‘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

What was left????

In the summer of 1988 I was with my parents in Straford-upon-Avon. We were walking south along the east bank of the Avon when we came across an old railway bridge across the river. My father wanted to go up the embankment to explore, but my mother's arthritis meant she wouldn't have been able to. So we didn't.

Now that I know what that bridge was, and what used to be at the other end of the bridge I am disappointed that we didn't explore. And that was enhanced the first time I drove along the bypass in subsequent years and noticed the platform edge that still exists.

So my question is, what would we have seen in 1988 if we had climbed up onto the bridge and headed over the river. Maps suggest not a lot, so I suspect the platforms edges and overgrown platform surfaces and overgrown track bed. Maps seem to show that there were no buildings left.

Was there a path we could have used, or was the route too overgrown?

Are there any photos of the station then?

I wonder if the council have any archives, in particular, pre-bypass photos, acquired during the bypass planning stages.

Can you help put my disappointment to bed?

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Permalink Reply by Barry Taylor on August 25, 2014 at 15:52

Hi Kevin

The attached pic will give you a feel for what you would have seen. I took it in July 1989, and the print has suffered a bit over the intervening years, but it shows a view west from track level with the platforms still in place - and from my notes, that was about all that was left.

House building had started, and was spreading over the site of the station buildings and approach road, but no sign of the bypass yet.