‘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

More building at Towcester 2 Replies

I hear there has been more building at the station site in Towcester.Anyone know what they've dug up?…Continue

Tags: Towcester

Started by Andy Thompson. Last reply by Nigel Nov 7.

Broom History Group Event 9th November 2024

Broom History Group will be holding an event at Broom Village Hall 2-4pm on 9th November 2024 including a film on the railway and Broom Junction.…Continue

Started by Simon Stevens Oct 25.

Misunderstanding Easton Neston 2 Replies

Hello, I'm a new member and I've searched through the articles and can't find anything specific to my answer/ question. Can anyone help?…Continue

Started by Matt Davis. Last reply by Matt Davis Oct 16.

Loco N° 5. 2-4-0T

Hi everybodyI’m building a OO gauge model of Fenny Compton and Clifford Sidings over here in Belgium.Quite a strange idea but so be it…In view of this I plan to transform a RTR Beatie Well Tank into SMJR N° 5 the 2-4-0T and use some etchings for the…Continue

Started by Jack Freuville Aug 29.

SMJ photos

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Another Special Train near Byfield

This special running on Sunday 9th August 1959, ran from Kings Cross to Kings Cross utilising part of the SMJ in the itinerary. The train arrived at Blisworth having come via Hitchin, Bedford and Northampton where Black Five No. 45091 took over after the train had been shunted across the LNW main line and into SMJ territory. Departure took the participants through Towcester, Woodford West to Byfield, then back to Woodford Halse to gain the GC main line for a southbound run to Calvert and reversal onto the wartime spur to the Oxford - Cambridge line. Another reversal at Verney Junction took the train to Banbury - via Cockley Brake of course, and then a shunt through the goods yard at Banbury to arrive on the GW. Further delights included reversal at Berkswell, a trip over the Leamington - Weedon branch, then after Leighton Buzzard, Dunstable, Luton (Bute Street), to the GN main line and Kings Cross. What a tour - and how many signal boxes had to be opened specially for this to take place?
Attached is a photograph from "The Railway Observer" by Michael Mensing (thanks) showing the train approaching Byfield - another one for the Byfield Album?
Robin Cullup

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Permalink Reply by Andy Thompson on December 8, 2009 at 13:28

Permalink Reply by Dick Bodily on December 8, 2009 at 13:47
Robin

Thanks for details of this tour, have a look at the railtours page (scroll down from middle 'other pages' box on menu at top of this page to find the link) to see a full list of railtours we know about. I've cut and pasted your discussion notes onto that page as well.

Dick

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