‘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

EWJR Portland Cement Wagon 10 Replies

Hello All,I found this item on ebay, although it's a model, what I'd like to know is, was it actually based on the real thing? As you can see it has the initials EWJR and return empty to Ettington, which all fits in with the real world.It was listed…Continue

Started by Jim Goodman. Last reply by Jim Goodman on Saturday.

The Roade Connection 2 Replies

There seem to be several big questions about the SMJ.Tiffield station: did it exist, for how long and where exactly was it?Why build stations at Salcey Forest and Stoke Bruerne, and why such substantial buildings?But the biggest one seems to be the…Continue

Started by peter fleming. Last reply by Richard Denny May 19.

Stored coaches 3 Replies

This query arises from a discussion on another site (Disused Railway and Stations around Northamptonshire).There has been recent reference to coaches stored on the SMJ and a statement in Bylines March 12th issue that there were over three hundred…Continue

Started by Alan Brant. Last reply by Alan Brant Apr 30.

Way in

Hi thereI hope you are all in good health.A question about passenger access to stations such as Fenny Compton.Apparently, these station buildings had no entrance doors and access was only from the platform side.I imagine passengers would come up…Continue

Started by Jack Freuville Mar 29.

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Jack Freuville's Discussions

Way in

Hi thereI hope you are all in good health.A question about passenger access to stations such as Fenny Compton.Apparently, these station buildings had no entrance doors and access was only from the…Continue

Started Mar 29

Aircraft crash
8 Replies

HelloI’m intrigued by the statement found in Wikipedia08/12/1944 Wellington LN845 –C of 11 OTU overshot a forced landing at RAF Stratford and ran onto the railway at the end of the runway. The…Continue

Started this discussion. Last reply by Jack Freuville Feb 16.

Fowler 3F 2-6-2T
2 Replies

HelloWould anybody have any information on Fowler 3P 2-6-2T running on the SMJR and are there any photos availableBest regardsJackContinue

Started this discussion. Last reply by Dick Bodily Sep 26, 2019.

Fenny Compton Goods shed
1 Reply

HelloSome time ago I posted a question concerning the goods shed at Fenny Compton as indicated in the book Track Layout diagrams of the Great Western Railway and B.R. (W.R.) section 29…Continue

Started this discussion. Last reply by Simon Dunkley Jan 8, 2019.

 

Jack Freuville's Page

Latest Activity

Jack Freuville posted a discussion

Way in

Hi thereI hope you are all in good health.A question about passenger access to stations such as Fenny Compton.Apparently, these station buildings had no entrance doors and access was only from the platform side.I imagine passengers would come up from the level crossing side.My souvenirs of train travel long ago are that platform access was strictly limited and to accompany or greet a traveller you needed to purchase a platform ticket.How was this managed by the SMJ / LMS / BR?Best regardsJackSee More
Mar 29
0 Comments
Jack Freuville replied to Jack Freuville's discussion 'Aircraft crash'
"Hi Gary Since these photos of Brussels airport are not SMJ related, do you wish me to put them on this site or send them to you by mail; in which case could I have your E-mail; mine is jfreuville@gmail.com"
Feb 16
Gary replied to Jack Freuville's discussion 'Aircraft crash'
"I used to know someone who lived at Wood End and they had a bucket of bits that kept turning up in the fields from this tragedy. I have a couple of pieces at home which act as a reminder of such troubled times."
Feb 11
Gary replied to Jack Freuville's discussion 'Aircraft crash'
"I would indeed be interested thank you."
Feb 11
Dick Bodily replied to Jack Freuville's discussion 'Aircraft crash'
"Not as dramatic from a railway point of view but very tragic, three USAF Flying Fortresses on an in formation training flight from Snetterton collided above the SMJ between Blakesley and Moreton Pinkney on 11th October 1944. Two came down…"
Jan 27
Jack Freuville replied to Jack Freuville's discussion 'Aircraft crash'
"Hi Gary Thanks for this very interesting information. I read somewhere that following this accident a signal was installed on the SMJR line and that this signal was operated by the airfield control tower; a seemingly unique case in Air / Rail…"
Jan 26
Gary replied to Jack Freuville's discussion 'Aircraft crash'
"My two passions in one place - trains and aeroplanes...According to the narrative in "Royal Air Force Bomber Command Losses Vol 7" by W R Chorley. "T/o 1955 Wescott for a night cross country. Reported to have landed roughly at 2200,…"
Jan 24
Jack Freuville replied to Jack Freuville's discussion 'Aircraft crash'
"Thanks Simon I got confused with the other RAF airfield at Wellesbourne"
Oct 8, 2019
Simon Stevens replied to Jack Freuville's discussion 'Aircraft crash'
"RAF Atherstone's runway did end adjacent to the SMJ line - modern OS map so there could be a grain of truth in the story"
Oct 7, 2019
Jack Freuville posted a discussion

Aircraft crash

HelloI’m intrigued by the statement found in Wikipedia08/12/1944 Wellington LN845 –C of 11 OTU overshot a forced landing at RAF Stratford and ran onto the railway at the end of the runway. The aircraft was only lightly damaged until it was hit by a locomotive! F/Sgt C R Wagstaffe RNZAF and his crew were unhurt.If you look at a map RAF Atherstone or Wellesbourne is about 3 km from the SMJ line; that’s quite some “overshooting”Best regardsJackSee More
Oct 7, 2019
8 Comments
Dick Bodily replied to Jack Freuville's discussion 'Fowler 3F 2-6-2T'
"This is a new one on me, however a few were allocated to Bedford at different times so I suppose it is possible that one could have worked onto the Olney branch of the SMJ, possibly on an inspection train, but this is just my guesswork?…"
Sep 26, 2019
Jack Freuville replied to Jack Freuville's discussion 'Fowler 3F 2-6-2T'
"Correction:I mean a Fowler 3P 2-6-2T..."
Sep 25, 2019
Jack Freuville posted a discussion

Fowler 3F 2-6-2T

HelloWould anybody have any information on Fowler 3P 2-6-2T running on the SMJR and are there any photos availableBest regardsJackSee More
Sep 25, 2019
2 Comments

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At 11:49 on March 12, 2015, Terry Dorrity said…

Hi Jack,

I've lived in Brussels since 1980 and am, also, retired. As I told you, I used to live in Stratford and took many photos on the SMJ as well as elsewhere. I've even had books published, one a bi-lingual one: "Goodbye Vapeur Francaise", published in France by LR Presse, and others published in England on industrial steam in the English Midlands and the Ulster Transport Authority. I even had an exhibition of photographs held at the Berlaymont in Brussels called " Europe at Full Steam" in October 2010. So, you can see, I'm still interested in railways and, in particular, steam locomotives.

I was interested to see you were making a model of Clifford Sidings, I remember that area well as it was an easy bike ride from home. Another system on the way to Banbury was the Oxfordshire Ironstone which, I am sure you know, was the source of much traffic after the "new" curve was installed between Old Town and Racecourse stations. The subject of another book.

It would be great to meet. Perhaps I could go to Rebecq on a working day if that would be ok with you. It will have to be a bit later because I am going to be in England for a little while for my mother's 99th birthday. She must have travelled on pre-grouping trains! She wasn't at Stratford at the time, though!

All best,

Terry

At 16:27 on January 18, 2010, Andy Thompson said…
Welcome aboard Jack I hope you enjoy the site and feel able to contribute to it!

Andy
 
 
 

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