‘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
Binton Station
As I was in the vicinity this week I visited my old stamping ground of over sixty years ago, the former SMJ station at Binton. The former goods shed has been demolished, 24 upmarket dwellings have been constructed in the old yard and the former…Continue
Started by Paul Stratford Apr 23.
Would the GCR have gone via Towcester? 14 Replies
Looking through Mac Hawkins book on the GCR then and now, he mentions that the GCR were thinking of running a line connecting Brackley to Northampton and had provisionally made a mound ready for a platform to be later constructed but they dropped…Continue
Started by Gary. Last reply by Andrew Emmerson Apr 18.
EWJR Portland Cement Wagon 13 Replies
Hello All,I found this item on ebay, although it's a model, what I'd like to know is, was it actually based on the real thing? As you can see it has the initials EWJR and return empty to Ettington, which all fits in with the real world.It was listed…Continue
Started by Jim Goodman. Last reply by Jim Goodman Apr 18.
MORTON PINKNEY LEVEL CROSSING 14 Replies
There was a public level crossing between Blakesley and Morton Pinkney, complete with a gatehouse.Does anyone know how this was operated?Presumably the gates must have been manual and kept closed against road traffic.Early Working Timetables mention…Continue
Started by Barry Taylor. Last reply by Andrew Emmerson Apr 17.
SMJ photos
Binton
The East & West Junction railway (E&W) proposed a new line from a junction with the Northampton & Banbury Junction Railway at Greens Norton to Stratford Upon Avon. In 1864 Lady Palmerson came and cut the first sod. The E&W became a part of the SMJ in January 1st, 1909.
I was born and bred in Binton, consequently my first interest in railways was the SMJ and then the GWR at Stratford. At the age of eight I would cycle down to either Binton Bridges or the farm overbridge immediately to the west of Binton station to watch the freight trains pass by. Those going west were often as I recall loaded iron ore trains heading for South Wales, returning as loaded coal trains, usually hauled by either Austerity 2-8-0's or BR Standard 9F's. If only I had a camera in those days as these trains would have volcanic exhausts as they worked upgrade through the station heading towards Broom. The station had long since closed but was occupied by dredging contractors Bomford & Carr, parked in the yard wre a number of Fowler ploughing engines converted from steam power to diesel either with the power unit mounted on top of the boiler or in the tender. Some of these ploughing engines still exist, stored in the open near Bidford on Avon. The station site is now a LPG storage depot, I did however recently have a stroke of good luck and was able to purchase one of the Binton station signs, an aluminium hawkeye pattern.
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