‘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
SMJ seats at York Museum ?
I took my grandson to the National Railway Museum on Dec. 30th and noticed two bench seats, of the type found on station platforms until traditional stations were replaced with bus-shelters. Both bear the title " STRATFORD " - I'll try and upload…Continue
Started by Paul Atherton Jan 5.
More building at Towcester 2 Replies
I hear there has been more building at the station site in Towcester.Anyone know what they've dug up?…Continue
Tags: Towcester
Started by Andy Thompson. Last reply by Nigel Nov 7, 2024.
Broom History Group Event 9th November 2024
Broom History Group will be holding an event at Broom Village Hall 2-4pm on 9th November 2024 including a film on the railway and Broom Junction.…Continue
Started by Simon Stevens Oct 25, 2024.
Misunderstanding Easton Neston 2 Replies
Hello, I'm a new member and I've searched through the articles and can't find anything specific to my answer/ question. Can anyone help?…Continue
Started by Matt Davis. Last reply by Matt Davis Oct 16, 2024.
SMJ photos
Fenny Compton Signalbox
Fenny Compton SMJ box seems like an LNWR production. Inside the frame appears to be Midland - but it could be a wartime REC product. A couple of LNWR Webb-Thompson staff instruments complete the very happy scene. I have no put onto your site all I have on the SMJ and related places.
Albums: The SMJ Remembered
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Comment by adrian vaughan on September 21, 2009 at 18:52
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Helo Andy,
I haven't seen Andy Jordan's book but those are Webb-Thompson (LNWR) Electric Train Staff dispencing machines and will be very old. AS old as the box, I suppose. They were patented around 1893. They might have replaced some other system - Tyers tablet, say - but they are old. Webb was Locomotive Engineer of LNWR and Thompson was the Telegraph Engineer.
I wish I had some more pix.
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Comment by Andy Thompson on September 21, 2009 at 18:23
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Save me a place! I noticed the token machines at the back of the box (as described in Arthur Jordons book) the same??
Andy
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Hello Gary,
I wonder if you read the 'Observer' newspaper. Y'day it had a photo - computer generated by NASA (or something like that) - showing Planet Earth from space surrounded by every bit of cast-off space scrap, thousands and thousands of bits of debris. It made a truly awful sight. More junk is being sent up by the EU - a satelite that will be a better Sat Nav device. I mention this to show how far the Western world at least has degenerated since 1946 - when I first started to ask to be allowed up on steam engines. People can't even read their own map and find their way about using their own brain - go and buy some silly little gizmo with a stupid voice telling them what to do. The coal fired BR was the most wonderful place this world will ever see. And the people who operated it. I think heritage railways do a good job of giving people a chance to live like we used to but it will never be like BR in 1955.
Hey ho! I'm so glad the pictures are pleasant for you. Now - as you said earlier - 'Oh for a Time Machine'. 1955 here I come.
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What an amazing shot! History - I heard said that the one they built to replace this one has been demolished (last year?)
Andy
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