‘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"
Hi everyone, yesterday I did some magnet fishing with the grandchildren from the SMJ bridge over the river Tove in Towester, to great excitement of the children (and myself) we pulled out three chair screws and a rivet which looked similar in style…Continue
I was at Ettington the other day and apart from the good shed, which has had a lot of money spent on it including full glazing, the station building is still there. But my attention went to the station bridge (No. 73?) which is in very good…Continue
Started by John Evans. Last reply by Andy Thompson on Sunday.
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.
44317 from Bedford shed on an SMJ freight - the first part of the train look like either iron ore or coal wagons. The track is interesting (see also next pic)as it has been newly ballasted - which bit of the SMJ was reballasted around the late 1950's?
Comment by Barry Taylor on March 26, 2013 at 12:34
Seems as though this is Chadshunt between Burton Dassett and Kineton (see Alwyn's reply on the other photo) looking east, into the morning sun, which accounts for the 'thin' nature of the exposure.The train could therefore well be the departure around 7.10am, from Olney, which started earlier at Bedford, and got to Burton Dassett at around 9.45am - and this also fits with 44317's allocation. Another one solved - thanks Alwyn!
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