‘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

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.

North End and Warwick Road stations? 57 Replies

Some time ago we ahd an interesting and lively discussion on the mystery station at Tiffield, which added quite a lot to our collective knowledge.I've recently been looking closely at two of the other mystery stations- at North End (sometimes…Continue

Started by Barry Taylor. Last reply by Richard Maund Jan 27.

1873 timetable 4 Replies

Page 12 of Arthur Jordan's book features a full page reproduction of the E&WJ public timetable handbill for August 1873. Does anyone know where the original of that handbill is preserved?Incidentally, the timetable itself formed the basis of…Continue

Started by Richard Maund. Last reply by Barry Taylor Jan 25.

SMJ photos

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BR Standard Class 9F No 92213 at Broom West Signal Box

BR Standard Class 9F 2-10-0 No 92213 approaches Broom West Signal Box with a westbound freight service.

Photographer TE Williams

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Comment by mike musson on May 10, 2017 at 9:07

British Railways Standard Class 9F 2-10-0 No 92213 approaches Broom West Signal Box with a westbound freight service. The fireman would be standing on the other side of the cab ready to lean out to collect the staff before proceeding on to Evesham. Built by Swindon works in October 1959, No 92213 was allocated to 84C Banbury shed in November 1959 and was to remain in service with British Railways allocated to Banbury until November 1966 when it was withdrawn to be scrapped after being transferred to 12A Kingmoor shed in Carlisle by J McWilliams of Shettleston.

Comment by mike musson on May 10, 2017 at 9:01

Broom West Signal Box was built to a wartime Air Raid Precaution (ARP) specification which were designed to prevent blast damage rather than a direct hit from a bomb. The London, Midland & Scottish Railway ARP design for instance was design to resist a direct hit from a mere 1kg. incendiary bomb. The ARP signal boxes were generally built with 13½ inch thick brick walls (the equivalent of one and half bricks thick) topped by a reinforced concrete roof with concrete floors and lintels. The use of brick and concrete to keep the amount of timber to a bare minimum, not only minimised the possibility of fire damage, but also to reduce the need for skilled labour to erect them. The London, Midland & Scottish Railway ARP signal box design was fitted with an 'Evanstone roof' designed and manufactured by Messrs Evanstone of Riddings. It was made of a pre-cast reinforced concrete roof 13 inches thick at the front and rear with a fall to the centre for draining rainwater, waterproofing being provided by bitumen, two layers of felt, asbestos, and chippings. Pre-cast concrete 'Evanstone beams' were used for the operating room floor, and unlike the other companies who tended to fit wooden staircases, in most cases a pre-cast concrete staircase was provided. Most of those built were fitted with metal window frames with concrete cills, lintels, and mullions. Of the 'Big Four', the London, Midland & Scottish Railway was the one company that seemed most of all to adhere to the original design, but even they built some non standard ARP design signal boxes. The LMS built approximately fifty ARP signal boxes between 1939 and 1950. Their robust construction meant that when no longer required they were often left standing as a shell, with only their equipment being removed. Courtesy David Ingham of www.pillbox-study-group.org.uk

This photograph is available in colour in 'The Lost Colour Collection Volume 1' ISBN 978-1-911262-04-6 Irwell Press Limited.

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