‘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
National Archives, Donation and Kineton Photograph
Not sure if others are aware of the significant amount of documents held by the National Archives on the SMJ. The collection consists mainly of Directors Minutes etc. There is also a collection of early 20th C timetables, handbills etc. which I have…Continue
Started by Dave Hayward Apr 26.
Model Railways
HiI'm selling my collection of SMJR related 00 gauge modelsIf of interest for any of you please contact me by mail atjfreuville@gmail.comand I will send you the list and photosKind regardsJackContinue
Started by Jack Freuville Feb 23.
BLAKESLEY and an SMJ stamp
This item has come up in an auction recently and is a glimpse of the practice of carrying mail by train. Apart from the SMJ…Continue
Started by Graham Ward Nov 14, 2025.
Further about Ravenstone Wood Junction 1 Reply
Firstly a belated thanks to Barry for his excellent research that has returned these signal lever plates to their rightful home! [Perhaps their place of residence on the website needs changing!] Apologies for starting s new Forum discussion on this…Continue
Started by Dave Hayward. Last reply by Barry Taylor Oct 23, 2025.
SMJ photos
Accident Report 30/08/49
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Comment by Stephen on November 7, 2012 at 12:01
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The 'Round the World' would not have picked up ironstone wagons at Charwelton as it was 'asleep' in 1948. Charwelton was open from 1941 to 1944 and then shut along with Byfield in 1944, I think that Byfield re-opened in 1945. Charwelton re-opened in 1951.
Stephen Robbins
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Comment by Dick Bodily on November 5, 2012 at 12:12
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Si
I hadn't noticed the loco number on the report but can also confirm from a different source (The Engine Shed Society's allocation Excel files) that it was an Annesley (then 38B) loco at the time. This might suggest that it had been stopped at Woodford shed for some minor repair and was being tried out on the Round the World. I shall have to get on to Byfield's expert Rex to see if he has any info about this incident. He certainly be interested to hear about this.
Dick
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Comment by Si Donal on November 4, 2012 at 19:04
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Here's the offending locomotive, later in it's life:
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I think 63706 is an 04/7 In 1948 it was allocated to Annesley Shed. I got this detail from the Rail UK Steam Locomotive search facility.
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This would almost certainly have been the 'Round the World ' working from Woodford Yards, which picked up and set down iron ore trucks from Byfield and Charwelton. The crew would have been Woodford men and the loco would probably have been a J11 or an L1, but could have been almost anything that Woodford cared to use, especailly if they wanted to test out a failed loco that they had repaired on a working which never took the loco more than a couple of miles from Woodford shed. To find out more about this working, follow the link below to the 'Pickups' article and scrll down until you find the relevent info
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This is fascinating detail. To me, the last sentence is quite funny. I am not sure if the comment about "Eastern Region men" is perceived to be part of the problem?
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