‘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
Banana Specials and Race Day Excursions.
Also in which year did the Race Day Excursions last run? - the races were on Easter Monday each year. In one of Dr Ian Allen's photographic albums there is a photograph of a locomotive - I think a "3F" - with "British Railways" written in full on the tender, so this gives a date of certainly 1948, but probably 1949 or later, so this is the first clue.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by David Blagrove on
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So far as Towcester Races are concerned Easter Monday was for many years the traditional date. It is a steeplechase course and until comparatively recently Lord Hesketh, the then owner, only opened the course for racing on this day (and in latter years Boxing Day). The last passenger services over the SMJ were withdrawn as from Saturday 5th April 1952 and that year Easter Monday was on 14th April. This leads one to suppose that the once-heavy Easter Monday traffic was no longer expected at Towcester by the time of the ending of passenger services.
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