‘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
Train staff Broom - Stratford rear
These are examples of the train staffs that were in use for the sections named from 1942 until the closure of the former ER&SJR section in 1960. Under normal "long and short" single line regulations only one type could be in use at any time with the instruments electrically locked once any one staff had been issued. The key formed at the end of the Broom East staff was to unlock the groundframes at Binton and Bidford. Both of these frames had facing point locks as when the installation was commisioned the section was still a passenger carrying line. The staffs and their instruments were products of the Railway Signal Company of Liverpool who were the original signal supplier to the E&WJR.
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Comment by Andy Thompson on July 21, 2011 at 19:45
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Thanks for that John. I was thinking about the conversation about a whack round the head with one! Andy
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Comment by John Jennings on July 21, 2011 at 8:13
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Andy
The Broom North staff is 29.5cms overall and the Broom East staff is 27.5 cms overall. The square brass plate carrying the section information is 6 x 6cms.
John
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Thanks for putting these up on the site John. What size are they? Andy
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