‘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"
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
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
Read your report with Albert, I remember him when I was a young trainspotter in Woodford and met up with him again at the GCR Loughborough. I wrote a long article in the magazine given out that weekend. Bill Howes (Great Uncle) drove 44814 the last loco off shed and on the 50th Anniversary of that at Loughborough I had the honour of driving 5305 numbered as 44814 on the Sunday and have a nice picture of me on it and Albert
Hello Dick - Yes, I remember our Warley chat, and I've also enjoyed your article in a recent magazine. I'm sure I'll find SMJ Soc. membership most rewarding. Martin
Further history on 0-6-0 La Savoie. In 1841 Joseph Locke, engineer of the Paris & Rouen Railway, asked Brassey & Mackenzie contractors, in conjunction with William Allcard, contractor for the Permanent Way on the Grand Junction Railway and William Buddicom, engineer, to jointly supply the plant at the Chartreux Works. Hence the company of Allcard & Buddicom was formed specifically to supply locomotives, carriages & wagons to the Compagnie de Chemins de Fer de Rouen. This contract was for 40 locos, 120 2nd class carriages & 200 wagons. The first locos were built in October 1842, to an "Allen Crewe" design manufactured under license. In 1845 the company moved to better premises in Sotteville near Rouen. The 2 French tender engines 2-4-0 and 0-6-0 were purchased from Le Chemin de Fer de Rhone et Loire in 1858 by Thomas Brassey for a contract in Savoy, namely the Mont Ceris Tunnel Railway, which opened in October 1871. Savoy is part of the Auvergne-Rhone-Alps region following its annexation to France in June 1860. The test train took a party of 54 including Buddicom, Crampton & Brassey as Director. Both French engines were probably hired to the E & WJR in 1874 from Thomas Brassey.
Thomas Crampton, an English engineer, was the contractor who built the line for the E & WJR and was later a director of that company.
William Buddicom, an English engineer, who built some of the first locomotives in France.
Thomas Brassey, an English civil engineering contractor, had by 1870 built 75% of French Railways, 33% of British Railways, and 1 in 20 miles of railways in the world.
Two questions come to mind. When was La Savoie actually named and where was she built? We know La Savioe was built in one of two places, but was she named in honour of Savoy being annexed to France?
I have seven photos of the magazine's pages relating to Blakesley Hall Railway waiting to be sent to you. I do not know how to send attachments via this site so please let me know your email address. Have you tried toysteam31@gmail.com for me?
I am not good at navigating around sites such as this. I have an email with first effort copies of an article I wish to send to you, I know you have been unable to reach me through my usual email address so please try toysteam31@gmail.com
47203%20%40%20Swithland%20on%20passenger%2013.6.15.jpgFurther to Dick's comments re the Woodford Halse event at the GC last weekend, I attach a couple of photographs - one of 43106 - a Woodford resident for some in the late'50s/early 60s. This loco moved on to various other sheds including a short stint at Kettering in 1963.
The other is of 47406 renumbered as 47203 going well on a passenger duty at Swithland. 47203 was at L'ster GC as yard shunter in 1958/59,
Yes Mark Reader is one if our group. He recently joined us when we discovered he had been planning a layout, also in N gauge based on Kineton for done time. His plans are earlier period than ours so there may well be compromise.
I'll pass on your message when I see him tomorrow evening.
Many thanks for the welcome Dick. I am one of Frank's nephews, known as William, or Bill, and son of Jim who was the eldest of the Reynolds boys. There were actually five of them, Jim, Frank, Reg, Ron and Cliff. My father was a policeman and I grew up in Northampton and have many fond memories of Blakesly.
Yes I am that photographer, the SMJ has fond memories for me and was the catalyst for my intersest in railways. It is hard to believe and I still cannot believe it myself that some fifty years on as a trainee fireman on the GWSR that I fired a 9F between Toddington and Winchcombe hauling a goods train which is where the goods ran after closure of the Stratford to Broom section in 1960.
