‘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
More building at Towcester 2 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 Nigel Nov 7.
Broom History Group Event 9th November 2024
Broom History Group will be holding an event at Broom Village Hall 2-4pm on 9th November 2024 including a film on the railway and Broom Junction.…Continue
Started by Simon Stevens Oct 25.
Misunderstanding Easton Neston 2 Replies
Hello, I'm a new member and I've searched through the articles and can't find anything specific to my answer/ question. Can anyone help?…Continue
Started by Matt Davis. Last reply by Matt Davis Oct 16.
Loco N° 5. 2-4-0T
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 Aug 29.
SMJ photos
Avon Bridge E & W Image circa 1910
This is the view from the upstream (Stratford) side of the Avon bridge. A footbridge had exisited at this spot for many years and town records list it as a wooden structure in the early 19th century. The footbridge shown here was the first substantial structure and was replaced with the present one using the same piers. Until the E & W Railway bridge was reused for the relief road the only vehicle crossing of the Avon was Hugh Clopton's road bridge about a mile upstream. The Stratford & Moreton Tramway which crossed the E & W line near the site of Clifford Sidings adjacent to the Birmingham - Oxford turnpike road (later A34) entered the town on the first ever multi arch brick viaduct built for railway use. It was never converted to road vehicle use due to its width and is now a footpath. Considering the political arguments and vested interests that dragged out through the fifties and sixties regarding the provision of a second Avon road crossing the town should be grateful that the railway that they chose to ignore for so long should have left them with such a useful legacy.
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Comment by Si Donal on November 9, 2012 at 6:51
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Wow - what a nice photograph. Those Edwardian scenes always look so stylish. If you look at the train, the third wagon and possibly the fourth hare marked E&W. Photo's of SMJ liveried wagons are rare enough but this only the second E&W wagon photo I have seen, the other being a single bolster wagon in a wagon-builders portrait.
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