‘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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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.

SMJ photos

Any ideas?

I've recently been given an old ledger that belonged to my grandfather who in 1885 was working for the family building business. In it I discovered entries showing that he had on several occasions that year supplied the East & West Junction Railway with lime, usually a bushell at a time and also with the occasional bucket of whitewash. I imagine that the white wash was used for painting the station ceilings at Blakesley but whatever would the lime be for? I know that it was sometimes used as a primitive kind of wall paint and that it could be used in mortar or plaster making but there was no record of any sand or other materials being supplied if the latter was the case. Any suggestions?

Incidentally when the family business went bust my grandfather took a job as a brickie on the railway working for the SMJ, later the LMS. His main work was repairing bridges and culverts.

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Permalink Reply by Barry Taylor on January 23, 2014 at 17:56

Hi Dick

Interesting to see that you that you have SMJ family roots!

I think that the lime might have been used for cleansing cattle wagons - I've a feeling that they were washed out after use with this. You can sometimes see old pics of cattle wagons with lots of white stuff over the lower side planks.

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Permalink Reply by Dick Bodily on January 23, 2014 at 21:25

Barry

That rings a bell now you've mentioned it, I reckon you are right.

Cheers

Dick

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Permalink Reply by NIGEL on January 24, 2014 at 18:18

Hello Dick, I think Barry is right, the lime would be added to water to make slaked lime. This limewash was used up to ~1924 to disinfect cattle wagons, until Phenol disinfectants came into use in 1927.