After the demise of the pick up goods with its ex MR 4F loco all traffic that came into the SMJ yard at Stratford was handled by the duty loco at Stratford GW. This loco was almost always a 2251 class loco that was primarily used to bank freights out of the GW station in the up direction until they were all cleared out around early 1964. After that various small ex LMS or BR standard 2 or 3 types were used for a while but by early 1965 there was often no loco available for this duty and by 1966 all banking duties had been withdrawn. Until the ex GW sub-shed at Stratford closed the 2251 allocation was serviced at Tyesley after closure they were moved to Leamington ex GW. If you give me your direct e-mail I will send you a load of notes concerning the activities at Stratford GW that will allow you some perspective of how the railways at Stratford operated. I don't think it appropriate to lodge them on this site as they are not strictly SMJ line related.
The wagon labels I have posted show the ash traffic to Ettington as described by John Jennings.The traffic has originated from various western region engine sheds. The recipient at Ettington was a Mr H.J.Jaques. Although the labels are from an earlier period than discussed.
Hi Dick The wagon labels I have posted show the ash traffic to Ettington as described by John Jennings.The traffic has originated from various western region engine sheds. The recipient at Ettington was a Mr H.J.Jaques. Although the labels are from an earlier period than discussed.
After the demise of the pick up goods no traffic came to or from Stratford to either Ettington or Kineton. I was in the brake van of the trip working that went to clear the remaining trucks from these two stations. The guard had been told that all traffic for the MOD was routed via Fenny Compton and empties there would go out that way. The situation at Clifford Sidings was a little better. It remained open for traffic because of a contract with a local coal and ash merchant who had ash delivered in standard 10t open trucks from various loco sheds that were still open for steam. I remember that the labels on the trucks indicated various sources including Leamington Spa and Nuneaton. This traffic came in via the GW yard at Stratford and was trip worked by the Collet 2251 class loco kept there for banking duties. This was a daily trip regardless of whether any traffic was about because as there was no fresh drinking water at Clifford a churn of water was taken up daily. If there was no traffic to move this would just be taken as a light engine move to remove the necessity of a brakevan and guard. The final traffic to Ettington was fertiliser in sacks and Kineton received coal and fertiliser. I believe the merchant was an agent of Warwichshire Farmers Co-op. The ash merchant at Clifford just seemed to vanish after the supply of ash dwindled due to the on going closure of steam loco sheds. The SMJ yard at Old Town handled coal and bagged agricultural traffic until around summer 1963 again this was worked down from the ex GW yard at Birmingham Road. The two merchants involved were Dingley's and the CoOperative Coal dept.
Hello Dick, sorry it has taken me so long in getting in touch with you, but thankyou for your reply dated the 15/11/2010. More info on Harold Drinkwater 1882-1941, census records for 1911 his age was 29 & a Signelman & Porter, so I don't really know when he started & left that job at the station. I took all the Blakesley Station photo's & Blakesley Map to show my Dad , well all the memories came flooding back (to say the least), & we spent well over an hour, (dad talking, me listening) about the picture's & map. According to Dad that was his "Heaven" knew every inch of that area, even where to pick the "Best Mushroom's" at 5.30am, & went on to say that "they were the Best Summer school Holiday's he ever had". Sorry to say they stopped when the war came along.I will have to pop over to Blakesley some time as Dad did mention that he carved his initial's on the wall of the bridge, I don't suppose they are still there!!!, also he did say that he remember's the name Tew being spoken, & a Mr & Mrs Franklin lived opposite Bertha & Harold's house. Hope you don't mind me asking , but do you live in Blakesley? It's just that I am doing the Family Tree ,& we have a Mary Ann Drinkwater 1834 married to a Joseph Bodily 1824-1907, any connection's?. Well that's all, (sorry if it got a bit boring) , & "THANKYOU" once again for the photo's. Kind regard's. Carol.
