‘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
Kineton
Add a Comment
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Comment by adrian vaughan on December 8, 2009 at 15:48
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Thanks very much for your info, Richard. Very interesting.
Adrian.
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Comment by Richard Hopkins on December 8, 2009 at 15:46
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I believe the building behind the signal box is the bus garage of Stratford Blue Motor Services. The garage originally belonged to the Kineton Green Bus Services which Stratford Blue absorbed in 1937.
The garage was rebuilt in the 1950’s which explains why it looks new in the photograph. I think the building is still there today but I’m not sure what it’s used for.
With bus competition so near it helps to explains why the SMJ passenger services did not last long after nationalisation.
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Don't know about the stock on the siding but there is a man on the platform ramp who might be an Inspector type and a porter is walking away from camera on platform. I get the strong impression that the train from which this was taken has been stood here for a while while the enthusiasts take photos and is in this picture just pulling away, watched by that Inspectorial person. I think this could be the train seen in another picture hauled by the 75xxx?
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Comment by Andy Thompson on December 8, 2009 at 8:15
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A scene lost to time and the car! What's the unit behind the station? It look new! Andy
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