‘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

Blisworth - Towcester ETS working

Electric train staff equipment had been brought into use between Blisworth and Towcester by 9 August 1910 (date of SMJR minute 451 (TNA file RAIL 674/3)) and presumably the new signal box at Blisworth appeared at the same time. In that this was so…Continue

Started by Richard Maund 1 hour ago.

Blisworth 1920

SMJ board minute 1474 of 13 April 1921 (TNA file RAIL 674/4) approved that “the following expenditure be charged to Capital” for year 1920: “Blisworth: Signalling and alterations to Permanent Way, Improvements and additional signalling: £800”. In…Continue

Started by Richard Maund 1 hour ago.

Evesham Redditch & Stratford-upon-Avon Junction Railway 8 Replies

Did this railway (as opposed to the East & West Junction Railway) go into receivership - if so, when. And when did it come out of receivership?Continue

Started by Richard Maund. Last reply by Richard Maund Feb 11.

Bidford-on-Avon 5 Replies

Shall we bring this discussion under the proper heading!So far as the OS plan surveyed 1885, published 1886, is concerned: the OS liked - wherever they could  - to have text running parallel to the top and bottom borders. When they came to add the…Continue

Started by Richard Maund. Last reply by Richard Maund Feb 10.

SMJ photos

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Further to my question yesterday about the last trains through Stratford SMJ Station, l informed my acquaintance about Richard's answer and got this in return.....

I have spoken to a very elderly neighbour who worked at MOD Long Marston in the 60's and 70's. He tells me that the line was used by the MOD at that time to transport armaments to Kineton depot. He said steam was used up until 1971. So he confirms that that is what I heard at night as a child.

Is this some secret that no one knows about or is the elderly gentleman wrong with his dates.

Did the MOD have their own steam locos that would have trundled between Long Marston and Kineton until 1971 even though the track had been taken up!!

Looking forward to any answers

Rob Davidson

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Hi Rob - I worked at Bird Group from about 1972 which is adjacent to the MOD yard at Long Marston. We used to use the sidings there and one of my jobs was checking the trucks we were using with the station master at Long Marston, so I was there fairly regularly. If I recall correctly there were a couple of steam shunters in the Army camp there, but as far as I know they weren't being used.

This may help

Thank you Alwyn

After 1965 Kineton was only accessible via Fenny Compton, so any movements from Long Marston to there by rail would have been circuitous - and certainly not worked by WD/MoD steam locos!  The Stratford - Long Marston section also closed, in 1980.

What, please, was the date of the two documents you posted, Alwyn? 

I'm sorry Richard but the documents ( 2 of 6 )  are undated but i would guess early 1970's.

 In conjunction with rail tour I believe.

Alwyn.

Thank you again Richard

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