‘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

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.

Olney BRM Sept 2023

Layouts based on actual SMJR locations are few and far between. Due to being given notice on clubroom, Olney as featured in BRM Sept 2023 is for sale!This is a rare opportunity to acquire a beautiful, 15 years in the making, ready to run model…Continue

Started by Nicholas Young Jul 26.

Smj exploring and making new youtube videos 1 Reply

Hi all members.I was wondering if you could help by subscribing to my YouTube channel ‘NWP EXPLORING’ Mainly railway history and some exploring the SMJ .im planning to explore and video more of the SMJ ,  and if you have a desired area you would…Continue

Started by Neil. Last reply by Henry Jul 10.

Funny Story about Kineton Military Railway 2 Replies

An improbable, funny, but absolutely true story relating to the Kineton military railway.Long after my Army days I still retained an affection and passing interest in Kineton ammunition depot where I served during the 1960s. Coupled to a 'love' of…Continue

Started by Dave Hayward. Last reply by Henry Jul 10.

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Barry Taylor's Discussions

NEW BOOK ON THE SMJ - AVAILABLE SHORTLY
24 Replies

Started this discussion. Last reply by John Evans Dec 1, 2018.

New book with SMJ interest
3 Replies

Started this discussion. Last reply by Dick Bodily Apr 7, 2017.

SMJ article

Started Sep 27, 2015

 

Barry Taylor's Page

Latest Activity

Barry Taylor replied to Richard Maund's discussion 'Bidford-on-Avon'
"I think that we can now agree that there was definitely a siding behind Bidford station platform? The problem is dating the photograph. I have two prints in front of me as I write, both with info on the reverse. One has, in two different hands, the…"
Jan 28
Richard Maund replied to Barry Taylor's discussion 'North End and Warwick Road stations?'
"I've responded to this under a new heading : Bidford-on-Avon."
Jan 27
Barry Taylor replied to Barry Taylor's discussion 'North End and Warwick Road stations?'
"Further to the discussion on Bidford – I think that the use of the word ‘siding’ on the early OS map might be a red-herring? I seem to remember seeing somewhere a discussion (maybe RCHS?) on the use of that word to describe some…"
Jan 25
Barry Taylor replied to Richard Maund's discussion 'Evesham Redditch & Stratford-upon-Avon Junction Railway'
"Yes - I had noticed this anomaly.. I haven't yet found my original source for the 27/5/1898 date but think that the1890 date is very unlikely - that period seems quite well documented and there seems to have been no mention. I suspect that my…"
Jan 25
Barry Taylor replied to Richard Maund's discussion '1873 timetable'
"Ah good - thought it must be there somewhere. I have recorded  both RAIL 968 and 969 but somehow not 970 - although I did lose some Kew records on a corrupt CD years ago. Thought that I had recovered them on a later visit but this may be one…"
Jan 25
Barry Taylor replied to Richard Maund's discussion 'E&WJR working timetables'
"The 1890 WTT is safely in private hands.. I do have copies of the Kew WTTs, but thus far I have not located any other similar examples. That said there were a couple (I think) of EWJR WTTs for sale in one of Robert Humm's catalogues a year or…"
Jan 25
Barry Taylor replied to Richard Maund's discussion '1873 timetable'
"There is an easily missed footnote at the very bottom of that page in Arthur's book that states 'by kind permission of Public Records Office Kew' That said, I haven't found it so far in my notes / records from my own visits…"
Jan 15
Barry Taylor replied to Richard Maund's discussion 'Evesham Redditch & Stratford-upon-Avon Junction Railway'
"The date of 2/1/1886 is confirmed by the Act for the amalgamation of the STMJR ER&SJR and EWJR dated 1 August 1908 page 4 - the ER&SJR is named therein as the 'Evesham Company' Also included on the same page is the date of…"
Jan 15
Barry Taylor replied to Richard Maund's discussion 'Evesham Redditch & Stratford-upon-Avon Junction Railway'
"I have used the date of 2nd January1886 in my books on the SMJ and its constituents - but will have to dig back in my records to see just where that came from - probably TNA Kew. The 'Railway News' of 1st December 1894 also stated that…"
Jan 14
Richard Maund replied to Barry Taylor's discussion 'North End and Warwick Road stations?'
"In fact, the date of 22 Feb 1885 is an error: services resumed 2 March 1885 (Nuneaton Advertiser 21 Feb)"
Jan 14
Richard Maund replied to Barry Taylor's discussion 'North End and Warwick Road stations?'
Jan 13
Barry Taylor replied to Nicholas Hemming's discussion 'Single track?'
"Just to qualify Gary's earlier comment - the line from Towcester to Greens Norton was in fact originally just single track, with a loop, a junction, and two signal boxes at Greens Norton. The loop was shortened and one signal box removed in…"
Jan 9
Barry Taylor commented on Julian Hill's photo
Thumbnail

Bridge over the Oxford canal.

