‘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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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.

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.

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.

Loco N° 5. 2-4-0T

Hi everybodyI’m building a OO gauge model of Fenny Compton and Clifford Sidings over here in Belgium.Quite a strange idea but so be it…In view of this I plan to transform a RTR Beatie Well Tank into SMJR N° 5 the 2-4-0T and use some etchings for the…Continue

Started by Jack Freuville Aug 29.

SMJ photos

RAILWAY BYLINES MAGAZINE

The March 2012 edition features the SMJ (Towcester to Ravenstone Wood Section) as it's lead article. They are also promising a feature on the Towcester to Cockley Brake section next month.

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Permalink Reply by Dick Bodily on March 16, 2012 at 13:54

This series is by SMJ Society member Barry Taylor who as well as contributing a lot of info for articles on this website has written several very interesting articles about the Northampton area for Railway Bylines. Also due out soon, in June 2012 Steam Days is an article about Byfield and Charwelton Ironstone Railways by Rex Partridge.

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Permalink Reply by Si Donal on March 16, 2012 at 16:39

Superb news Dick. Looks like another good year for the SMJ.

Dick said:

This series is by SMJ Society member Barry Taylor who as well as contributing a lot of info for articles on this website has written several very interesting articles about the Northampton area for Railway Bylines. Also due out soon, in June 2012 Steam Days is an article about Byfield and Charwelton Ironstone Railways by Rex Partridge.

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Permalink Reply by Barry Taylor on March 16, 2012 at 16:53

Thanks for the commercial Dick ! The next part will be on the old N&BJR lines from Blisworth to Towcester and on to Banbury. Then either one or two parts to cover the 'main line' of the EWJR from Towcester through to Stratford and Broom Junction - depends how the editor wants to present it. Presumably in consecutive months, although you never know!

Hope that you all enjoy it - it was intentionally written as a sort of 'personal reminiscence' as I am also working on a more detailed SMJ line history for 'Railway Archive' magazine, but this is still a 'work in progress'

For anyone with interests in really old locomotives, Railway Archive should have an article of mine in the next issue - due out early June, but again up to the editor - this is about early locos on the Northampton & Banbury Junction railway, and is a sort of follow up to my previous one on the French locos on the East & West Junction Ry in the 1870's.