‘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"
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
Not sure if others are aware of the significant amount of documents held by the National Archives on the SMJ. The collection consists mainly of Directors Minutes etc. There is also a collection of early 20th C timetables, handbills etc. which I have…Continue
HiI'm selling my collection of SMJR related 00 gauge modelsIf of interest for any of you please contact me by mail atjfreuville@gmail.comand I will send you the list and photosKind regardsJackContinue
There is a local act for the above railway to be abandoned, dated 24th August 1893. Presumably this must have connected with the N & B Railway at some point, does anybody have any info ?
There were quite a number of proposals over the years involving lines from the Buckingham area to connect with both the NBJR and the EWJR.
This one looks like an abandonment of the 1888 Act 52&53 Vict c.cci (1889) which consisted of five sections of railway:
1) From the Aylesbury & Buckingham Ry to Radclive
2) from an end on junction with line (1) to Towcester
3) from a junction with line (1) to a junction with the LNWR Banbury line at Radclive
4) from a junction with line (2) in Towcester to a junction with the authorised Stratford upon Avon Towcester & Midland Junction Ry at Easton Neston
5) from a junction with line (2) terminating at the NBJR in Towcester
The references to "Towcester" etc refer to parishes, so without the benefit of a map this is all a bit difficult to plot exactly, but it gives an idea of where the lines would have run
Best thing would be to go to Northampton Record Office at Wootton Hall where the Parliamentary Deposited Plans are kept - this one is listed as their ref. no. 199 - it should have a full map/plan with it and will reveal all !