‘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"
Did this railway (as opposed to the East & West Junction Railway) go into receivership - if so, when. And when did it come out of receivership?Continue
Started by Richard Maund. Last reply by Richard Maund Feb 11.
Shall we bring this discussion under the proper heading!So far as the OS plan surveyed 1885, published 1886, is concerned: the OS liked - wherever they could - to have text running parallel to the top and bottom borders. When they came to add the…Continue
Started by Richard Maund. Last reply by Richard Maund Feb 10.
Some time ago we ahd an interesting and lively discussion on the mystery station at Tiffield, which added quite a lot to our collective knowledge.I've recently been looking closely at two of the other mystery stations- at North End (sometimes…Continue
Started by Barry Taylor. Last reply by Richard Maund Jan 27.
Page 12 of Arthur Jordan's book features a full page reproduction of the E&WJ public timetable handbill for August 1873. Does anyone know where the original of that handbill is preserved?Incidentally, the timetable itself formed the basis of…Continue
Started by Richard Maund. Last reply by Barry Taylor Jan 25.
A modest beginning was made with the Northampton and Banbury
Junction Railway, authorised in 1863, as a first step. Hopes were
raised two years later with an Act authorising an extension
westwards to Chipping Norton and Blockley, and in the next year,
1866, a further extension was authorised which would have taken the
line to Ross-on-Wye. Like so many proposed schemes of that time,
the financial crisis of that year put an end to such speculative
schemes, leaving the N & BJR on which work had started, high
and dry.
The goods shed and trackbed - 2008
The railway reached neither Northampton nor Banbury over its own
metals but obtained running powers over the L & NWR’s line from
Blisworth to Northampton and from Cockley Brake Junction to Banbury
over the L & NWR’s line from Verney Junction. The first section
opened to Towcester on 1st May 1863. The contractors were Aird
& Son; there was one intermediate station at Tiffield, which
seems to have been a very simple one-platform affair. The extension
to Cockley Brake took another six years to complete because of
financial problems. There were two stations on this section,
Wappenham and Helmdon, both of which were opened to goods traffic
in August 1871. These too had single platforms, but were equipped
with passing loops.
Helmdon even boasted a brick built goods shed . The line was
opened throughout on 1st July 1872. To start with trains were
worked by locomotives bought second hand from the L &NWR, but a
hiring arrangement was made with the latter Company in 1875,
thereby saving the N & BJR the cost of maintaining their own
servicing facilities at Blisworth or Banbury. The track was well
laid with bullhead rail, similar to that of the L & NWR. The
following 3 links come with thanks from Helmdon.com
Cockley Brake
The N&B didn't run to Banbury over it's own 'metals' joining
the L&NWR at a junction known as 'Cocley Brake'. There was one
intermediate station at Farthinghoe.
Cockley Brake signal box from passing train. Casserlly
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