‘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"
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
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
Don't know Will Caton but I've scrolled through the list of members and see Tony Marsh who I think runs the Blisworth village history web site's a member. I'll record a few memories shortly.
Hi Andy, thank you for all your efforts, you have done a great job. I look forward to seeing your e-mails and it has been a revelation expanding my knowledge of the SMJ, regards Richard
Thanks Andy, and I notice a fresh article by you on the mining "connections" to the SMJ line near the first four bridges working up from Blisworth. I got a bit confused. It has been a while since I walked the track, avoiding fallen trees etc., but I recall that each bridge is justified in terms of either giving on-going access for a farmer to a cutoff part of his farm or simply a road or footpath in common use. Wheldon, as I recall, makes use of a footpath or farm trackway and in the side of the cutting there are substantial profiles cut out of the earth to accommodate some sort of timbered tipping gear to tranship direct to wagons on the SMJ (or a siding thereon). Anyway, I would like to look again at what you say with the help of a 1900 OS map, blown up to 1000 pixels square, with fields 1 and 2 marked and with bridge numbers marked etc. Sorry to seem a bit slow here. Tony
Thanks for the welcome, I have looked at this site any times and thought I really should join. I live in Towcester and have just started an N gauge model of the station in my loft. So will proberbly be pestering everyone for pictures and info. The only thing I have so far which I haven't seen on here are ratings plans of Towcester station that I obtained from Railtrack in Birmingham, if these are of interest to you or anyone else let me know.
Andy, there are 20 pages on Gayton Quarries, and another 38 on the other Blisworth Quarries. Rather a lot to precis, but if you like, I'll do one of the Gayton Quarries section during the coming winter months. You may find a copy of the book in your local library - N'pton Library Service had at least one copy the last time I looked.
Andy,
Sorry, I can't add any more to the story of 672's chimney. I heard it from Jeff probably in the 70s and he was a senior hand at Watford then, and though I always find it a bit of a shock to realise most of those old boys will be dead and gone by now. What I should have asked is what they did with the chimney, did they heave it up onto the footplate and take it back to Watford with them ?
David
I'm not really very knowledgable about railways - I once had the job of overseeing the winching of a saddle tanker onto a low loader in the area just in front of the loco sheds in your picture, and that's about it. It was quite hairy because the loco was in danger of being derailed, I remember. The men knew a lot more than I did !!!
Hi Andy,
I am currently writing a website on Irthlingbough mine. The traffic from Irthlingborough went SMJ route to Ebbw Vale so you and the members might be interested in that. The URL is http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/apack1 or if you type into Google, Irthlingborough mines, that will take you to a Welsh mining site with a link. I am also currently involvd in a planning dispute which is taking me away from much needed gardening so it may be sometime before I can do anything, I have identified the buildings from Google street view for you
Don't know if it will come across this way
Regards
Alan
Andy
Likewise I enjoyed meeting yourself and other members who attended today event. A very pleasant few hours spent reminiscenting the old days on the S.M.J thankyou.
Alwyn.
Thank Andy I will remember that next time I visit my Mother who lives near Northamotn, can only afford to go to Northampton aera about three tmes a year
In caae you are wondering I live in Northampton upto 1965 and used SMJ many times during that time
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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
Andy Thompson's Comments
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Blimey Andy, that was quick!
Don't know Will Caton but I've scrolled through the list of members and see Tony Marsh who I think runs the Blisworth village history web site's a member. I'll record a few memories shortly.
Hi Andy
I am sending an SMJ Christmas card this year and would love to send you one. Could you send your address to john.evans777@yahoo.com
and I'll do the rest. Best wishes
John
I thought I was already in your lists a long time ago as I regularly recieve your mails
Best regards
Jack Freuville
Sorry, I can't add any more to the story of 672's chimney. I heard it from Jeff probably in the 70s and he was a senior hand at Watford then, and though I always find it a bit of a shock to realise most of those old boys will be dead and gone by now. What I should have asked is what they did with the chimney, did they heave it up onto the footplate and take it back to Watford with them ?
David
I am currently writing a website on Irthlingbough mine. The traffic from Irthlingborough went SMJ route to Ebbw Vale so you and the members might be interested in that. The URL is http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/apack1 or if you type into Google, Irthlingborough mines, that will take you to a Welsh mining site with a link. I am also currently involvd in a planning dispute which is taking me away from much needed gardening so it may be sometime before I can do anything, I have identified the buildings from Google street view for you
Don't know if it will come across this way
Regards
Alan
Likewise I enjoyed meeting yourself and other members who attended today event. A very pleasant few hours spent reminiscenting the old days on the S.M.J thankyou.
Alwyn.
In caae you are wondering I live in Northampton upto 1965 and used SMJ many times during that time
Bernard
Ray Wake