‘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"
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
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
Does anyone know where the "mailbag catching apparatus" was installed, before WWII, near Blisworth Station to serve the up and down expresses? I have accumulated conflicting opinions and can only rule out the station itself with reference to a 200:1 scale pre-war map that we possess at Blisworth. I am left with (a) near the canal bridge, (b) near the road arch and (c) just about halfway between the two. Regards Tony Marsh
Tony
The mail catching apparatus at Blisworth, scaled from a section of linen backed map in my possession is:
Measured to the North from the centre of the A43 bridge. Down line 324 yds. Up line 330 yds. The postmens huts are shown preceding the apparatus by approx 6 yds in each direction. Should you wish to view the drawing/map and scale it yourself, you may.
Dave Chambers
Tony The mail catching apparatus at Blisworth, scaled from a section of linen backed map in my possession is:
Measured to the North from the centre of the A43 bridge. Down line 324 yds. Up line 330 yds. The postmens huts are shown preceding the apparatus by approx 6 yds in each direction. Should you wish to view the drawing/map and scale it yourself, you may.
Thank you David - I would like a photo of the track, map markings and huts area. Quite happy to journey to you to do this given you are not to far from Blisworth where I live. I have a weather-permitting break starting Thursday so either could do this very soon or early in new year - what do you think? My phone is 01604 879199. Regards Tony