‘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"
An improbable, funny, but absolutely true story relating to the Kineton military railway.Long after my Army days I still retained an affection and passing interest in Kineton ammunition depot where I served during the 1960s. Coupled to a 'love' of…Continue
Started by Dave Hayward. Last reply by Dave Hayward on Sunday.
Electric train staff equipment had been brought into use between Blisworth and Towcester by 9 August 1910 (date of SMJR minute 451 (TNA file RAIL 674/3)) and presumably the new signal box at Blisworth appeared at the same time. In that this was so…Continue
SMJ board minute 1474 of 13 April 1921 (TNA file RAIL 674/4) approved that “the following expenditure be charged to Capital” for year 1920: “Blisworth: Signalling and alterations to Permanent Way, Improvements and additional signalling: £800”. In…Continue
Did this railway (as opposed to the East & West Junction Railway) go into receivership - if so, when. And when did it come out of receivership?Continue
Started by Richard Maund. Last reply by Richard Maund Feb 11.
Comment by Andy Thompson on August 15, 2011 at 10:28
Well, glad to have rattled the old grey cells Barry! It's amazing how little is discernible in 2011. Without people who were there, no-one would ever know!!
Glad you asked the question about this photo. After studying the OS map and the plan of the quarry in 'Ironstone Tramways of the Midlands' (ITM), I discovered that I had printed it as a mirror image many years ago in our darkened bathroom! I have flipped it and added it the correct way round. I deleted the original which also deleted your comment - sorry!
If you look at the corrected image you can see Byfield church to the right. Behind the loco to the left is the smoke vent on top of the loco shed and to the left of that is the bridge which carried an unsurfaced track to Aston-le-Walls - known to locals as 'Stony Bump' - over the track between the quarry and the SMJ. I think the loco is standing on the points just above the word 'gate' on the ITM map of the quarry and the track furthest to the right is the SMJ main line.
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