‘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

magnet fishing

Hi everyone, yesterday I did some magnet fishing with the grandchildren from the SMJ bridge over the river Tove in Towester, to great excitement of the children (and myself) we pulled out three chair screws and a rivet which looked similar in style…Continue

Started by Steve Camm Sep 1.

One of the best preserved SMJ bridges? 1 Reply

I was at Ettington the other day and apart from the good shed, which has had a lot of money spent on it including full glazing, the station building is still there. But my attention went to the station bridge (No. 73?) which is in very good…Continue

Started by John Evans. Last reply by Andy Thompson Aug 30.

Passenger Trains connected to the SMJ

Following on from the previous discussion about WD passenger trains on the SMJ during the 1940s; it must be said that passenger trains ran on metals connected to the SMJ until the mid 1960s. There was a passenger service from the nearest point to…Continue

Started by Dave Hayward Jun 16.

Wartime passenger trains from Burton Dassett 3 Replies

Arthur Jordan in his book, The Stratford Upon Avon and Midland Junction Railway - The Shakespeare Route at pp 82 mentions a WW2 late night special from Stratford on Avon to Burton Dassett for soldiers at the CAD. I would envisage that this did not…Continue

Started by Dave Hayward. Last reply by Dave Hayward Jun 16.

SMJ photos

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Fenny Compton level crossing and bridge

At Fenny Compton there is the unusual situation of a level crossing and road underbridge apparently fulfilling the same purpose.

Does anyone know the precise sequence of events in terns of the opening of the level crossing and underbridge?

I am guessing that the level crossing existed first -  just on the GWR line - and was then extended to cover the EWJR when that opened in 1871

Was the road underpass then added later on, if so at what date?

Presumably it could have been added to relieve pressure on the level crossings which might have by then become a problem with holding up of road traffic ?

The old level crossing was however presumably still used when required if the road underpass flooded - or was this locked out of use once the underpass opened?.

Or have I got it totally wrong - was the bridge there originally, with the level crossing being added later?

Any ideas please.

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Permalink Reply by Barry Taylor on January 28, 2014 at 11:47

I've actually partly answered my own question by referring back to some old notes from a visit to the national Archives at Kew a few years ago. I'd forgotten that I copied some old plans for the original layout at Fenny Compton, which clearly show that the road underbridges were there when the EWJR was opened.

So the level crossings were obviously added later - but has anyone any idea just when.

I've jsut loaded the plan up in the photos section

Permalink Reply by NIGEL on February 2, 2014 at 14:19

Hello Barry, here is a section of information on the area in question  from a book on the SMJ. Still leaves a lot to be answered and with no specific dates.

Permalink Reply by Barry Taylor on February 2, 2014 at 14:31

Thanks Nigel - I'd missed the point about the inner set of gates being removed at some time.

But as you say, it still doesn't tell us when the gates were put in. A bit more research needed!

Interestingly, when the EWJR was first proposed back in the 1860's, there was a plan for an island platform here serving the GW down & EWJ up lines, with a through running connection from the GWR onto the EWJ from the Banbury direction. But by the time the line was built this had been modified into two separate stations with a siding connection. It then took until 1960 to put in the through connection, when it was too late !

Permalink Reply by NIGEL on February 2, 2014 at 18:30

Hi Barry, found some more interesting info on the level crossing. Looking at google maps the height restriction on the bridges is 13' 3".

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