‘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

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 on Friday.

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.

Ravenstone Wood Junction Signal Box-an anomaly 3 Replies

Closely examining the brass lever plates shown in the Olney Line entry in the Index Section of this website I noticed a significant anomaly. Some of the above plates, specifically 1, 10, 11, 12, 25, 32, 34. refer to platforms, loading dock, goods…Continue

Started by Dave Hayward. Last reply by Barry Taylor Oct 9.

SMJ keys from the Towcester area 1 Reply

I have been contacted by someone who wishes to dispose of two sets of SMJ-related keys from the Towcester area, but does not want to put personal email or other details on this website. They have been given to him by the estate manager at Easton…Continue

Started by Barry Taylor. Last reply by Barry Taylor Sep 4.

SMJ photos

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Last SMJ train at Banbury Merton St.

Last SMJ train at Banbury Merton St.

Here's that train again, last seen at Towcester in Coronation Year.

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Albums: The Towcester - Banbury branch, Final Days, Banbury, The SMJ Remembered

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Comment by adrian vaughan on September 17, 2009 at 17:22
Dick - you are 24 carat gold. Thank you very much for the info.

Adrian.
Comment by Dick Bodily on September 17, 2009 at 14:32
Comment by Dick just now CORRECTING PREVIOUS COMMENT

Adrian

I was completely wrong about it being Coronation Day. This and the Towcester picture were in fact of the last N&BJR train on Saturday 30th June 1951. It was much photographed with a Union Jack on the 4Fs tender (No 44204) but Jenkin's book states that the single carriage (M20264) carried a Royal Standard. Many apologies for leading everyone up the garden path with this by not carefully checking my sources. These are the only pictures I have seen of the carriage with the Royal Standard. Incidentally this is the other end of the coach from the Towcester picture so either there were two flags or more likely it was moved to the other end of the coach.

Dick

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