Bodily on Friday.

Salvaged track bolts 1 Reply

Does any know if the bridges were numbered? Similar to how the canals number thier's. Because a few weeks ago I was magnet fishing under the if I bridge behind the bellebaulk housing estate in Towcester and pulled out a number of chair bolts and I…Continue

Started by John Godwin. Last reply by Dick Bodily Sep 28.

Planning Application for Binton Station Site 8 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 Simon Stevens Sep 20.

Proposed conversion of numbers 5 and 6.

According to Dunn, the problems with the two BP tanks ns 5 and 6 running backwards were twice addressed with the idea of converting them to 2-4-2Ts, and that drawings were prepared on at least one occasion.Has anyone ever seen anything of these…Continue

Started by Simon Dunkley Jun 27.

Broom Junction station site for sale 1 Reply

Great opportunity for an SMJ enthusiast perhaps. I'm not sure what you could actually do with this site though!…Continue

Started by Simon Stevens. Last reply by Simon Stevens May 17.

Ravenstone Wood as three way junction? 1 Reply

A close analysis of the 1945 RAF aerial photographs available in the historical imagery resource on Google Earth has provided evidence that Ravenstone Wood was probably a three-way junction during the latter part of WW2 and for an unknown period of…Continue

Started by Dave Hayward. Last reply by Robin Cullup Apr 15.

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Peter S Lewis Male Bidford-on-Avon United Kingdom: Share on Facebook Share Tweet

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Peter S Lewis left a comment for Jon Bradshaw

"Jon, We shall look forward to your pictures!! Peter"

Sep 28

Jon Bradshaw left a comment for Peter S Lewis

"Peter, my interest started with the Newport Pagnell Branch line and extended to the Varsity Line, but of late I find it fascinating there was a Railway cutting across the local landscape which was blessed with a Station at Salcey Forest. So my…"

Sep 28

Peter S Lewis left a comment for Jon Bradshaw

"Hello Jon, Welcome to the SMJ site! What brings you here? Peter"

Sep 28

Peter S Lewis left a comment for Guy Boyling

"Hello Guy, Welcome to the SMJ site! Do you have any SMJ connections? Peter"

Sep 3

Peter S Lewis left a comment for Louise Grady

"Hello Louise, Welcome to the site.. Do you have connections with the SMJ? Peter"

Aug 30

Peter S Lewis left a comment for Steve Brandidge

"Hello Steve, Welcome to the SMJ site! Do you have any connection? Peter"

Aug 22

Peter S Lewis left a comment for Julian Porter

"Hello Julian, Well, that's a link and a half!! It'll be interesting to see if other SMJ members can shed any light on this..but there is a very full resource here (the site!!) for you to trawl through!! Peter"

Aug 21

Julian Porter left a comment for Peter S Lewis

"Peter, Yes my name is appropriate. I worked for the railways for 32 years. I used to say I was the only Porter to actually do some work!! Yes there is a connection, one of my Great Great Uncles, William White, was a "Labourer Railway" on…"

Aug 21

Peter S Lewis left a comment for Julian Porter

"Hello Julian.. Welcome to the SMJ site!! Your surname is very apropos!! Do you have connections with the SMJ? Peter"

Aug 20

Peter S Lewis left a comment for Richard Denny

"Richard, The same with me , really.. Living at the western end of the line (Bidford-on-Avon) I though I ought at least know something about the line!! Peter"

Aug 19

Richard Denny left a comment for Peter S Lewis

"None apart from an almost lifelong interest in railways and that I was born and live less than 5 miles from the line. Its a line that I have become more interested in in recent years."

Aug 19

Peter S Lewis left a comment for Richard Denny

"Richard, A warm welcome to the SMJ site.. What connections do you have with the SMJ, if any, that is!!? Peter"

Aug 18

Peter S Lewis left a comment for Dennis Dunn

"Hello Dennis, A warm welcome to the SMJ site! Do you have connections with the old railway line? Peter"

Aug 15

Peter S Lewis left a comment for COLIN ARTHUR SKEARS

"Hello Colin, Thank you for the advices.. I know what to do. Thanks again. Peter"

Jul 26

COLIN ARTHUR SKEARS left a comment for Peter S Lewis

"Peter, I have received a suspicious mail from a David Hurley who may be using the site to promote his interests outside of SMJ use."

Jul 26

Peter S Lewis left a comment for Richard Melville

"Hello Richard, Thanks for joining us here!! Do you have any obvious SMJ connections? Peter"

Jul 18

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5 inch gauge steam loco's first steaming for over 30 years.(Belbin Video)

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SMJ memories

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At 21:02 on September 28, 2018, Jon Bradshaw said…: Peter, my interest started with the Newport Pagnell Branch line and extended to the Varsity Line, but of late I find it fascinating there was a Railway cutting across the local landscape which was blessed with a Station at Salcey Forest. So my interest really is local Railways but I find this one particularly interesting. I will be adding pics in due course!!

At 1:19 on August 21, 2018, Julian Porter said…: Peter,

Yes my name is appropriate. I worked for the railways for 32 years. I used to say I was the only Porter to actually do some work!!

Yes there is a connection, one of my Great Great Uncles, William White, was a "Labourer Railway" on the 1871 census, and was, along with 4 others doing the same job, lodgers with a family in Wappenham and were presumably building the line, which I believe, at the time, was called the Northampton and Banbury Junction Railway. I attach the census record that shows him and Samuel Cox, William Cox and George Reeves.

I have recently purchased a couple of books on the line, but I'd be interested to know who they may have been working for and how long these jobs would have lasted.

Cheers,

Julian

White%20-%20William%20-%20Census%20-%201871.jpg

At 13:14 on August 19, 2018, Richard Denny said…: None apart from an almost lifelong interest in railways and that I was born and live less than 5 miles from the line. Its a line that I have become more interested in in recent years.

At 9:57 on July 26, 2018, COLIN ARTHUR SKEARS said…: Peter, I have received a suspicious mail from a David Hurley who may be using the site to promote his interests outside of SMJ use.

At 15:18 on April 20, 2018, Kirsty Darcy said…: Hi Peter, the site is accessible for you to visit whenever you choose at the moment - please feel welcome to visit and take photographs. If you would like to be met at the site by a member of our team to talk through our plans and timescales, we'd be more than happy to arrange this. Please email me directly at kirsty.darcy@duchyhomes.co.uk if you would like to accept this invitation. Thanks. Kirsty

At 9:30 on April 19, 2018, Kirsty Darcy said…: Hi Peter, I'm very well thanks although still not managed to make contact with any Binton railway workers - still trying! Hope you're well too. If you can let me know the purpose of your visit and when you'd like to go, I can contact our site team and ask the question. The original station house is being retained. Kind regards, Kirsty

At 15:06 on March 26, 2018, Kirsty Darcy said…: Hello Peter, thank you for adding me to this site. Yes, that's correct - I work for Duchy Homes and we have an upcoming development at the old Binton railway station. We're hoping to find anyone who used to work there, or their relatives, to involve them in the redevelopment process and share their story with us. Fingers crossed someone here can help! Thanks. Kirsty

At 17:27 on March 8, 2018, Martin Yallop said…: I work in community rail, l seek out new users for redundant station buildings.

At 15:38 on March 8, 2018, Martin Yallop said…: Hello Peter,

Sadly no connections but I did become aware of it through many years of travelling up and down the Fosse Way. I work in the rail industry so have a professional interest as well.

Regards

Martin

At 20:14 on February 20, 2018, Dick Bodily said…: Peter,

Thriving it never was, just keeping its head above water most of the time would be about right!