‘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"
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
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.
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.
Comment by adrian vaughan on September 17, 2009 at 17:22
Dick - you are 24 carat gold. Thank you very much for the info.
Adrian.
Comment by Dick Bodily on September 17, 2009 at 14:32
Comment by Dick just now CORRECTING PREVIOUS COMMENT
Adrian
I was completely wrong about it being Coronation Day. This and the Towcester picture were in fact of the last N&BJR train on Saturday 30th June 1951. It was much photographed with a Union Jack on the 4Fs tender (No 44204) but Jenkin's book states that the single carriage (M20264) carried a Royal Standard. Many apologies for leading everyone up the garden path with this by not carefully checking my sources. These are the only pictures I have seen of the carriage with the Royal Standard. Incidentally this is the other end of the coach from the Towcester picture so either there were two flags or more likely it was moved to the other end of the coach.
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