Stratford upon Avon & Midland Junction Railway Vol 1

The Stratford-upon-Avon & Midland Junction Railway may only have existed as an independent company for 14 years from 1909-1923 but its name has lived on across the south Midlands countryside, where it is still remembered as the 'SMJ'. The line had its origins in the '2nd railway mania' of the 1860s when, with Northamptonshire iron ore in great demand by the ironmasters of South Wales, two new railways were proposed to provide a shorter route and reduce costs. The Northampton & Banbury Junction Railway opened from Blisworth to Towcester in 1866 but immediately ran into financial difficulties. It took another 6 years for their trains to reach Banbury and plans for extensions were abandoned. The East & West Junction Railway also had designs on connecting Northamptonshire with South Wales but was similarly affected by lack of finance. This 1st volume tells the story of the impecunious and troubled years through to the formation of the S&MJR, examining the locomotive fleets, the rolling stock and liveries.