loaned

Those of us who are old enough to remember the SMJR lines in steam
days might be tempted to say that you only ever saw 4Fs or 8Fs,especially east of Woodford. By the ‘60s these would have almost exclusively have been Northampton locos. But there WAS variety.

I have compiled this list with reference to the contents of this website, to the standard works of literature on the line, plus books about Northamptonshire’s railways or about the GCR and to my own and other people’s observations. I do not claim it to be 100% accurate or complete so I welcome your comments, criticisms and additions. I have defined the SMJR as extending from Blisworth SMJR station to Broom Junction, from Towcester to Cockley Brake Junction and from Towcester to Ravenstone Wood Junction. Locomotives known to have worked through Broom Junction are not necessarily included as they may have been working to and from Redditch and not along the SMJR. I have also included recent workings between Fenny Compton and the MoD depot at Kineton.

Most of the GWR engines seen only ran between Stratford and Woodford on freights in the 60’s, but the 2251 class (which did not have the clearance issues of the outside cylindered classes) did make it to Blisworth and even Northampton on a few occasions. Many of the more unexpected appearances by LNER or BR types occurred on Woodford to Byfield ironstone sidings trip workings. There must be other unrecorded classes that Woodford shed used on such workings (or on through workings to Stratford especially in GCR days). Similarly there must be other unrecorded GWR classes that were used between Woodford and Stratford in the ‘60s. Surely other LMS classes must have appeared at Blisworth’s SMJ platform or on race day specials to Towcester.

Apart from the modern day workings to Kineton, diesel workings have been very rare but I did see a Class 08 diesel shunter pass Blakesley on freight during the ‘60s.

Special thanks to Gary, Si Donal, Peter Fleming, Barry Taylor and the late John Jennings, who between them have contributed a lot of this information. Also last but not least I must thank Rex Partridge for the use of his extensive records of workings around Woodford West and Byfield and for patiently answering various questions in detail.

Dick Bodily March 2012 ( last updated 24/2/2020)

N&BR The Owl probably ex L&B railway 0-4-2

N&BR Sharp 2-2-2

N&BR Tayleur 0-6-0 ( formerly Ajax)

N&BR Sharp 0-4-2T

N&BR 0-6-0 (believed formerly belonging to a French railway, named 'La Savoie' rebuilt as 0-6-0ST) 

N&BR 2-4-0 ( believed formerly belonging to a French railway, named 'Ceres')

N&BR Sharp 2-2-2WT

E&WJR (loaned from Boultons) Beyer Peacock built or rebuilt? 0-6-0ST ('Wellington' & 'Nelson' - converted from 0-6-0s)

E&WJR Yorkshire Fairlie 0-6-6-0T

E&WJR Fairlie 0-4-4T

E&WJR Yorkshire Engineering 2-4-0T

E&WJR Manning Wardle 0-6-0ST

E&WJR Beyer Peacock 0-6-0 (detailed differences on individual locos including wheel size and cylinder dimensions, along with other SMJ owned types were grouped into 4 power based classes A,B,C &D)

E&WJR Beyer Peacock 2-4-0T (one of the first British side tank locos)

E&WJR Beyer Peacock 2-4-0 (used on SMJ system for Marylebone - Stratford through coaches)

E&WJR (loaned from Boultons) George England (ex S&DJR) 2-4-0

LNWR Hawthorn Goods

LNWR Vulcan Double Framed 0-6-0 (used on N&BJR)

LNWR Hawthorn Long Boiler 0-6-0 (used by N&BJR)

LNWR DX Goods 0-6-0 (3 were bought by E&WJR)

LNWR Cauliflower Goods 0-6-0

LNWR McConnell 0-6-0

LNWR Jumbo 2-4-0 (Blisworth – Stratford ‘expresses’)

LNWR Super D 0-8-0 (one seen on Byfield - Blisworth ironstone train in 1960, they were more regularly seen earlier when 2E still had an allocation)

LNWR Webb 2-4-2T (Towcester Races excursions with double auto train)

LBSCR Goods 0-6-0 (bought by SMJR)

LBSCR Terrier 0-6-0T (on loan from Edge Hill Light Railway)

LSWR A12 Adams 0-4-2 (used on wartime Kineton Depot - Fenny Compton troop trains)

SER Wainwright 01 0-6-0 (to and from WW2 allocation at Kineton) 

