NEW BOOK ON THE SMJ - AVAILABLE SHORTLY

[Barry Taylor]

Hi all

I'm pleased to announce that the first volume of my history of the SMJ should be available in the near future - details are as follows:

The Stratford-upon-Avon & Midland Junction Railway Volume One: The years before the S&MJR 1866-1909: The Constituent Companies
Barry Taylor
208 pages. 275x215mm. Printed on gloss art paper with colour laminated board covers

A comprehensive history of the Northampton & Banbury Junction Railway, The East & West Junction Railway, The Evesham Redditch & Stratford Junction Railway, and the Stratford upon Avon Towcester & Midland Junction Railway – up to the formation of the Stratford upon Avon & Midland Junction railway in 1909.

Volume 2 will continue the story through the S&MJR, LMSR, and BR periods through to closure and to the present day.

Black Dwarf Lightmoor Publications - ISBN13 9781911038252 – Price £25.00 + p&p

For more details see the new publications page at: lightmoor.co.uk

The book should be available from Lightmoor as from 14th August, and will be on sale at the O Gauge Guild show at Telford on 1st/2nd September if anyone is going up there.

No date yet for Volume 2 but should be during 2018.

[Barry Taylor]

Thank you Dick - that's a great review!

It will be interesting to see what the various magazine reviews are like, but for me the most important are the ones from those that "know" the SMJ like yourself and others on this website

Thanks again - on to Vol 2!

[John Evans]

I just bought this book at the bookshop in Grosmont. Very interesting and I never knew of the triangle station plan at Ravenstone Wood, or some of the other proposals. A great addition to SMJ literature, nicely produced and not unreasonably priced.

[Simon Dunkley]

Volume 2 is out now!

[Barry Taylor]

Not quite folks! The book was finalised in mid-October and my latest information from the publisher is that Vol 2 is due into their warehouse at Lydney by 22nd November. This will hopefully be just in time to ensure that it is available for sale at the NEC Warley model railway show that weekend. I will post a cover illustration and full details up in the near future.

[Simon Dunkley]

Ah.

Well, it is available to order.

[Barry Taylor]

Yep - noticed that Lightmoor now have it on their website, so they seem confident about the arrival date!

This time it is a much bigger book - 328 pages, with a 56 page colour section. Covers everything from the start of the SMJR in 1909 through to the present day, plus a trip down the line station by station and a section on tickets.

Plenty of black and white images too - and hopefully many not seen before

 

[Simon Dunkley]

Volume 2 is in the post to me, according to an email from the publishers!

[John Evans]

This is a very good news. as the first volume was really excellent. By the way, has anyone seen that The Trains Now Departed by Michael Williams has a nicely written chapter about the SMJ? There's nothing really new here, but I borrowed  a copy from by local public library and it is an entertaining read. You so seldom see anything about the SMJ in general railway books that this is an interesting (and big selling) addition.

[Barry Taylor]

Pleased to say that Vol 2 made its debut at the NEC Warley show on Saturday - and seems to have been very well received with plenty of sales so far.

Particular thanks to John Evans for his shots which enabled us to cover pretty much all of the line in colour - there is also plenty of other colour from Tommy Tomalin and Dick Riley - all adding up to a 56 page section which I never thought would be possible at the outset.

Hopefully also some black and whites that have not been seen (too much!) before - Lightmoor have done a wonderful job of putting it all together.

Hope that you all enjoy it!

[Mark Reader]

At the Warley exhibition I eagerly hit the Lightmoor stand first thing on Saturday to check progress and, to my delight, discovered that volume 2 had arived in time for the show. I was just handing over my cash when Barry appeared beside me for his first glimpse of the finished product. It was great to finally meet you Barry, and to be able to congratulate you on the completion of such a significant project.

For those interested in purchasing volume 2, it is significatly larger than volume 1 with over 320 pages packed with photos, diagrams and excellent narrative. As I've only had my copy a few days I've only had time to 'dip in'. However, from what I've read so far, it certainly doesn't disappoint and, because we are all used to seeing the SMJ in black and white, the real icing on the cake is the inclusion of 50 pages of fabulous colour photos. Its an excellent publication and an absolute 'must have' for all SMJ enthusiasts.

What an achievement Barry. Very well done indeed!

[Dick Bodily]

Barry is to be congratulated on completing his epic definitive work on the SMJ with the superb Volume 2. It will now with Volume 1 become the authoritative 500+ page work on the history of the line. Excellent!

[John Evans]

I agree with everything that has been said. A wonderful, scholarly yet very readable pair of volumes that will fill the yawning gap between the smaller volumes by various authors that have appeared in the past and the need for much more detail and a definitive collection of photographs. I can only congratulate Barry and thank him for his diligence in producing a work that will give future generations a picture of this delightful, oddball railway and its enchanting history.