‘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

Evesham Redditch & Stratford-upon-Avon Junction Railway 8 Replies

Did this railway (as opposed to the East & West Junction Railway) go into receivership - if so, when. And when did it come out of receivership?Continue

Started by Richard Maund. Last reply by Richard Maund Feb 11.

Bidford-on-Avon 5 Replies

Shall we bring this discussion under the proper heading!So far as the OS plan surveyed 1885, published 1886, is concerned: the OS liked - wherever they could  - to have text running parallel to the top and bottom borders. When they came to add the…Continue

Started by Richard Maund. Last reply by Richard Maund Feb 10.

North End and Warwick Road stations? 57 Replies

Some time ago we ahd an interesting and lively discussion on the mystery station at Tiffield, which added quite a lot to our collective knowledge.I've recently been looking closely at two of the other mystery stations- at North End (sometimes…Continue

Started by Barry Taylor. Last reply by Richard Maund Jan 27.

1873 timetable 4 Replies

Page 12 of Arthur Jordan's book features a full page reproduction of the E&WJ public timetable handbill for August 1873. Does anyone know where the original of that handbill is preserved?Incidentally, the timetable itself formed the basis of…Continue

Started by Richard Maund. Last reply by Barry Taylor Jan 25.

SMJ photos

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This could well be the same place as the pic of 44317 - the track is newly ballasted again. Obviously taken from a bridge, but which one? Ridge & furrow fields to the left with haystacks, and a low, flat, horizon in the background. Strong shadows so this is probably an evening shot looking east.

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Comment by Henry on July 26, 2020 at 23:45

The cast iron marker on the Southam road was taken by a collector in the 80s much to the disgust of the locals. A legal challenge apparently proved the collector had permission from SDC but I believe he promised to return it at some point...

Comment by Barry Taylor on March 27, 2013 at 9:37

Thanks again Alwyn - I think that we have this one - and probably the 4F photo -  sorted now. Our photographer took a lot of pics like this - he called them 'just bits of line' !  - but they are now of great historical importance. Fortunately most are identified......!

Comment by alwyn sparrow on March 26, 2013 at 19:47

Barry,

Yes sorry I meant looking west.There was a occupation bridge at Chadshunt down  Watery Lane .I walked this section in 1967-8 after the track had been lifted.The ballast was pretty clean then.Some of the trackbed has been swept away along this section, it now being returned to agricultural use.Also along the Southam road  between Gaydon and Chadshunt I can remember a old cast iron  mileage marker stating the distance to Kineton station.

Comment by Barry Taylor on March 26, 2013 at 12:28

Hi Alwyn - thanks for this. Presumably you meant to say looking west? This then seems to fit with the Edge Hills away on the extreme left - I've had a look on Google street view at the present day scene, and although the railway bridge seems to have gone, the distant view towards the hills looks just right. I had assumed that long shadows meant an evening view looking east, but it looks as though our photographer must have got up early.

I reckon that the accompanying shot of the 4F on the same newly ballasted section could be at the same location looking the other way from the lineside, and this would account for the 'against the light' nature of the photo if he was looking into the early morning sun. Most of his shots in that area are from the 1957/8 period, and a working timetable of that era shows an Olney to Stratford freight due at Burton Dassett around 9.45am - the working started off at Bedford and this would tie in with 44317's allocation.

Comment by alwyn sparrow on March 24, 2013 at 19:51

Look's like it's the section between Burton Dasset and Kineton at Chadshunt heading east. Top left of picture 

seem's to be the Edge Hill escarpment. This section was upgraded in late 50s by the Western Region  in conjunction with new connection at Stratford  for the Iron ore traffic

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