EHLR Manning Wardle 0-4-0ST (on loan from Edge Hill Light Railway)

MR Midland 0-4-4T ( replaced Ro Railer)

MR Midland Compound (on railtour)

MR 4-2-2 Spinner (on inspection train in 1920s)

MR 1P 2-4-0 (Stratford Old Town only)

MR 2P 4-4-0 (on inspection trains)

MR 2F 0-6-0  (regular on passenger freight pre WW2)

MR 3F 0-6-0 (regular on passenger & freight up to close of 21D)

MR 4F 0-6-0 (regular on passenger & freight)

L&YR Class 27 0-6-0 (transferred briefly to 2E)

LMS 2P 4-4-0 (on inspection trains)

LMS 3F 0-6-0 (regular on passenger & freight up to close of 21D)

LMS 4F 0-6-0 (usual choice for most workings from LMS days on)

LMS 2MT 2-6-0 (at least one record)

LMS 2MT Tank 2-6-2T (shunting at Blisworth SMJ only)

LMS 4MT 2-6-0 (replaced 4Fs at 2E and used in last few months of the line)

LMS Black 5 4-6-0 ( 2Es locos became more regular in the last few months)

LMS Stanier 2-6-0 (seen at Towcester)

LMS Crab 2-6-0 (seen at Byfield)

LMS Stanier 2-6-4T (Woodford –Byfield pick up goods)

LMS Fairburn 2-6-4T (Woodford –Byfield pick up goods)

LMS Fowler 2-6-4T (Woodford –Byfield pick up goods)

LMS Jubilee 4-6-0 (seen at Towcester), another seen near Fenny Compton on a down vans train in 1964

LMS Patriot 4-6-0 (Blisworth SMJR station only on cattle train)

LMS Jinty 0-6-0T (seen shunting redundant ECS at Towcester also at Kineton Camp in WW2)

LMS 8F 2-8-0 (mainly as usual choice of loco on Byfield-Blisworth ironstone trains)

LMS Ro-Railer

LMS Armstrong Whitworth Diesel Electric Shunter ( to and fro allocation at Kineton by MoD during WW2)

GCR Compound Atlantic 'Jersey Lily' 4-4-2 (on excursions to Stratford from the GCR, the 52' turntable there was installed especially for this class and its sister standard 'Jersey Lilies' but only the compound No 258 'Viscount Cross' was recorded as reaching Stratford although the standard version probably did as well.)

GCR N5 0-6-2T (Woodford – SMJ passenger)

GCR Sacre 2-4-0T (Woodford – SMJ passenger)

GCR O4 2-8-0 (Woodford –Byfield pick up goods)

GCR J11 Pom Pom 0-6-0 (Woodford –Byfield pick up goods)

GER J69 0-6-0T (Woodford –Byfield pick up goods)

GER F4 Holden 2-4-2T ( to and from allocation at Kineton by MoD during WW2)

GER B12/3 4-6-0 (on railtour)

NER B16 4-6-0 (no less than 4 records!)

LNER B1 4-6-0 (one seen at Towcester and also freight to Woodford from Stratford))

LNER K1 2-6-0 (Woodford –Byfield pick up goods)

LNER K3 2-6-0 (one worked to Blisworth and return on freight)

LNER J39 0-6-0 (Woodford –Byfield pick up goods)

LNER J50 0-6-0T (Woodford –Byfield pick up goods)

LNER LI 2-6-4T (Woodford route learning trains and also Woodford – Byfield pick up goods)

LNER 01 2-8-0 (Woodford –Byfield pick up goods)

GWR 22xx 0-6-0 (a few records on pickup freights from Stratford – Blisworth, also on Kineton MoD trains)

GWR Deans Goods 0-6-0 ( to and from allocation at Kineton by MoD during WW2)

GWR 51xx 2-6-2T (brakevan route learning special?)

