‘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
Ghost Stories
I've just read 'Mysterious Northamptonshire' by Daniel Codd (Breedon Books 2009) which contains a couple of references to the SMJR and to the Blakesley hall Miniature Railway. Its an excellent read too for anyone with a general interest in Northamptonshire.
One story concerns a man who stopped his car to answer a call of nature by a bridge over a cutting of the disused Northampton and Banbury line near Bradden, presumably the one on the Blakesley to Silverstone road. He saw a bright light coming towards him in the cutting, as it approached he noticed it was attached to an old fashioned steam locomotive which silently passed. This was supposed to have happened around 2006 but I've never heard this yarn before despite knowing a lot of people in that area.
The second story concerns mysterious lights that were seen in the deserted Blakesley Hall prior to its demolition plus reports of people hearing the chugging of an invisible engine on the route of the lifted miniature railway. Again I grew up in the area but never heard of this minature ghost train although I heard plenty of other ghost stories about the Hall including The Grey Lady who was supposed to walk at midnight through the chestnuts in the grounds. The mystery of the lights is no more a mystery than the puzzlement of several Blakesley parents at the time whose young sons had asked for powerful torches from Father Christmas! Unofficial access to the derelict hall was all too easy in the 50s !
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