‘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
magnet fishing
Hi everyone, yesterday I did some magnet fishing with the grandchildren from the SMJ bridge over the river Tove in Towester, to great excitement of the children (and myself) we pulled out three chair screws and a rivet which looked similar in style…Continue
Started by Steve Camm Sep 1.
One of the best preserved SMJ bridges? 1 Reply
I was at Ettington the other day and apart from the good shed, which has had a lot of money spent on it including full glazing, the station building is still there. But my attention went to the station bridge (No. 73?) which is in very good…Continue
Started by John Evans. Last reply by Andy Thompson Aug 30.
Passenger Trains connected to the SMJ
Following on from the previous discussion about WD passenger trains on the SMJ during the 1940s; it must be said that passenger trains ran on metals connected to the SMJ until the mid 1960s. There was a passenger service from the nearest point to…Continue
Started by Dave Hayward Jun 16.
Wartime passenger trains from Burton Dassett 3 Replies
Arthur Jordan in his book, The Stratford Upon Avon and Midland Junction Railway - The Shakespeare Route at pp 82 mentions a WW2 late night special from Stratford on Avon to Burton Dassett for soldiers at the CAD. I would envisage that this did not…Continue
Started by Dave Hayward. Last reply by Dave Hayward Jun 16.
SMJ photos
An Alphabetical List of SMJ Nicknames
(NB) The names in brackets refer to the person who supplied the info.
Banana Line - referring to Towcester - Ravenswood Junction section (Barry Taylor)
Bread and Herring - referring to Towcester - Ravenswood Junction
section (Robin Cullup / Andrew Smith)
Bread and Scrape - referring to Towcester - Ravenstone Junction section (David
Blagrove)
Crab and Winkle - referring to the Towcester to Cockley Brake Junction section and used by Bletchley MPD staff who worked past Cockley Brake en route from Verney Junction to Banbury. (Dick Bodily)
Dilly Dally - used by Northampton MPD staff (Dick Bodily)
Drum & Monkey - mentioned in a Tom Rolt book (Nigel Furness)
Erratic and Wandering Journey - E and WJR section generally (Gary)
Fig and Orange- mentioned in a Tom Rolt book (Nigel Furness)
Linger and Die - used at Roade ( Nigel Furness)
Nibble - used by Woodford Halse MPD staff to refer to the SMJ generally, and also sometimes to the Woodford West Junction. - Woodford 'North Junction' Curve (Clive
Boardman / Dick Bodily)
Nibble and Clink - referring to the N and B section at Helmdon (Si Donal)
Save Me Jesus - around Blakesley and Towcester (David Guest)
Scratter - referring to Towcester - Ravenswood Junction section (Andrew Smith/ David Blagrove/Nigel Furness)
Slow, Miserable and Jolty - around Towcester (Robert Stephens)
Slow, Miserable and Jolting - around Blakesley (Dick Bodily)
Slow, Moulding and Joulting - around Stratford (Adrian Vaughan / Peter
Lewis)
Slow, Mournful Journey - around Stratford (John Jennings)
Smudge - around Stratford (John Jennings)
Strawberry and Marrow Jam - around Blisworth and Blakesley (Dick Bodily / George Coles)
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Comment by Dick Bodily on February 10, 2012 at 11:37
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This page and books page both updated 10-2-12 Dick Bodily
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