‘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
Bridge sign 3 Replies
An East and West Junction and Stratford-On-Avon, Towcester and Midland Junction Railways bridge weight notice, cast iron, 16½"x11¾", the front repainted. As is usual, the company title has been altered to Stratford-On-Avon and Midland Junction…Continue
Started by Graham Ward. Last reply by Russ Firth Jun 1.
SMJ Postage stamps 1911 and 1924
A couple of items recently up for auction.GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAY COMPANY AND STRATFORD-UPON-AVON & MIDLAND JUNCTION: 6…Continue
Started by Graham Ward May 21.
More building at Towcester 3 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 John Evans Apr 19.
Loco N° 5. 2-4-0T 1 Reply
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. Last reply by Simon Dunkley Mar 17.
SMJ photos
Local nicknames from Roade village for the SMJ
A book published by the Roade Local History Society entitled 'Roade through the camera', ISBN 978-0-9563496-0-6, 2009 has a small piece on the SMJ in Chapter 12: Railways.
There are two photos; the first of a goods train heading toward the SMJ spur taken in Aug 1890 and the second of the construction of the SMJ bay at Roade station c.1890. There is an accompanying diagram of the LNWR and the SMJ through Roade. Intrestingly for industrial railway historians there is a tramway shown descending to the LNWR from the lime pits which stood where Pianoforte factory now stands (albeit empty). Knowledge of this tramway and information on these pits is scarce. The diagram is detailed and shows individual lines, such as the double tracked SMJ spur and sidings.
The text consists of only a paragraph that describes the SMJ's route through the village and the purpose of the railway. Apparently the SMJ was known locally as the 'slow, miserable and jolty', the 'linger and die' and the 'bread and herring'. It was also known as 'the scratter', the book questions whether this final nickname had any connections to a traditional cider apple masher. Having asked people of more advanced years than me, Northamptonshire does not have a cider heritage so I would estimate there is no connection.
The book is mainly photographic with accompanying descriptions rather than text-rich. Understandably the subject of railways mainly concerns Roade Cutting and the long-gone station.
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