‘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 alwyn sparrow on November 26, 2011 at 5:23
Apparently there was a serious explosion on the site in 1917 in which several workers were seriously injured.There is a short section about this former munitions site in Bill Simpsons
A very familiar view to me. There was a WW1 Ministry of Munitions shell filling factory on this /SMJ joint line. When the M40 was built a few old shell cases were found. In WW2 the area was used for military training and an old conventor tank was placed here as a target. The munitions factory had a rail connection to the LNWR Banbury - Cockley Brake Junction line. This had it's own loco with a spark arrester. I wonder how many trucks loaded with filled shells went to their destination via Towcester/Blisworth as an alternative to gaining the LNWR mainline at Bletchley via Buckingham/Verney Junction.
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