‘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
I've recently added a new page with a quite extensive and rather illuminating interview with Bob Salmons, an ex SMJ signalman. There's a lot about the SMJ during WW2 for instance, plus some completely new info about the Blakesley Hall Miniature Railway which I've forwarded to Bob Tebb, but unfortunately too late for his book. Bob Salmons' page can be reached from the *Pages Menu*. I'm hoping to add other SMJ men's memories if possible and am hoping to interview a fireman soon. There's also Clive Boardman's ( Woodford fireman) experiences in these pages. There are also on the main site Brian Dunn's entertaining recording of Lenny Haynes (relief signalman) and Andy series of recordings of his interview of Eric Pickles ( porter, shunter and guard).
Does any one know any other retired SMJ men who might be interested in sharing their memories? There's a facility to add recordings over the phone. I've got a bit of time on my hands nowadays and am always willing to go and interview any ex SMJ men in the Northampton/ Bedford area aor over the phone, then type up their memories as a new page.