‘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
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.
PPhoto Albums 1 Reply
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.
Broom Junction station site for sale 3 Replies
Great opportunity for an SMJ enthusiast perhaps. I'm not sure what you could actually do with this site though!…Continue
Started by Simon Stevens. Last reply by Simon Stevens May 17.
SMJ photos
Gayton Wood Farm
Images reproduced with kind permission from Mike Lee.
http://www.mikeleelms.co.uk/
Albums: SMJ Images from Mike Lee
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Comment by Frank Webster on Monday
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From what I've read, it was rare to see No.49 working. This is only the third photo I've ever seen of her at work; in others she was laid up.
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I think the loco is the hunslet.
Good shot looking straight down the gullet towards the working face. In the background one can see the Ransomes & Rapier 5360 stripping shovel, with the pole or dipper down.
The other excavator is the walking dragline Ransomes & Rapier W90. I am not sure what the W90 did at Blisworth - it may be that it's job was to strip excess overburdon and to prepare the cut/gullet for the 5360. There is a picture of the W90 loading dumper trucks at Blisworth in E.S Tonks book on Northants.
I'd like to find out the date when this shot was taken.
Stephen
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