‘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 Jun 16.
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 Jun 16.
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
LMS Webb 2-4-2T Autotrain near Blisworth on WCML
Taken by Les Hanson this showsb the auto-train on the Up Main at Blisworth. Is it just traversing the main line from the Northampton branch to the SMJ platforms (or vice versa) - or is it coming from Weedon, Daventry or even Leamington Spa?
Comments would oblige.
Robin Cullup
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Comment by Dick Bodily on November 13, 2009 at 16:27
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Robin
I've seen this picture before, its in Derek Mutton's book 'Off Northampton Shed' as well. The train was working from Leamington to Northampton Castle (via Weedon then the WCML to Blisworth, then reversal and on to Castle). It was almost certainly a race special in connection with Warwick Races. Normal services on this service would have consisted of a Webb tank and just one 2 coach auto train. This looks lke Gayton Loop, between Blisworth and Banbury Lane Crossing. I can't think where else there were 4 tracks between Blisworth and Weedon. As a child I recall seeing 46666 of this class on a Blisworth train at Castle station. The 2 pictures of the same or similar train at Towcester were also almost certainly race specials.
Dick
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