‘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
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 on Tuesday.
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 on Tuesday.
PPhoto Albums 1 Reply
AndyAbout two years ago I ended up with some railway matter from a Bill Kendall who had been a Signalman on SMJ ending his railway career at Northampton No 1. I worked with him when I was working in Rugby PSB, I also covered the signa?l boxes at…Continue
Started by Robin Leslie Patrick. Last reply by Dave Hayward Jun 8.
Broom Junction station site for sale 3 Replies
Great opportunity for an SMJ enthusiast perhaps. I'm not sure what you could actually do with this site though!…Continue
Started by Simon Stevens. Last reply by Simon Stevens May 17.
SMJ photos
Wappenham
Blisworth
Towcester
Wappenham
Helmdon
Banbury
There were two stations on the Towcester/Banbury section, Wappenham was one, over a mile from its village namesake. Wappenham was a simple station with a platform and modest goods facilities. A simple structure, the station building supported two large chimneys, its had no canopy as such just a porch-like out-crop onto the platform. From Wappenham, trains rounded a long curve and faced a long ascent onto Helmdon
Wappenham opened to goods traffic in August 1871 and closed for passengers with the rest of the line in the early 50's.
These shots provide a great 'before and after' combination
Find more photos like this on "The Unofficial SMJ Society" at www.smj.me
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Add a Comment
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Comment by Dick Bodily on June 14, 2014 at 21:44
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A cryptic clue designed to send a radio car to a particular village on Radio Northampton's 'Treasure Quest' today was ' A village with 9 letters; 1871-1951, between T & H'. I was driving at the time so Val phoned in to tell them 'go to Wappenham and that the dates referred to its station opening and closing and the T & H referred to between Towcester and Helmdon stations.' They cut her off the phone after receiving the message, later several others send in similar messages but for some reason they preferred Towcester Tescos, but eventually about half an hour later they decided to go to Wappenham after a whole group of ladies from Tiffield threatened to scream down the phone if they didn't.
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Comment by Jane Harries on April 29, 2009 at 20:55
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Hello Andy - another request - I'd like to use the text you put above the photo, too. I would credit you and give the site URL and name.
Jane
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Dear Andy
Thanks very much for creating this site and for John Cosford for the current photo. I edit the Wappenham Village Newsletter and would like to use the Station photo for our 'Wappenham Then and Now' section, and also put it into our website's collection of old Wappenham photos. If I find any more old photos of the line (or newer ones of the disused line) I will send them in. Nowadays there is a cattle shed where the railway was - not sure if it was the site of the station building in the picture - it's next to the main road to Towcester.
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