‘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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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 on Saturday.

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 on Saturday.

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

Charity Railway trips over unusual track

Colleagues,

Apologies for a 'hefty' post that is not SMJ related but is for charity and surely of interest to any railway enthusiast!

Some of you may remember last year I told you about the opportunity to travel on the SMJ by a Branch Line Society Charity Trip. These are now becoming the vogue for the BLS in partnership with various Train Operating Companies. They normally work by all the BLS fare box and other fundraising activity being donated to the nominated charity. The TOC provide the train free, all the staff are volunteers and Network Rail waive track access charges. I was on one of these last week and it raised £18000 for the Railway Children charity!

I attach an application form for anybody who might be interested in going on the next one from Norwich, you will see there is some very interesting track.

It might be that I could tempt you to join the Branch Line Society, details at http://www.branchline.org.uk/

If you a regular participant of the various trips etc you will soon recoup your £27 per year for

the Electronic copy of the bi weekly magazine. I do know there some other interesting trips, at least one relatively local in the pipeline.

Regards

Dave Hayward