‘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.
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Alison,
Here is a picture of a guard called Tom Phillips taken on the down platform of Blakesley Station probably around 1920, so it's not your ancestor but could it be a relation of his, son or nephew perhaps? He's the one with the shunter's pole. He was nicknamed 'Old Woster' as he hailed from Worcestershire and that's how he pronounced the county city's name. The other man was Albert Broomfield, Blakesley's station master.
For more on Blakesley Station click on 'smj photos', select 'view albums' then look for 'Blakesley', for an article about Bob Salmons - Blakesley Signalman ( in the 40s/50s) click on 'index' then look down the list, there's other stuff headed 'Blakesley' in the 'E&WJR stations' section of the index and quite a bit about Blakesley station in the 1950s/ 60s in an article I did about The Last Days of the Pickup Goods.
Best of luck with your researches.
Dick Bodily
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Many thanks - my Great Great Grandfather (mother's family) was Tom Phillips who moved up the ranks at Blakesley Station to become Station Master by 1891 - he was in this position until his death in 1912. I have a quiet fascination with all our defunct railways, a yearning over those days of rail travel. My dad was a guard with British Rail.
I am researching as I can - we stand on the shoulders as it were of our ancestors, I like to keep their memories alive.
Hello Alison,
Welcome to the SMJ site!
Peter
Welcome Alison. Andy