‘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
Further about Ravenstone Wood Junction 1 Reply
Firstly a belated thanks to Barry for his excellent research that has returned these signal lever plates to their rightful home! [Perhaps their place of residence on the website needs changing!] Apologies for starting s new Forum discussion on this…Continue
Started by Dave Hayward. Last reply by Barry Taylor Oct 23.
Ravenstone Wood Junction Signal Box-an anomaly 3 Replies
Closely examining the brass lever plates shown in the Olney Line entry in the Index Section of this website I noticed a significant anomaly. Some of the above plates, specifically 1, 10, 11, 12, 25, 32, 34. refer to platforms, loading dock, goods…Continue
Started by Dave Hayward. Last reply by Barry Taylor Oct 9.
SMJ keys from the Towcester area 1 Reply
I have been contacted by someone who wishes to dispose of two sets of SMJ-related keys from the Towcester area, but does not want to put personal email or other details on this website. They have been given to him by the estate manager at Easton…Continue
Started by Barry Taylor. Last reply by Barry Taylor Sep 4.
Bridge sign 3 Replies
An East and West Junction and Stratford-On-Avon, Towcester and Midland Junction Railways bridge weight notice, cast iron, 16½"x11¾", the front repainted. As is usual, the company title has been altered to Stratford-On-Avon and Midland Junction…Continue
Started by Graham Ward. Last reply by Russ Firth Jun 1.
SMJ photos
Super D passing Blakesley
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Comment by Dick Bodily on June 19, 2011 at 13:35
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Hello Barry again
Have spoken to Rex who tells me he saw the down working passing through Byfield station on its way with empties to the ironstone exchange sidings, whereas my picture is of the return laded train en route for Blisworth. This would seem to suggest that it was most likely a round trip from the Blisworth end for the Super D. Rex remembers the Nuneaton working you mentioned through Banbury and adds that its ultimate destination was Oxford with coal for the town's gasworks.
Best wishes
Dick
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Hello Barry,
Good to hear from you,
That's quite possible as I only saw it travelling towards Blisworth (as illustrated) on the daily Byfield ironstone. If this was a substitution at Byfield for a failed loco it might also explain the unconfirmed report of a Stanier Mogul on the SMJR as Nuneaton had several of these. Mind you it would have made more sense to substitute a loco off Woodford shed rather than Banbury. Stanier Moguls regularly came through Northampton on freights as well, so its equally likely that it was on a round trip to Byfield. I know Rex Partridge saw it at Byfield on the same day, but I don't know if he saw it come in from the Blisworth directiion, so next time I speak to him I shall ask.
Dick
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Comment by Barry Dunwoody on June 8, 2011 at 23:23
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These locos were always known as "Duck-8's" in Banbury. In the late 1950's Nuneaton locos - these, Black-5's and Crabs - all worked freights into Banbury. Could it have got to Byfield via Woodford on the GC link?
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I had always assumed that the engine seen on a Byfield to Blisworth iron ore working on 29th Dec 1960 was a Bletchley engine commandered at Blisworth for a return trip, possibly having arrived on a chalk tipper train from Totternhoe Quarry on the Leighton - Dunstable line. The plot thickens as I've recently discovered that the engine 49415 was allocated to Nuneaton 2B at the time.
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