‘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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Would the GCR have gone via Towcester? 14 Replies

Looking through Mac Hawkins book on the GCR then and now, he mentions that the GCR were thinking of running a line connecting Brackley to Northampton and had provisionally made a mound ready for a platform to be later constructed but they dropped…Continue

Started by Gary. Last reply by Andrew Emmerson 6 hours ago.

EWJR Portland Cement Wagon 13 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 Jim Goodman 9 hours ago.

MORTON PINKNEY LEVEL CROSSING 14 Replies

There was a public level crossing between Blakesley and Morton Pinkney, complete with a gatehouse.Does anyone know how this was operated?Presumably the gates must have been manual and kept closed against road traffic.Early Working Timetables mention…Continue

Started by Barry Taylor. Last reply by Andrew Emmerson 22 hours ago.

Byfield station woodwork colour 1 Reply

Hi, as anyone any idea what colour the doors would have been on the station building. I have a vague recollection that they were a maroonish/brownish colour, similar to the signal box.Thanks in advanceCliveContinue

Started by Clive. Last reply by Andrew Emmerson yesterday.

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