‘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"
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.
Shall we bring this discussion under the proper heading!So far as the OS plan surveyed 1885, published 1886, is concerned: the OS liked - wherever they could - to have text running parallel to the top and bottom borders. When they came to add the…Continue
Started by Richard Maund. Last reply by Richard Maund Feb 10.
According to Doug Blake's book ( village historian) Bob Salmons used to work for Mrs Bartholomew and used to go to Blakesley station to collect her newspapers which was specially despatched by W H Smith morning and evening. While he was doing this one day the station master suggested to him that as he spent so much time there he ought to apply for a job on the railway and that exactly what he did. I believe he is still living somewhere in the Towcester area.
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David
I've recently updated and added to the Blakesley page, so if you haven't already had a look at it, here's a link
http://thesmjr.ning.com/page/blakesley-1
Incidentally I lived there during the 50's and 60's so I probably knew your relatives who you stayed with.
Dick Bodily
What is your link with the SMJ? Did you used to live round these parts?
Andy