‘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
Evesham Redditch & Stratford-upon-Avon Junction Railway 8 Replies
Did this railway (as opposed to the East & West Junction Railway) go into receivership - if so, when. And when did it come out of receivership?Continue
Started by Richard Maund. Last reply by Richard Maund Feb 11.
Bidford-on-Avon 5 Replies
Shall we bring this discussion under the proper heading!So far as the OS plan surveyed 1885, published 1886, is concerned: the OS liked - wherever they could - to have text running parallel to the top and bottom borders. When they came to add the…Continue
Started by Richard Maund. Last reply by Richard Maund Feb 10.
North End and Warwick Road stations? 57 Replies
Some time ago we ahd an interesting and lively discussion on the mystery station at Tiffield, which added quite a lot to our collective knowledge.I've recently been looking closely at two of the other mystery stations- at North End (sometimes…Continue
Started by Barry Taylor. Last reply by Richard Maund Jan 27.
1873 timetable 4 Replies
Page 12 of Arthur Jordan's book features a full page reproduction of the E&WJ public timetable handbill for August 1873. Does anyone know where the original of that handbill is preserved?Incidentally, the timetable itself formed the basis of…Continue
Started by Richard Maund. Last reply by Barry Taylor Jan 25.
SMJ photos
65.5.10A October 1965 Blisworth station
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Comment by Gary on August 24, 2009 at 8:12
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Gents,
I don't suppose there was some remodelling happening at Northampton at the time thus displacing the activities from there to here?
Just a tought
G
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Comment by Peter Fleming on August 23, 2009 at 20:02
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Dick.
I can't really help as I never knew. There must be notes in the magazines of the time (Railway Magazine, Railway Observer etc.)
I am fairly sure that it did NOT involve using the SMJ line (as you say it had closed by then apaprt from the ironstne quarry but was probbaly still open when Blisworth renovation first took place), just the sidings and platforms at Blisworth.
I am fairly sure that road traffic was not involved, which makes it even odder - if it wasn't it must have just meant transfer and Blsworth seems an odd place for that.
I seem to recall that the rebuilding of Euston station (with subsequent reduced capacity) was somehow behind it. I would welcome an explanation from someone who knows.
Assuming that the SMJ line was not used, it was an awkward manouvre to get from the main lines (and the Northampton line) into the SMJ platforms.
Peter
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Comment by Dick Bodily on August 22, 2009 at 12:57
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Peter
Can you recall whether this parcel traffic was transferred to road haulage at Blisworth? Obviously the SMJ had closed, was it parcels bound for former SMJ served places like Towcester, etc. which were no longer served by rail? Or was it just somewhere where vans were shunted, or even an onerspill for Northampton. I would have expected that all parcels traffic would have been centred on Northampton especially as the majority of freight and parcels traffic went around the loop.
Dick
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The station almost looks open, but of course it is not.
Note the new white canopy and parcels van in the SMJ bay. This was the period when it was used for parcels traffic.
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