‘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"
.
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
Byfield
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.
Byfield was the SMJ's connection station with Great Central
Railway. It also served the Ironstone quarries nearby. For more
about the Byfiled Ironstone Quarries, Click here.
Today the station and goods sidings area has been largely filled
in and the eastern end of the site is now a cemetary. The SMJ
road
bridge has been replaced by a banking. A 'pocket park' leads to
the
Byfield Playing Field where an interpretive noticeboard
explains
that the pocket park was once the SMJR route. The western
extreme
end of the down platform is still visible as is the ruined base
of
the water tower that stood there. Nearer to the cemetery is what
is
probably the remins of the cattle pens.
Click here for more Byfield photos
Find more
photos like this on "The Unofficial SMJ Society" at
www.smj.me
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Comment by Si Donal on January 10, 2010 at 21:01
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