‘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
Tale from the old line...
I am not sure how true it is due to the slight confusion in the dates quoted as the event appears to be in the future when it was written. Make of it what you will.
Taken from More Tales of Old Railwaymen, Tom Quinn ISBN: 1 85410 862 X pp41
Funeral Train
In the early 1900’s Tom Holton’s father was stationmaster at Towcester and the family lived in the station house. When Tom’s sister died in an epidemic, the railway company put on a special train to carry the coffin and mourners to their ancestral home at the village of Slapton 5 Miles away.
The train waited at the nearest point to the church while bearers carried the coffin ½ mile along a field path to the churchyard where the burial took place. The track was single line so no other train could pass.
The family were then conveyed back to Towcester.
The train company, the Stratford-upon-Avon & Midland Junction Railway, was more than once in the receiver’s hands, but it was not too poor to pay this compliment to a faithful servant.
The Railways of England, W. M. Acworth, 1889
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Permalink Reply by Dick Bodily on
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That would have been a point on the Northmpton - Banbury about midway between Greens Norton Junction and Wappenham.
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