"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…"
‘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
MORTON PINKNEY LEVEL CROSSING 12 Replies
There was a public level crossing between Blakesley and Morton Pinkney, complete with a gatehouse.Does anyone know how this was operated?Presumably the gates must have been manual and kept closed against road traffic.Early Working Timetables mention…Continue
Started by Barry Taylor. Last reply by Ian Merivale on Monday.
SMJ rides again? Broom to Stratford Greenway Proposal
From Bidford on Avon Parish council comes news of the Avon and Arrow Greenway Project whose latest newsletter is here: August 2020 AAGP…Continue
Started by Simon Stevens Sep 14.
Bidford-on-Avon station photos 2 Replies
Hello folks - I'm interested in sourcing any historical photos of Bidford-on-Avon station and wondering if anyone here could help point me in the right direction? (There are a few on…Continue
Started by Greg Wye. Last reply by Greg Wye Aug 30.
Stored coaches 4 Replies
This query arises from a discussion on another site (Disused Railway and Stations around Northamptonshire).There has been recent reference to coaches stored on the SMJ and a statement in Bylines March 12th issue that there were over three hundred…Continue
Started by Alan Brant. Last reply by Ian Mathews Aug 16.
SMJ photos
Dick Bodily's Discussions
Link to About my Area website article about the unveiling of Towcester sign
2 Replies
Started this discussion. Last reply by Dick Bodily Dec 21, 2019.
Beyer Peacock 2-4-0T- As near as you can get to a E&WJR 2-4-0T nowadays!
Started May 19, 2019
u-tube videos that might be of interest
Started Dec 15, 2018
Dick Bodily's Page
Latest Activity
Woodford 8F on SMJR track lifting train at Blakesley
"No, but it was soon after the closure between Woodford and Blisworth Ironstone Sidings, almost certainly 1964, but could be early 1965. The work would have been taking place nearer to Towcester as the train was already travelling quite fast when I…"
SMJ regular when shedded at Northampton, 8F Star Consul 48305
Could be the Woodford West - Blisworth afternoon mineral working which 48305 often appeared on when a 2E engine. Photographed from Quorn bridge on GCR. The star under its number denotes that its motion was especially balanced to allow it to run…
"Not as dramatic from a railway point of view but very tragic, three USAF Flying Fortresses on an in formation training flight from Snetterton collided above the SMJ between Blakesley and Moreton Pinkney on 11th October 1944. Two came down…"
"Don,
try these links to pictures well back on the website.
The sign is in the bar at the Towcester Mill Brewery in the lane next to the church. Its a nice little pub for having a drink of its own brew with no music, no TV, no meals, nor kids…"
"G'day Dick,trust all is well with you. Is there a photo of this sign on the site? If it's looking a bit worse for wear it could be a candidate for 'The Repair Shop' on the tele."
"Good to see you contributing to the website today
all the best
Dick Bodily"
"Thanks Colin - updated 5th Dec 2019"
"May I add another book entitled " Forgotten Railway Infrastructure 1922 - 1934" by Kevin Robertson, Published in 2017 by Crecy Publishing Ltd (ISBN 987190928723). Inside are photographs from the Edward Wallis Collection that show images of…"
Link to About my Area website article about the unveiling of Towcester sign
To read the article about the Towcester Running in sign being unveiled follow link belowhttps://www.aboutmyarea.co.uk/Northamptonshire/Towcester/NN12/News/Local-News/325349-Towcester-Railway-SignSee More
"This is a new one on me, however a few were allocated to Bedford at different times so I suppose it is possible that one could have worked onto the Olney branch of the SMJ, possibly on an inspection train, but this is just my guesswork?…"
"There's a photo of ganger A Campion at Kineton on Page 94 of Jordan's SMJR book and ones of Jim and Harry Campion on Page 25. It says also on Page 25 that Jim was a ganger who later became an Acting Inspector at Towcester and…"
Beyer Peacock 2-4-0T
This is Isle of Man Railway Beyer Peacock 2-4-0T 'Mannin' which is about to be restored to running order so that it can deal with the heavier trains on the line as at present only Dubs 0-6-0T 'Caledonia' is a capable of such trains unaided. Its a beefed up version of the earlier smaller 3 foot gauge engines that Beyer Peacock provided for the IMR in the late 19th / early…See More
Profile Information
- Have you friends who knew the SMJ who you can tell about us?
- No, but I know one or two non-enthusiasts who can remember it working.
Dick Bodily's photos
Comment Wall (34 comments)
- At 9:00 on May 19, 2020,
RogerHowes said…
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
- At 14:31 on March 19, 2018,
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
- At 22:16 on February 20, 2018,
Peter S Lewis said…
Dick... I guess for some people its all relative!!!!
Peter
- At 19:11 on December 18, 2016,
NIGEL said…
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?
- At 13:03 on October 9, 2015,
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
- At 16:24 on October 7, 2015,
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
- At 11:36 on June 16, 2015,
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
- At 19:52 on February 18, 2015,
- Dick,
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
- At 9:04 on July 1, 2013,
Dick
please feel free to don't know if you are aware but Rubio is buried at Sholebrook Lodge' Whittlebury
Regards Ian
- At 23:45 on June 15, 2012,
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.
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