‘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
More building at Towcester 2 Replies
I hear there has been more building at the station site in Towcester.Anyone know what they've dug up?…Continue
Tags: Towcester
Started by Andy Thompson. Last reply by Nigel Nov 7, 2024.
Broom History Group Event 9th November 2024
Broom History Group will be holding an event at Broom Village Hall 2-4pm on 9th November 2024 including a film on the railway and Broom Junction.…Continue
Started by Simon Stevens Oct 25, 2024.
Misunderstanding Easton Neston 2 Replies
Hello, I'm a new member and I've searched through the articles and can't find anything specific to my answer/ question. Can anyone help?…Continue
Started by Matt Davis. Last reply by Matt Davis Oct 16, 2024.
Loco N° 5. 2-4-0T
Hi everybodyI’m building a OO gauge model of Fenny Compton and Clifford Sidings over here in Belgium.Quite a strange idea but so be it…In view of this I plan to transform a RTR Beatie Well Tank into SMJR N° 5 the 2-4-0T and use some etchings for the…Continue
Started by Jack Freuville Aug 29, 2024.
SMJ photos
Blisworth signal and Bridge No 1
Another photo that for some reason I never printed, but I now have a negative scanner.It was taken on July 22 1965, when we walked from Ravenstone-Towcester-Blisworth. The field to the left of the signal was a haven for spotters in the '50s, with the West Coast main line one side and the SMJ on the other.(On one amazing day, we "copped" No 46102 Black Watch. But that's another story...)
Albums: SMJ 1964 onwards
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Comment by Dick Bodily on February 16, 2012 at 19:38
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I never saw 46102 'Black Watch' despite spending many days at Banburylane 46121 (another Scotch engine) was also difficult, but it was 46112 'Sherwood Forester' that was regarded as almost mythical amongst the Banburylane regulars. One lad claimed he had seen it at Wellingborough but everyone else seemed to have failed to see it on trips to the Midland main line. I think in retrospect most of these spotters tended not to visit the Midland line too often as there were more exciting namers to be seen at Banbury, Peterborough or Sandy if you fancied a day away from the West Coast. I finally caught up with it at Annesley whn it was transferred to the GC line.
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Comment by John Whitehead on June 23, 2011 at 14:46
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I've just picked this up. Spotting 46102 Black Watch at Blisworth was rare (but I've spotted it too). As a lad in the late 1940s and 50s I used to help at various signalboxes including Banbury Lane, Heyford, Gayton and Blisworth. Read my memories at
http://www.blisworth.org.uk/images/Railways/Main-signalbox.htm. Happy days!
John Whitehead
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Comment by Andy Thompson on June 21, 2011 at 19:40
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Thant's fab John - you have over a hundred SMj members with their tongues on the floor and their tails wagging in anticipation! Andy
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Comment by John Evans on June 19, 2011 at 16:50
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Hi Andy
No fear - I enjoy sharing what I have, if it is interesting to others. I am currently going thru about 800 negatives and finding some I never printed (lack of cash as a teenager!)
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John we are enjoying your images very much and thank you for your input! I guess you could put together your very own SMJ site!! (please dont by the way!)
Andy
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