‘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
Passenger Trains connected to the SMJ
Following on from the previous discussion about WD passenger trains on the SMJ during the 1940s; it must be said that passenger trains ran on metals connected to the SMJ until the mid 1960s. There was a passenger service from the nearest point to…Continue
Started by Dave Hayward Jun 16.
Wartime passenger trains from Burton Dassett 3 Replies
Arthur Jordan in his book, The Stratford Upon Avon and Midland Junction Railway - The Shakespeare Route at pp 82 mentions a WW2 late night special from Stratford on Avon to Burton Dassett for soldiers at the CAD. I would envisage that this did not…Continue
Started by Dave Hayward. Last reply by Dave Hayward Jun 16.
PPhoto Albums 1 Reply
AndyAbout two years ago I ended up with some railway matter from a Bill Kendall who had been a Signalman on SMJ ending his railway career at Northampton No 1. I worked with him when I was working in Rugby PSB, I also covered the signa?l boxes at…Continue
Started by Robin Leslie Patrick. Last reply by Dave Hayward Jun 8.
Broom Junction station site for sale 3 Replies
Great opportunity for an SMJ enthusiast perhaps. I'm not sure what you could actually do with this site though!…Continue
Started by Simon Stevens. Last reply by Simon Stevens May 17.
SMJ photos
Farthinghoe
The Northampton + Banbury Junction Railway, Towcester to Cockley Brake section had two stations, Wappenham and Helmdon, both of which were opened to goods traffic in August of 1871. On completion and ironically, the N&B.J.R. reached neither Northampton at one end nor Banbury at the other under it's own powers.
Passenger numbers on the former N+BJR, former SMJ fell and talk of closures filled the air. July 1951 saw the withdrawal of the Blisworth and Banbury passenger service. The Buckingham and Banbury line was wound down from 1961. Passenger trains between Buckingham and Verney Junction hung on until September 1964 and freight until June 1966.
Although a station on the original Northampton + Banbury Junction Railway there is a big gap in my knowledge, anyone with some more info please feel free to add it
Click here for a little more info
Andy.
Views: 58
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Si Donal on
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Does anyone know if N&B/SMJ trains stopped here. on their way to/from Banbury during the independant years?
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Permalink Reply by Dick Bodily on
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Si
Have a look at LNWR Timetable 1908 in the 'Documents' album of the 'Photos' section. It looks as if they did then. In the very early days (1888 timetable) the up trains could only pick up passengers and the down ones set them down, presumably this was so that people wishing to travel between Banbury and Farthinghoe or vice versa had to use the LNWR's own Banbury - Bletchley line trains, by 1894 there seems to have been no such restriction. Details from timetables on pages 37 - 8 of 'The Northampton & Banbury Railway' by Stanley C Jenkins
Dick
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