‘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"
I took my grandson to the National Railway Museum on Dec. 30th and noticed two bench seats, of the type found on station platforms until traditional stations were replaced with bus-shelters. Both bear the title " STRATFORD " - I'll try and upload…Continue
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
Already in the shops (on 21st May) 'Steam Days' June edition has a long feature article on Byfield as long promised by Rex Partridge. It gives good coverage of the Woodford West - Stratford routing of freights in the last decade of the line's history, including an extract from the working timetable. There are several new photos as well as some familiar ones. There's also a comprehensive list of locos types seen at Byfield by Rex as a youngster with anecdotes about some of Byfield's railway characters. Recommended essential SMJR reading!