‘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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More building at Towcester 2 Replies

I hear there has been more building at the station site in Towcester.Anyone know what they've dug up?…Continue

Tags: Towcester

Started by Andy Thompson. Last reply by Nigel Nov 7.

Broom History Group Event 9th November 2024

Broom History Group will be holding an event at Broom Village Hall 2-4pm on 9th November 2024 including a film on the railway and Broom Junction.…Continue

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Loco N° 5. 2-4-0T

Hi everybodyI’m building a OO gauge model of Fenny Compton and Clifford Sidings over here in Belgium.Quite a strange idea but so be it…In view of this I plan to transform a RTR Beatie Well Tank into SMJR N° 5 the 2-4-0T and use some etchings for the…Continue

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SMJ photos

Woodford - Byfield passenger closure date

I've seen different sources quoting two dates in May 1948 for the withdrawal of the LNER service between Woodford and Byfield: both were Mondays: 3 and 31 May.

Certainly, 31 May 1948 was the start date for the first timetables under the BR regime and that would be entirely plausible. And on the other hand, 3 May could simply be a typo with the figure 1 (of 31) missing.

Can anyone point me to a definitive source which can resolve the query, please?

Richard Maund

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Permalink Reply by Robin Cullup on December 22, 2015 at 12:35

The Riley/Simpson book "A History of the SMJ etc" gives a date of 31st May 1948 - i.e. "The north curve to Woodford.....did not close to passenger trains until May 31, 1948". I cannot find any reference to this closure in Arthur Jordan's book.

Hope this helps.

Robin Cullup

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Permalink Reply by Richard Maund on December 22, 2015 at 12:52

The late Charles Clinker's 1960 compilation, The Railways of Northamptonshire gives 31 May 1948 as the date. That - taken with the fact that it was the timetable change date - leads me to think it is the correct date. But if anyone comes up with any contrary evidence I would be interested to hear.....

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Permalink Reply by Barry Taylor on December 22, 2015 at 13:50

I have a couple of photos of a 3F 0-6-0 and train at Woodford from the Stephenson Loco Society archives, and they are dated 15th May 1948 - so if these are correct, then the 31st seems to be right.