‘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 3 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 John Evans Apr 19.
Loco N° 5. 2-4-0T 1 Reply
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. Last reply by Simon Dunkley Mar 17.
SMJ seats at York Museum ? 1 Reply
I took my grandson to the National Railway Museum on Dec. 30th and noticed two bench seats, of the type found on station platforms until traditional stations were replaced with bus-shelters. Both bear the title " STRATFORD " - I'll try and upload…Continue
Started by Paul Atherton. Last reply by Simon Dunkley Feb 22.
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, 2024.
SMJ photos
Welcombe Hotel (Stratford upon Avon) Advert
My dad was rummaging through old magazines. This was in one of the old Punch Magazines. It's dated 30 Mar 1932, just after the Ro-Railer experiment.
Albums: Memoribilia, Stratford upon Avon, SMJ Documents
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Comment by John Jennings on January 15, 2010 at 21:38
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My full account of the Ro-railer is elsewhere on this site. It did not enter pubic service until 23.4.32 but it is fair to assume that it would have been around for training runs in the preceding weeks. The advert therfore just pre-dates the Ro-railer "experiment"!
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Comment by Si Donal on January 15, 2010 at 10:40
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There are also copies of a set of hand coloured or sepia postcards that come up on Ebay, marketing Stratford. If I recall they are LNWR so the SMJ would have provided the means to get there! I'll keep a look out for them again, and get a set if they're cheap enough.
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Of course, go for it. I am interested into why this hotel was so favoured by the LMS, especially as they had a hotel chain of their own. Was it a formal partnership I wonder because that would justify the expense of the Ro-Railer experiment. Or perhaps just mutually beneficial.
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I stayed one night at this hotel in about 1996.
I was surprised (in view of its railway connections) as to how far out from Stratford it is.
Peter
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Comment by Andy Thompson on January 14, 2010 at 20:34
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Vic We'd love it if you could! If that's OK Si? Andy
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Comment by Stratford Bike Hire on January 14, 2010 at 20:11
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Great picture. I know a couple of the managers at the Welcome, I will forwrd it to them. You never know they might be able to dig up something for you from their records
Vic
Stratford BIke Hire
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The Welcome Hotel, originally built in 1866 is a very interesting aside to the SMJ story; being bought from the Trevelyan family, being tied up as it is with the Ro-railer which ran from the Old Town station to the hotel, all be it briefly - I'd love more if anyone has any
Andy
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