‘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 Apr 26.

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

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SMJ nicknames

After I'd posted myt comment on 'Slow, Moulding and Jolting', I saw the other entries and realised that local people had got other names for the line. Whilst is seems clear that they do not have a poetic ear, I bow to local knowledge and humbly accept that locally it was known as the Slow Miserable and Jolty. In the University City of Oxford it was named as I put it. I always thought it was a wonderfully mysterious railway and very romantic. The LMS ran express goods over it from St. Panctas to Bristol!. All these old contractor's ines, built as cheaply as possible but yet foll;owing very useful cross-country courses, were failures commercially but wonderfully evocative and generally magic. The King's Sutton Junction to Andoversford Jc line through Stow-on-the-Wold, the Midland & South Western Junction from Andoversford Jc to Andover (and Southampton) marvellous railways. My friend SId Mumford, born about 1920, was very keen on the SMJ and was very attracted to Cockley Brake Jc. for its remoteness which is magicalness. He was a Special Class signalman at Oxford. Great railways, great people, great days.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Andy Thompson on September 1, 2009 at 19:56
Adrian
Don't worry! We like a nice SMJ debate here! You drop as many bomb-shells as you like, you're just helping to keep the memory of the SMJ alive!
Andy
Permalink Reply by adrian vaughan on September 1, 2009 at 20:00
Andy Thompson said:
Adrian
Don't worry! We like a nice SMJ debate here! You drop as many bomb-shells as you like, you're just helping to keep the memory of the SMJ alive!
Andy
Permalink Reply by Dick Bodily on September 1, 2009 at 20:05
Adrian

According to Peter's researches it was known as your version by an old lady from Stratford as well.

All the best

Dick
Permalink Reply by adrian vaughan on September 1, 2009 at 20:07
Dick said:
Adrian

According to Peter's researches it was known as your version by an old lady from Stratford as well.

All the best

Dick
Permalink Reply by adrian vaughan on September 1, 2009 at 20:07
adrian vaughan said:
Dick said:
Adrian

According to Peter's researches it was known as your version by an old lady from Stratford as well.

All the best

Dick
Permalink Reply by Andy Thompson on September 1, 2009 at 20:52
That's what we want to hear Adrian. You must have a million railway stories - if you can dig out some SMJ ones (or dig out some from others by starting a debate) then carry on!!

Andy
Permalink Reply by Peter S Lewis on September 2, 2009 at 9:07
Speaking of the magicalness of the SMJ, my source wrote that ..."it was a slow line"!! In fact, she said, it was so slow that whilst the train was in motion , you could get out, pick moon- daisies at the side of the track, and get back on again!!
Permalink Reply by adrian vaughan on September 2, 2009 at 9:16
Peter S Lewis said:
Speaking of the magicalness of the SMJ, my source wrote that ..."it was a slow line"!! In fact, she said, it was so slow that whilst the train was in motion , you could get out, pick moon- daisies at the side of the track, and get back on again!!
Permalink Reply by adrian vaughan on September 2, 2009 at 9:16
adrian vaughan said:
Peter S Lewis said:
Speaking of the magicalness of the SMJ, my source wrote that ..."it was a slow line"!! In fact, she said, it was so slow that whilst the train was in motion , you could get out, pick moon- daisies at the side of the track, and get back on again!!
Permalink Reply by John Jennings on September 14, 2009 at 11:22
In Stratford it was often also known as The Slow, Mournful Journey. (Usually by staff employed by its larger neighbour the GWR but I won't mention the Gas Works!). In the fifties and sixties I also heard it called the "Smudge".
Permalink Reply by David Guest on September 19, 2009 at 14:47
In and around West Northants, Towcester and Blakesley, some 60 yrs ago the SMJ was often referred to as the Save Me Jesus - perhaps a bit non pc by todays standards!
Permalink Reply by adrian vaughan on September 19, 2009 at 15:45
I like that one a lot - best ever.

A.

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