‘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
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 Apr 20.
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 Apr 20.
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
The SMJ Society - 10 years from now!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Andy Thompson on
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Some more thoughts about Binton / Stoke Bruerne - I think both should be considered. Where would the SMJ like to be in 10 years time? A museum and an operating steam heritage line? Why not? I am not so familiar with Stoke Bruerne, but I know Binton and the line there a lot better. There are 4 miles of trackbed between Binton station and what was Stratford Old Town, and as far as I know, most of the trackbed still exists. Stratford Old Town is now a housing estate and ring road, but close to where the SMJ line crossed the GWR line to Cheltenham is the site of the old Stratford racecourse platform. The Gloucester and Warwickshire railway based at Toddington has the aim to reopen the GWR line from Cheltenham racecourse to Stratford racecourse platform - They are presently busy rebuilding Broadway station. The Stratford racecourse location for the SMJ would be an ideal place for a junction / exchange platform for both railways - and an ideal tourist attraction. I would like to revisit the area and see for myself the practicality of all this, but I presently live in the Netherlands, so a day trip is a little out of the question.
David.
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Hi David,
Oddly enough I was thinking today - where do we see our group of like minded people in the future?
What do/did we want and thought that a permanent museum would be a good start. Even a virtual one would be something. A heritage line would also be good but where and that would take some fund raising and organising.?
Years ago as a day dreaming teenager I idly thought of a heritage centre initially in the area between Greens Norton Junction and the A43 but where would be the draw?
Stratford from Binton would be good but there would be little chance of connecting without the construction of a new spur as the the housing estate has been extended alongside the racecourse now and the trackbed from the GWR crossing to the outskirts of Stratford is part of a housing estate and the line forms a footpath through it.
Stoke Bruerne being a private house would be harder to establish I would imagine. It has been mentioned that the A43 covers part of the trackbed but I am sure a deviation could be run alongside. The draw would be at either end but a station at Towcester would have to be established on a different site. Perhaps a brand new site in the former quarry area and called Easton Neston would be better?
What do others think? We all dream the dreams but what do we want and see ourselves?
ATVB
G
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Permalink Reply by Gary on
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David wrote:
"...Where would the SMJ like to be in 10 years time? A museum and an operating steam heritage line? Why not? I am not so familiar with Stoke Bruerne, but I know Binton and the line there a lot better. There are 4 miles of trackbed between Binton station and what was Stratford Old Town, and as far as I know, most of the trackbed still exists. Stratford Old Town is now a housing estate and ring road, but close to where the SMJ line crossed the GWR line to Cheltenham is the site of the old Stratford racecourse platform. The Gloucester and Warwickshire railway based at Toddington has the aim to reopen the GWR line from Cheltenham racecourse to Stratford racecourse platform - They are presently busy rebuilding Broadway station. The Stratford racecourse location for the SMJ would be an ideal place for a junction / exchange platform for both railways - and an ideal tourist attraction...."
Gary wrote:
"Oddly enough I was thinking today - where do we see our group of like minded people in the future?
What do/did we want and thought that a permanent museum would be a good start. Even a virtual one would be something. A heritage line would also be good but where and that would take some fund raising and organising.?
Years ago as a day dreaming teenager I idly thought of a heritage centre initially in the area between Greens Norton Junction and the A43 but where would be the draw?
Stratford from Binton would be good but there would be little chance of connecting without the construction of a new spur as the the housing estate has been extended alongside the racecourse now and the trackbed from the GWR crossing to the outskirts of Stratford is part of a housing estate and the line forms a footpath through it.
Stoke Bruerne being a private house would be harder to establish I would imagine. It has been mentioned that the A43 covers part of the trackbed but I am sure a deviation could be run alongside. The draw would be at either end but a station at Towcester would have to be established on a different site. Perhaps a brand new site in the former quarry area and called Easton Neston would be better?
What do others think? We all dream the dreams but what do we want and see ourselves?..."
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Some more thoughts about Binton / Stoke Bruerne - I think both should be considered. Where would the SMJ like to be in 10 years time? A museum and an operating steam heritage line? Why not? I am not so familiar with Stoke Bruerne, but I know Binton and the line there a lot better. There are 4 miles of trackbed between Binton station and what was Stratford Old Town, and as far as I know, most of the trackbed still exists. Stratford Old Town is now a housing estate and ring road, but close to where the SMJ line crossed the GWR line to Cheltenham is the site of the old Stratford racecourse platform. The Gloucester and Warwickshire railway based at Toddington has the aim to reopen the GWR line from Cheltenham racecourse to Stratford racecourse platform - They are presently busy rebuilding Broadway station. The Stratford racecourse location for the SMJ would be an ideal place for a junction / exchange platform for both railways - and an ideal tourist attraction. I would like to revisit the area and see for myself the practicality of all this, but I presently live in the Netherlands, so a day trip is a little out of the question.
David.