‘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'

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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

Does this show the Scratter at Roade?

A very short clip of a cricket match at Roade. A goods train passes. Could it be on the SMJR?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnPSvt-NEeI

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Permalink Reply by David Littlewood-Tysoe on January 12, 2022 at 15:28

Doesn’t look like the WCML so reckon it must be the SMJ. Feel I ought to know where Roade used to play cricket, but memory is too hazy to recall right now. Anyway that delivery from left of shot was definitely a ‘no ball’ by either the front or rear foot rule - delivery didn’t really start until half-way down the wicket ! I must have watched far too many village games in those days ...

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Permalink Reply by Richard Maund on January 12, 2022 at 17:59

Definitely not the WCML!!

Looks like the 'bridge' under the line is where brook and footpath cross the line, between the two road overbridges in the top left hand corner of the OS plan at https://maps.nls.uk/view/114480620

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Permalink Reply by Dick Bodily on January 12, 2022 at 20:02

I wonder if Pianoforte Supplies had a cricket pitch near their works and if that was so was that the location of the match. If so it could have been either line as the LNWR main line would not have been in the deep cutting that far south. The factory was just east of the main line south of the bridge carrying the main road through the village.