‘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
Binton Station
As I was in the vicinity this week I visited my old stamping ground of over sixty years ago, the former SMJ station at Binton. The former goods shed has been demolished, 24 upmarket dwellings have been constructed in the old yard and the former…Continue
Started by Paul Stratford Apr 23.
Would the GCR have gone via Towcester? 14 Replies
Looking through Mac Hawkins book on the GCR then and now, he mentions that the GCR were thinking of running a line connecting Brackley to Northampton and had provisionally made a mound ready for a platform to be later constructed but they dropped…Continue
Started by Gary. Last reply by Andrew Emmerson Apr 18.
EWJR Portland Cement Wagon 13 Replies
Hello All,I found this item on ebay, although it's a model, what I'd like to know is, was it actually based on the real thing? As you can see it has the initials EWJR and return empty to Ettington, which all fits in with the real world.It was listed…Continue
Started by Jim Goodman. Last reply by Jim Goodman Apr 18.
MORTON PINKNEY LEVEL CROSSING 14 Replies
There was a public level crossing between Blakesley and Morton Pinkney, complete with a gatehouse.Does anyone know how this was operated?Presumably the gates must have been manual and kept closed against road traffic.Early Working Timetables mention…Continue
Started by Barry Taylor. Last reply by Andrew Emmerson Apr 17.
SMJ photos
The very last train to leave Stratford upon Avon ex SMJ station.
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Comment by alwyn sparrow on May 1, 2020 at 11:18
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Comment by Michael Badger MBE on April 21, 2020 at 9:00
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I was a passenger with my mother on this train when departing from Kineton...l think it was 5th April 1952...As it was 68 years ago, my memory is very sketchy....l do remember my mother taking morning coffee in the hostelry by the Blisworth Station....we eventually arrived in Northampton St. John's? I presume we had to cross the main line (WCML) to take a train into Northampton...l can recall as we left Kineton, how quickly the train accelerated towards Fenny Compton and on the downward curved descent towards Bedlam looking towards Dodds Farm...l have a feeling the Mayor of Stratford upon Avon travelled from the Old Town, Stratford on the trains footplate as far as Ettington....l can imagine the engine attacking the long drag upto Goldicote, barking out with gusto...sad as it is, as we age it is nice to look to reflect on memories...
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Comment by Tony Newman on March 15, 2020 at 15:14
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Oh, the nostalgia!
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The two men shown on the footplate were (right) my cousin Ted, the fireman, and 'Tacker' Harris, a 'number checker', who had come along for the ride. The driver was Ernie(?) Smith.
The Northampton train and the Stratford train met at Byfield. The crews then swapped trains, and returned to Stratford and Blisworth respectively.
Brian Hewins
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Comment by Andy Thompson on October 14, 2012 at 18:59
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Dick
Yes it is one of my own photos. It was not a good afternoon weather wise and it had been raining for most of that morning. Light for colour slides was very flat. I don't recall whether Tom Williams was around that day. His b/w negs do not record the event unless there are any uncatalogued negs around. By that time Tom had personal problems and his railway photo output had all but gone. He was one of a generation who would often choose not to photograph a subject in poor light even if the occasion was important. Many of the early well known "names" in the 1950's had that view and it is most frustrating that they refused to photo anything in bad light or if they did they would junk the result!! I have a few of Tom's colour slides that he gave me because he was going to bin them because they were not up to his exacting standards although today they are perfectly exposed Kodachrome and priceless in record value. I am somewhat guilty myself because my very early efforts as a 10 year old with a borrowed box camera were nearly all thrown away in the early sixties because I didn't want my peers to see them. I now throw nothing out which is why I am looking for an elastic sided house!!
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Comment by Dick Bodily on October 13, 2012 at 13:10
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John
Great picture, is this one of your own or is it one of T Williams or someone else's.
Best wishes
Dick
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The very last departure from Stratford upon Avon Old Town Station.
© 2021 Created by Andy Thompson.
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