‘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.
SMJ photos
Burton dasset Iron ore bucket rope way to the SMJ
Hi, I am new to the society, born in Northend and grew up there.
I used to play on the line, one of the chaps I went to school with still drives the MOD munition trains on the bit of line to Fenny Compton.
Anyway when I was about 8 or 9 ( a long time ago) I dug up in the hedge on what is now Burton Dasset hills (was private land then) 2 cast iron wheels from the over-head bucket rope way that used to take iron ore from the quarry on top of the hills to the SMJ siding.
My father (unfortunately long dead) showed me where the steam engine used to sit that powered the rope way, the wheels although a long way down the hill were below where the engine sat buried in the middle of the hedge.
I was looking for a secret tunnel to the manor house, as you do when you are 8 or 9 and at first was convinced I had found one. However it turned out to be these 2 wheels approximately 2ft6" in diameter, one has deep grooves where the steel cable has worn into it.
Would anybody be interested in seeing one if I can make it on the 12th June?
Unfortunately I am at the TT until late early Saturday morning so cannot promise to make it, but there may be other occassions, anyway.
I will attach some pictures sometine shortly
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Andy Thompson on
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Richard
I'd be very interested as well as hearing all (and I mean all)that you can remember about the site. I did hear a story of one man who got stuck in a bucket whilst (illegally ) riding up from the railway when the lunch time hooter went off and the pulley system was halted!!
Andy
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Permalink Reply by Richard Keyte on
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Hi Andy my dad told me that he and his brother had ridden in the buckets as well. they were cut loose as youngsters and left to their own devices after their mother died (my gradmother) I can show you some of the features still on Burton Dasset.
Drayton manor, springs to mind.
regards Richard
Andy Thompson said:Richard
I'd be very interested as well as hearing all (and I mean all)that you can remember about the site. I did hear a story of one man who got stuck in a bucket whilst (illegally ) riding up from the railway when the lunch time hooter went off and the pulley system was halted!!
Andy
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Permalink Reply by Tony Newman on
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This is exactly the kind of fragile snippet of history that one hopes would resurface in a forum like this. It is an integral part of the bigger picture but a part that is unlikely to have ever found its way into any archive or official history.
Terrific!
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