"An excellent view of a rarely photographed bit of the SMJ. Does anyone have a good clear close up view of the bridge carrying the SMJ over the GWR a few hundred yards further west? They always seem to be in the background of photos of trains passing…"
Jan 15, 2022
Barry Taylor left a comment for Andrew Emmerson
"Hi Andrew - not too sure how this should work, but I (thlnk that0 I accepted your 'friends' request recently! You wanted to discuss North End amongst other things? My email is barryr.taylor@btinternet.com. Cheers B"
Apr 30, 2021
Andrew Emmerson replied to Barry Taylor's discussion 'MORTON PINKNEY LEVEL CROSSING'
"This is fascinating stuff. It's a shame that no photograph has turned up but hardly surprising, considering the remoteness of the location.  Assuming the gateman's lodge was constructed at the same time as the station, I think we may…"
Apr 17, 2021
Barry Taylor replied to Barry Taylor's discussion 'MORTON PINKNEY LEVEL CROSSING'
" I have found another reference to Morton Pinkney Gatehouse Crossing in Bill Kendall's recollections of the area - these have been published in articles in  'British Railways Journal' (on Towcester and Blisworth) and other…"
Oct 25, 2020

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Comment Wall (12 comments)

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At 12:40 on February 26, 2014, John Evans said…

Hi Barry

Just let me know how I can help...

Best regards

John (john.evans777@yahoo.com)

At 18:19 on August 25, 2009, Dick Bodily said…
I'll let you know as soon as I know exactly where and when.

Dick
At 10:09 on August 25, 2009, Dick Bodily said…
Barry

Have updated the Rail Tours list correcting some errors I made plus adding your new ones. I've contacted Rex Partridge who doesn't use computers. Turns out he went on TGS Rail Society coach tour shed bashes in the early 60s with me and a mutual friend to Doncaster, Nottingham and Leeds and I didn't even remember him! He's writing an SMJ article for one of the magazines and is going to pass on info for my classes list. Some amazing stuff, but I shall wait until his article appears before putting it on the website because I think that's only fair.

Dick
At 13:52 on August 7, 2009, Dick Bodily said…
Barry

Have now seen the letter, it was written by Rex Partridge who lives at Byfield. I don't know him but he is an expert on Woodford's latter day railway history and as a youngster was personal friends to many of the old Woodford railwaymen including Dick Hutt who drove the last GC line train. He actually wrote the chapter on Woodford in R Robothams 'The Last Years of the GC Main Line' for him. I used this as one of my references in putting together the SMJR locos list and also the Woodford page on this website. I've not seen his name on this website nor the GC yahoo groups website. Perhaps he is not into computing. He must have a wealth of info.

Dick
At 14:21 on August 6, 2009, Dick Bodily said…
Barry

Thanks for that. I've got your interesting article about Northampton shed special workings. I don't buy railway magazines often but always have a quick look each month to see if there's anything about the Northampton area so I've got all the recent SMJ articles, including Andy's. Looks like I'll have to have a look at the August editions to check up on these letters. Regarding the RAF specials in the 50s, I find it hard to believe that I would not have seen or heard about any passenger trains, as although not very interested in railways in the early to mid 50s, I was friendly with the Blakesley signalboxman's son and we always got to hear about and usually see the 'tank trains' as we called them which took armoured vehicles, field guns, etc. to and from Kineton Camp.

Dick
At 15:37 on August 3, 2009, Dick Bodily said…
Barry

I've cut and pasted your reply about race day specials onto the railtours page via a comment.

Dick
At 9:53 on July 10, 2009, Dick Bodily said…
Barry

look at John Jennings reply to Unusual Engines on SMJ discussion. Explains everything about 22xx workings .

Dick
At 11:52 on July 8, 2009, Dick Bodily said…
Hi Barry

Thanks for that I'm able to finish my Excel as a result. I shall also be able to update the loco list within the next few days with your additions. I shall have to send a revised version to Andy.

Have got a new one for you from Six Bells Junction.
On 17/11/62 GWR 2210 took over the King (Class) Commemorative Tour at Leamington, then ran down the main Paddington line to Fenny Compton, onto the SMJR to Blisworth, then down the West Coast mainline!!! to Bletchley, over the 'White Elephant' flyover on to the Buckinghamshire line, off at Calvert onto the GCR mainline to Marylebone!

Thanks once more

Dick
At 10:22 on July 8, 2009, Dick Bodily said…
Barry
Thanks for the useful and interesting info. I've had the time to do the engines list (which is on this website now - accessed through the Other locos link - have a look and see if you can add to it) and I'm putting together a SMJ specials list as I'm unable to do any parttime work for a few days as I've gone temporarily deaf until I can get my ears syringed! I'm having trouble finding the date of the (in the 60s- 3 car?) DMU railtour. Do you have any idea when it was, even a rough idea would be useful.
Cheers
Dick
At 14:09 on July 7, 2009, Dick Bodily said…
Hi Barry

At present I'm trying to put together a Excel type file of SMJ specials/ railtours for Andy to tidy up the Railtours section of this website and wondered if you could help with following

4/5/57 Do you know the B16's number?
24/7/54 Do you know where the railcar joined the SMJ?

On another subject. Had another thought about your details about 22xxs arriving at 2E. Although I agree they probably arrived via the SMJ, another more likely than my original suggestion of the Leamington - Weedon route possibility would have been from Oxford via Bletchley. I know there were regular freights from Northampton to Oxford usually worked by 2E engines.

Did you used to spot yourself in the Northampton area in the 60s? I used to regularly do Castle station, Banbury Lane crossing, Wellingborough and Peterborough (car park near East where you could watch both lines), Woodford and Banbury.

Dick
 
 
 

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