‘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 9 hours ago.
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
Burton dasset Iron ore bucket rope way to the SMJ
Hi, I am new to the society, born in Northend and grew up there.
I used to play on the line, one of the chaps I went to school with still drives the MOD munition trains on the bit of line to Fenny Compton.
Anyway when I was about 8 or 9 ( a long time ago) I dug up in the hedge on what is now Burton Dasset hills (was private land then) 2 cast iron wheels from the over-head bucket rope way that used to take iron ore from the quarry on top of the hills to the SMJ siding.
My father (unfortunately long dead) showed me where the steam engine used to sit that powered the rope way, the wheels although a long way down the hill were below where the engine sat buried in the middle of the hedge.
I was looking for a secret tunnel to the manor house, as you do when you are 8 or 9 and at first was convinced I had found one. However it turned out to be these 2 wheels approximately 2ft6" in diameter, one has deep grooves where the steel cable has worn into it.
Would anybody be interested in seeing one if I can make it on the 12th June?
Unfortunately I am at the TT until late early Saturday morning so cannot promise to make it, but there may be other occassions, anyway.
I will attach some pictures sometine shortly
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Andy Thompson on
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Richard
I'd be very interested as well as hearing all (and I mean all)that you can remember about the site. I did hear a story of one man who got stuck in a bucket whilst (illegally ) riding up from the railway when the lunch time hooter went off and the pulley system was halted!!
Andy
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Permalink Reply by Richard Keyte on
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Hi Andy my dad told me that he and his brother had ridden in the buckets as well. they were cut loose as youngsters and left to their own devices after their mother died (my gradmother) I can show you some of the features still on Burton Dasset.
Drayton manor, springs to mind.
regards Richard
Andy Thompson said:Richard
I'd be very interested as well as hearing all (and I mean all)that you can remember about the site. I did hear a story of one man who got stuck in a bucket whilst (illegally ) riding up from the railway when the lunch time hooter went off and the pulley system was halted!!
Andy
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Permalink Reply by Tony Newman on
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This is exactly the kind of fragile snippet of history that one hopes would resurface in a forum like this. It is an integral part of the bigger picture but a part that is unlikely to have ever found its way into any archive or official history.
Terrific!
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