Dick, Thankyou for your reply on 04/11/2010 to my husband about our interest in Blakesley Station.The lady you mentioned, Bertha was my Great Grandmother, & her eldest daughter Mabel Annie was my Nan, & her sister's were Grace & Joyce. My Nan, on a couple of occasion's on a Sunday afternoon took me to see Grace & Derek who then lived at Woodend. I would be very very happy to hear of any more information or storie's, & possibly if you were interested & could spare the time, in meeting up with me, to share these.Ooop's forgot to mention that Bertha was the wife of Harold Drinkwater, Signalman/Porter at Blakesley Station (1920's-1930's), Also love all the photo's, can't wait to show them to my Dad (Eric Fairey), Mabel's son, ( he's the one who started all this !!! ). Hope to hear from you soon. Kind regard's Carol.
I'm from Northampton originally, and brought up in the knowledge that I have a local surname, local including a large part of the county. (Surname appears to be reasonably common in Leicestershire, too.) Exactly where it is from and what it means is a matter of debate.
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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 on Thursday.
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.
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.
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.
SMJ photos
Dick Bodily's Comments
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Read your report with Albert, I remember him when I was a young trainspotter in Woodford and met up with him again at the GCR Loughborough. I wrote a long article in the magazine given out that weekend. Bill Howes (Great Uncle) drove 44814 the last loco off shed and on the 50th Anniversary of that at Loughborough I had the honour of driving 5305 numbered as 44814 on the Sunday and have a nice picture of me on it and Albert
Hello Dick - Yes, I remember our Warley chat, and I've also enjoyed your article in a recent magazine. I'm sure I'll find SMJ Soc. membership most rewarding. Martin
Dick... I guess for some people its all relative!!!!
Peter
Further history on 0-6-0 La Savoie. In 1841 Joseph Locke, engineer of the Paris & Rouen Railway, asked Brassey & Mackenzie contractors, in conjunction with William Allcard, contractor for the Permanent Way on the Grand Junction Railway and William Buddicom, engineer, to jointly supply the plant at the Chartreux Works. Hence the company of Allcard & Buddicom was formed specifically to supply locomotives, carriages & wagons to the Compagnie de Chemins de Fer de Rouen. This contract was for 40 locos, 120 2nd class carriages & 200 wagons. The first locos were built in October 1842, to an "Allen Crewe" design manufactured under license. In 1845 the company moved to better premises in Sotteville near Rouen. The 2 French tender engines 2-4-0 and 0-6-0 were purchased from Le Chemin de Fer de Rhone et Loire in 1858 by Thomas Brassey for a contract in Savoy, namely the Mont Ceris Tunnel Railway, which opened in October 1871. Savoy is part of the Auvergne-Rhone-Alps region following its annexation to France in June 1860. The test train took a party of 54 including Buddicom, Crampton & Brassey as Director. Both French engines were probably hired to the E & WJR in 1874 from Thomas Brassey.
Thomas Crampton, an English engineer, was the contractor who built the line for the E & WJR and was later a director of that company.
William Buddicom, an English engineer, who built some of the first locomotives in France.
Thomas Brassey, an English civil engineering contractor, had by 1870 built 75% of French Railways, 33% of British Railways, and 1 in 20 miles of railways in the world.
Two questions come to mind. When was La Savoie actually named and where was she built? We know La Savioe was built in one of two places, but was she named in honour of Savoy being annexed to France?
Dick
I have seven photos of the magazine's pages relating to Blakesley Hall Railway waiting to be sent to you. I do not know how to send attachments via this site so please let me know your email address. Have you tried toysteam31@gmail.com for me?
Murray
Dick
I am not good at navigating around sites such as this. I have an email with first effort copies of an article I wish to send to you, I know you have been unable to reach me through my usual email address so please try toysteam31@gmail.com
Murray
47203%20%40%20Swithland%20on%20passenger%2013.6.15.jpgFurther to Dick's comments re the Woodford Halse event at the GC last weekend, I attach a couple of photographs - one of 43106 - a Woodford resident for some in the late'50s/early 60s. This loco moved on to various other sheds including a short stint at Kettering in 1963.
The other is of 47406 renumbered as 47203 going well on a passenger duty at Swithland. 47203 was at L'ster GC as yard shunter in 1958/59,
replacing J52 68839.
Robin
Yes Mark Reader is one if our group. He recently joined us when we discovered he had been planning a layout, also in N gauge based on Kineton for done time. His plans are earlier period than ours so there may well be compromise.
