‘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 23 minutes ago.

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 36 minutes ago.

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

LAST RITES - book from John Evans

Just searched the forum for any mention of this new book but can't find anything, so:

Received today, a delightful book describing the author's exploits at the very end of the steam era.

LAST RITES FROM THE TRACK TO THE SCRAPYARD, by JOHN EVANS, published by Amberley.

Of particular note are the descriptions of walks along the closed route of the SMJ - for anyone who could not do it themselves this must be the next best experience!

As I also have a particular interest in the activities at Cransley Scrapyard and the ironstone quarries of Blisworth and Byfield, I am finding the content of this well-illustrated and well-written book most informative.

As always, and having long admired John's images on photographic hosting sites, it would have been great to see this work published in large colour format, but this would no doubt make it prohibitively expensive.

Congratulations on an excellent book!

Tony

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Permalink Reply by Tony Goff on April 14, 2016 at 20:44

Just read the explanation in the book about cost of colour film and developing compared with pocket money income, hence b/w images prior to 1965 - point taken!!