GWR 61xx 2-6-2T (on railtour)

GWR 81xx 2-6-2T (freight to Woodford from Stratford)

GWR 63xx 2-6-0 (freight to Woodford from Stratford)

GWR 28xx 2-8-0 (freight to Woodford from Stratford)

GWR 56XX 0-6-2T (seen at Fenny Compton SMJ platform only)

GWR 64xx 0-6-0T (Stratford Old Town only on last railtour, but also on an inspection train in 1952)

GWR 72xx 2-8-0T (freight to Woodford from Stratford)

GWR 94XX 0-6-0PT (breakdown train at Stratford Old Town only)

GWR Dukedog 4-4-0 (on railtour)

GWR Hall 4-6-0 (freight to Woodford from Stratford)

GWR Modified Hall 4-6-0 (freight to Woodford from Stratford)

GWR Grange 4-6-0 (freight to Woodford from Stratford)

GWR Castle 4-6-0 (freight to Woodford from Stratford)

GWR King 4-6-0 (repaired and tested in steam Kineton MOD – Fenny Compton)

GWR County 4-6-0 (Stratford Old Town only)

GWR Manor 4-6-0 (Stratford Old Town only)

GWR Diesel Railcar (on excursion)

SR U 2-6-0 (on railtour)

SR Q1 0-6-0 (on railtour)

SR N15 or S15 4-6-0 (running west light engine at Byfield during WW2) 

BR WD 2-8-0 (Woodford - Broom or Stratford through freights)

BR 5MT 4-6-0 (Woodford - Broom or Stratford through freights)

BR 4MT 4-6-0 (Woodford - Broom or Stratford through freights, plus one seen at Towcester)

BR 4MT 2-6-0 (Woodford –Byfield pick up goods)

BR 3MT 2-6-2T (inspection train)

BR Derby Western Region DMU (on railtour)

BR 9F (including Giesl, SC and DC variants)

BR 9F Crosti (one seen on Olney-Towcester section, another towed through Blakesley)

BR Class 08 diesel shunter (on down freight at Blakesley also shunting iron wagons at Blisworth)

BR Class 20 (stored at Kineton MOD)

BR Class 25 (Blisworth - Blisworth Ironstone sidings, also Fenny Compton - Kineton MOD including weed control train)

BR Class 27 (Blisworth - Blisworth iron ore sidings, a pair)

BR Class 31 (Fenny Compton - Kineton MOD, also stored at Kineton MOD)

BR Class 33 (railtour visited Kineton MOD)

BR Class 37 (Fenny Compton for Kineton MOD)

BR Class 40 (Fenny Compton for Kineton MOD)

BR Class 44 (seen at Blisworth SMJ station, worked to the iron ore sidings)

BR Clas 45 (Fenny Compton - Kineton MOD)

BR Class 47 (Fenny Compton - Kineton MOD)

BR Class 55 Deltic ('Tulyar' towed to and from Kineton MOD for a private ‘open day’)

BR Class 58 (Fenny Compton - Kineton MOD)

BR Class 60 (Fenny Compton - Kineton MOD)

BR Class 66 (Fenny Compton – Kineton MOD)

BR Class 92 (towed to and from Kineton MOD, stored there)

BR Class 323 EMU (towed to and from Kineton MOD where temporarily stored)

BR Class 458 EMU (towed to and from Kineton MOD where temporarily stored)WD Diesel –hydraulic 0-4-0 (Fenny Compton – Kineton MOD)

WD USA S160 2-8-0 wartime loan (Woodford –Byfield pick up goods)

WD USA 0-6-0T ( to and from allocation at Kineton by MoD during WW2)

WD Austerity 0-6-0T (towed to and from Kineton MOD)

LT Unidentified Underground stock (towed through Byfield pre-WW2)

Contractors locos:-

Included among others unknown: Hunslet 0-6-0ST and Sharp Roberts & Co 2-2-2 (building the N&BR); Manning & Wardle 0-6-0ST and Neilson 0-4-0ST (building the E&WR) and Black Hawthorn 0-6-0ST and Manning Wardle 0-4-0ST (on the Towcester to Olney section)

Confirmation Required

GCR Steam Railcar (used between Woodford and Byfield for a short time around 1909?)

GCR Atlantic 4-4-2 (did the non compound version ever run on the SMJ?)

LNER V2 2-6-2 (believed to be have been seen at Blisworth)

Prototype HST Power Cars (stored at Kineton, believed to have arrived by rail)

LMS 12000 series Diesel Shunter ( pretty sure I saw one on a pick up freight early 60s)

This actual engine GCR 'Jersey Lily' Compound Atlantic 4-4-2 No 258 Rt Hon. Viscount Cross, GCB.GCSI ran through to Stratford from
Woodford on a special.