‘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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Footage of the SMJR 1 Reply

Hello, I found your forum searching for the SMJR. I've just uploaded a digitised version of old cine film footage of the line to my Youtube channel. I will be selling the original Hillside cine film soon along with a few others I've collected…Continue

Started by G Essex Random Railways. Last reply by Jim Goodman yesterday.

Binton station plans 2 Replies

Hi!I recently discovered this article on Binton station building in the now long defunct magazine ‘Model Railways’ from 1976. It includes a full plan which might encourage someone to model this simple station.Does anyone have access to, or know of a…Continue

Started by Martin Bromage. Last reply by Martin Bromage May 8.

Black & White photos of the SMJ 1 Reply

HelloMy name is Mick Baker and i have recently joined your society.A friend of mine Nigel Hadlow, has taken several thousand black & white photosof railways around the country.With a little help from me with my limited computer skills, i have…Continue

Started by Mick Baker. Last reply by Peter S Lewis Mar 29.

Station Masters

Stationmasters_Revised_January_2022.xlsxChris Hillyard on the Facebook Group "Railways Of Northamptonshire and…Continue

Started by Graham Ward Feb 7.

SMJ photos

Stoke Bruerne

Stoke Bruerne
Salcey Forest
Ravenstone Wood

Stoke Bruerne station opened to passengers in December 1892 and closed in March 1893. There was one other station on the line from Towcester to Olney, Salcey Forest, which was literally in the
middle of nowhere. A train and loco were hired from the Midland Railway at Bedford to operate the Olney to Towcester service for £500.00 per quarter. At the end of the first quarter passenger
receipts averaged £5, so the Company gave it up as a bad job.

The station was however used by specials, such as Sunday School outings, and also specials to Towcester for the Easter Monday race meetings from London (St Pancras) via Bedford, plus troop trains in both World Wars. Goods traffic of farming supplies (fertilisers etc) and coal survived until 1953

Station Masters House - Stoke Bruerne

Find more photos like this on "The Unofficial SMJ Society" at www.smj.me