‘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
magnet fishing
Hi everyone, yesterday I did some magnet fishing with the grandchildren from the SMJ bridge over the river Tove in Towester, to great excitement of the children (and myself) we pulled out three chair screws and a rivet which looked similar in style…Continue
Started by Steve Camm Sep 1.
One of the best preserved SMJ bridges? 1 Reply
I was at Ettington the other day and apart from the good shed, which has had a lot of money spent on it including full glazing, the station building is still there. But my attention went to the station bridge (No. 73?) which is in very good…Continue
Started by John Evans. Last reply by Andy Thompson Aug 30.
Passenger Trains connected to the SMJ
Following on from the previous discussion about WD passenger trains on the SMJ during the 1940s; it must be said that passenger trains ran on metals connected to the SMJ until the mid 1960s. There was a passenger service from the nearest point to…Continue
Started by Dave Hayward Jun 16.
Wartime passenger trains from Burton Dassett 3 Replies
Arthur Jordan in his book, The Stratford Upon Avon and Midland Junction Railway - The Shakespeare Route at pp 82 mentions a WW2 late night special from Stratford on Avon to Burton Dassett for soldiers at the CAD. I would envisage that this did not…Continue
Started by Dave Hayward. Last reply by Dave Hayward Jun 16.
SMJ photos
Stoke Bruerne station
It was being lived in a by a railwayman at the time, but needed quite a lot of work. He let us wander round on one occasion. Some of the slates on the roof used for repairs came from Salcey Forest when it was demolished.April 5 1966.
Add a Comment
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Comment by Tony Newman on March 15, 2020 at 14:30
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Gosh, this is so encouragingly well preserved and complete - so ripe for demolition and 'redevelopment'. They built them to last back then, didn't they? To me it is part and parcel of education (one of the most important activities any nation can concern itself with surely) that a government should take a keen interest in all aspects of heritage deserving of restoration and preservation - and conducive to it, not slink away and leave it to the goodwill of heritage enthusiasts. Industry may be thin on the ground now, but it and the railways were once the cornerstone of the nation's life and well-being. Forget funding that fine statue of some rich, loved and hated, probably dead, not-altogether-honest politician, get some new windows, roof and doors in this place - whoever it actually belongs to. Few castles and stately homes are still in possession of the original owner, such national treasures get passed on down the generations. Isn't it great that when the call goes out for funding for a heritage project, say, to restore an ailing Flying Scotsman to perfect health, individual donations and National Heritage lottery fund supporters poured more than four million into the project? Kudos to every one of them. Just one opinion, of course.
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