‘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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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

Fenny Compton

I’m modeling Fenny Compton station and am lacking photos of the following points of view:

Up station throat including point N° 11 and Down home signal N° 2

Goods yard access including trap point and ground signal N° 14

Can anyone give details of the number of sidings in the goods yard as drawings differ between one and two?

Head shunt for change over from SMJR to GWR including points N° 10; N° 23 and ground signals N° 9 24

Can anyone give details of the point operation at this interchange as some points have not been numbered; were they changed via a ground frame?

Thanks in advance

Jack

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Permalink Reply by Jim Goodman on June 16, 2014 at 22:24

Hi Jack,

Sorry, can't help you with any photos you are looking for, but good luck in your search. I assume you have all the books on the SMJ, I have one close up photo of the wooden waiting shelter on the up platform that doesn't seem to be in any book.

I'm fairly certain that there were two sidings as shown in Arthur Jordan's book and 'Track layout diagrams of the GWR and BR WR, section 29 - SMJ'

In M. Christensen's book all the points on the interchange are numbered and presumably controlled from the one box built in 1931. I don't know how it was controlled when there were two boxes.

Are you modelling both the SMJ and GWR stations? - I've thought about doing that, it will be some layout (presumably in 00 gauge).

Jim.

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Permalink Reply by Jack Freuville on June 17, 2014 at 17:39

Hi Jim

Thanks for your quick answer. I do have many books on the SMJR and over 500 photographs; unfortunately I’m missing those odd places at Fenny Compton. I don’t have M. Christensen’s book; could you send me the references?

I’m only modeling THE SMJR station with part of the GWR track as a scenic add on; the gauge is OO