I'll pass on your message when I see him tomorrow evening.
Nick
Dick
please feel free to don't know if you are aware but Rubio is buried at Sholebrook Lodge' Whittlebury
Regards Ian
Many thanks for the welcome Dick. I am one of Frank's nephews, known as William, or Bill, and son of Jim who was the eldest of the Reynolds boys. There were actually five of them, Jim, Frank, Reg, Ron and Cliff. My father was a policeman and I grew up in Northampton and have many fond memories of Blakesly.
Dick
Yes I am that photographer, the SMJ has fond memories for me and was the catalyst for my intersest in railways. It is hard to believe and I still cannot believe it myself that some fifty years on as a trainee fireman on the GWSR that I fired a 9F between Toddington and Winchcombe hauling a goods train which is where the goods ran after closure of the Stratford to Broom section in 1960.
Paul
Dick
After the demise of the pick up goods with its ex MR 4F loco all traffic that came into the SMJ yard at Stratford was handled by the duty loco at Stratford GW. This loco was almost always a 2251 class loco that was primarily used to bank freights out of the GW station in the up direction until they were all cleared out around early 1964. After that various small ex LMS or BR standard 2 or 3 types were used for a while but by early 1965 there was often no loco available for this duty and by 1966 all banking duties had been withdrawn. Until the ex GW sub-shed at Stratford closed the 2251 allocation was serviced at Tyesley after closure they were moved to Leamington ex GW. If you give me your direct e-mail I will send you a load of notes concerning the activities at Stratford GW that will allow you some perspective of how the railways at Stratford operated. I don't think it appropriate to lodge them on this site as they are not strictly SMJ line related.
The wagon labels I have posted show the ash traffic to Ettington as described by John Jennings.The traffic has originated from various western region engine sheds. The recipient at Ettington was a Mr H.J.Jaques. Although the labels are from an earlier period than discussed.
Hi Dick The wagon labels I have posted show the ash traffic to Ettington as described by John Jennings.The traffic has originated from various western region engine sheds. The recipient at Ettington was a Mr H.J.Jaques. Although the labels are from an earlier period than discussed.
Hi Dick
After the demise of the pick up goods no traffic came to or from Stratford to either Ettington or Kineton. I was in the brake van of the trip working that went to clear the remaining trucks from these two stations. The guard had been told that all traffic for the MOD was routed via Fenny Compton and empties there would go out that way. The situation at Clifford Sidings was a little better. It remained open for traffic because of a contract with a local coal and ash merchant who had ash delivered in standard 10t open trucks from various loco sheds that were still open for steam. I remember that the labels on the trucks indicated various sources including Leamington Spa and Nuneaton. This traffic came in via the GW yard at Stratford and was trip worked by the Collet 2251 class loco kept there for banking duties. This was a daily trip regardless of whether any traffic was about because as there was no fresh drinking water at Clifford a churn of water was taken up daily. If there was no traffic to move this would just be taken as a light engine move to remove the necessity of a brakevan and guard. The final traffic to Ettington was fertiliser in sacks and Kineton received coal and fertiliser. I believe the merchant was an agent of Warwichshire Farmers Co-op. The ash merchant at Clifford just seemed to vanish after the supply of ash dwindled due to the on going closure of steam loco sheds. The SMJ yard at Old Town handled coal and bagged agricultural traffic until around summer 1963 again this was worked down from the ex GW yard at Birmingham Road. The two merchants involved were Dingley's and the CoOperative Coal dept.
Hi Dick thanks for your reply re Byfield/Woodford
Rex and Chris Bazeley hold GCR section meetings once a month - they meet i think on the 2nd wednesday of each month
The social Club is holding an open day again this year
The Model Railway was donated some money for renovation work by the Social Club on the premise that we would have an open day
We got all other local groups involved including Rex and Chris with a GCR slideshow and memorabilia
The Byfield Photo Archive
Woodford Historical Society/Photo Archive
It was a good day
I believe it is planned this year for the 14th May i will keep this site posted
Thanks
Keith
Very much enjoyed meeting you .
Alwyn.