‘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
magnet fishing
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
Started by Steve Camm Sep 1.
One of the best preserved SMJ bridges? 1 Reply
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 Aug 30.
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.
SMJ photos
Blisworth
Add a Comment
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Comment by adrian vaughan on September 21, 2009 at 10:34
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Thanks Barry,
It is very good to get the proper info on these old negs. I will see what else I have but I think I posted them all now - I do have one taken from a train approaching Clifford Sidings signal box but I cannot find it.Grrr.
Adrian.
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Comment by Barry Taylor on September 21, 2009 at 10:05
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Hi Adrian
We're looking south along the West Coast main line - in the direction of Roade cutting. Your other shot c. 1960 is looking back towards us from a point in the far distance - although it looks as though the station buildings have gone in that one, and I remember them disappearing quite quickly after the LNW station closed in Jan 1960. It's an interesting shot - the LNW peg on the platform seems rather strangely positioned right behind that shed. Presumably it's a starter for the Northampton line - the trains either left the platform face on the extreme left of the photo (returning push/pulls) or turned off the main (through trains) over the crossover in the picture, right to left. Great shots - hope you've got some more SMJ !
Regards
B
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Hello Barry,
No - I don't know - your message I the first I've opened. I've been out all day photoing on the North Norfolk Railway.
Please tell me which way the camera is pointing, north or south ?
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Adrian
You probably know this by now - I'm just back from holidays and catching up - but this shows the up and down fast through Blisworth LNW - on the left behind the platform buildings is the Northampton line where the push/pull would run in and out - that is unless it was one of the through workings to Weedon and Leamington, which ran through the station onto the down fast (in the distance) across the crossover seen at the end of the platforms - and onto the down fast (right hand line as eeen in this pic.) to continue their journeys.
The SMJ platform was more or less behind the photographer on the right
Barry
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