‘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
EWJR Portland Cement Wagon 11 Replies
Hello All,I found this item on ebay, although it's a model, what I'd like to know is, was it actually based on the real thing? As you can see it has the initials EWJR and return empty to Ettington, which all fits in with the real world.It was listed…Continue
Started by Jim Goodman. Last reply by Mark Reader Jun 11.
The Roade Connection 2 Replies
There seem to be several big questions about the SMJ.Tiffield station: did it exist, for how long and where exactly was it?Why build stations at Salcey Forest and Stoke Bruerne, and why such substantial buildings?But the biggest one seems to be the…Continue
Started by peter fleming. Last reply by Richard Denny May 19.
Stored coaches 3 Replies
This query arises from a discussion on another site (Disused Railway and Stations around Northamptonshire).There has been recent reference to coaches stored on the SMJ and a statement in Bylines March 12th issue that there were over three hundred…Continue
Started by Alan Brant. Last reply by Alan Brant Apr 30.
SMJ photos
S&MJR Model Railway Layouts
As model railway clubs and enthusiasts often dismantle layouts in order to produce new projects there is no guarantee that all of these layouts are still in existance
Broom Junction (O gauge)
Warley MRS layout sometimes appears at the Warley Exhibition.
Clifford Sidings (OO gauge)
Jack Freuville's project ( in Belgium)
Kineton SMJ (N gauge)
Leamington & Warwick MRS early BR days layout in the process of construction.
Fenny Compton (OO gauge)
Jack Freuville's project ( in Belgium)
Byfield (OO gauge)
Northampton Byfield Group's 1930s layout.
Woodford (OO gauge)
Woodford MRC layout at Woodford Halse Social Club, sometimes viewable at special open days at this members only club. Byfield being added to this huge layout.
Blakesley (OO gauge)
Si Donald’s project.
Blakesley (? gauge)
A model of Blakesley station was made around 1968 by lady modeller Vivien Thompson from a drawing by draughtsman Bill Ibbott. Info required.
Towcester (OO gauge)
Seen in the 1970s at the old Birmingham Science Museum, does it still exist in store somewhere?
Towcester (OO gauge)
Mike Hemmings‘ project. LMS period layout.
Towcester (N gauge)
Brian Elphick’s project.
Towcester in the 1970s (OO gauge)
John Norton & George Woodcock’s ‘what if’ layout which has featured in magazines and appeared at some model railway exhibitions.
Blisworth SMJR (O gauge)
Kettering & District MRS layout.
A historic model railway link with the East & West JR
One of the first model railway layouts to feature scenery, if not the very first, was that built by CW Bartholomew at Blakesley Hall around 1900. He was a big shareholder in the E&WJR at a time when the GCR was thinking of taking over the E&WJR route. His father Charles had strong links with the MS&LR ( later to become the GCR) having been a director of one of its constituents, the South Yorkshire Railway as well as owning Wombwell Colliery. It was clockwork, probably O gauge and supplied by Bassett – Lowke of Northampton. George Bailey (a labourer at the hall) had the job of building the scenery for the squire and thus was truly an unsung pioneer of model railways.
Dick Bodily (26th February 2014)
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Comment by Nick Meredith on October 13, 2015 at 9:53
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Progress report on Kineton, N Gauge, as at October 13 2015
Research has continued, including a summer Saturday with a stall at Kineton Farmers' Market.
The baseboards have been ordered, and are due to arrive in the next couple of weeks.
A test track has been built to experiment with fine scale trackwork,
Our latest outing was to the Great Electric Train Show at the Heritage Motor Centre at Gaydon, this weekend just gone. Particularly on the Sunday we spoke with a lot of local visitors, and gained more general information.
A slight clarification to the details in the first email. We shall be setting the layout principally inthe 1948-52 period under British Railways, although some earlier stock may also be built.
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Comment by Dick Bodily on July 18, 2015 at 20:50
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Thanks Simon, page amended. 18/7/15 Dick
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Comment by Simon Dunkley on July 18, 2015 at 10:42
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Richard Chown did not build a layout: it was a suggested layout plan in issue 101 of the Model Railway Journal.
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Comment by Gary on March 3, 2015 at 15:25
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I saw the beginnings of an "N" layout of Stratford a few years back in Stratford. Not sure if it progressed much further than when I saw it as it was an older gentleman building it in the "museum" in the town.
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Updated already as a result of new info supplied by Robin Cullup and a look through all of my old SMJ related magazine cuttings. Please add further info about any SMJR layout.
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Follow the link to the new S&MJR Model Railway Layouts page
http://thesmjr.ning.com/page/s-mjr-model-railway-layouts?commentId=...
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