‘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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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 Nov 7.

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

LAST RITES - book from John Evans

Just searched the forum for any mention of this new book but can't find anything, so:

Received today, a delightful book describing the author's exploits at the very end of the steam era.

LAST RITES FROM THE TRACK TO THE SCRAPYARD, by JOHN EVANS, published by Amberley.

Of particular note are the descriptions of walks along the closed route of the SMJ - for anyone who could not do it themselves this must be the next best experience!

As I also have a particular interest in the activities at Cransley Scrapyard and the ironstone quarries of Blisworth and Byfield, I am finding the content of this well-illustrated and well-written book most informative.

As always, and having long admired John's images on photographic hosting sites, it would have been great to see this work published in large colour format, but this would no doubt make it prohibitively expensive.

Congratulations on an excellent book!

Tony

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Permalink Reply by Tony Goff on April 14, 2016 at 20:44

Just read the explanation in the book about cost of colour film and developing compared with pocket money income, hence b/w images prior to 1965 - point taken!!