‘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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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

More 1960 News

Just to say that in the June RCTS Railway Observer "Nostalgia Corner" there is another feature on 40 years ago.

It concerns the opening of the new spur from the SMJ at Stratford to the GWR with consequent rationalising of signalboxes (due to take palce on June 13).

This new connection was seen as bad news for the Stratford to Broom section of the SMJ.

The article mentions various trains used for learning the new route from Woodford to Honeybourne and mentions Woodford L1 tanks 67740/71 (I remember the latter on the Banbury shuttle). Also 43106 (another Woodford engine - I hadn't realised that these were shedded there) and 48402 (a Tysley engine) running between Banbury and Stratford (presumably using the connection at Fenny Compton?).

Interestingly, and surprisingly, between midnight and 5am on an April Sunday thirty freight trains ran between Broom and Stratford and vice versa.