‘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

SMJ seats at York Museum ?

I took my grandson to the National Railway Museum on Dec. 30th and noticed two bench seats, of the type found on station platforms until traditional stations were replaced with bus-shelters. Both bear the title " STRATFORD " - I'll try and upload…Continue

Started by Paul Atherton Jan 5.

More building at Towcester 2 Replies

I hear there has been more building at the station site in Towcester.Anyone know what they've dug up?…Continue

Tags: Towcester

Started by Andy Thompson. Last reply by Nigel Nov 7, 2024.

Broom History Group Event 9th November 2024

Broom History Group will be holding an event at Broom Village Hall 2-4pm on 9th November 2024 including a film on the railway and Broom Junction.…Continue

Started by Simon Stevens Oct 25, 2024.

Misunderstanding Easton Neston 2 Replies

Hello, I'm a new member and I've searched through the articles and can't find anything specific to my answer/ question. Can anyone help?…Continue

Started by Matt Davis. Last reply by Matt Davis Oct 16, 2024.

SMJ photos

The 100 Club Certificate

One and all

The society is now a 100 Club member of the Towcester museum. I know that the former SMJ ran through a variety of counties, towns and villages and that not every one of you see Towcester as the lines heart – it’s just where I first met the line and is where I visit when I go and stay with my baby brother.

One aim I had in joining the 100 Club was to be able to support the museum in promoting the railway and in so doing they can help support us. I think it was 2005/6? when I stood in for David Blagrove on the towns talk “Romains, Religion and Railways” (sorry if I’ve got that the wrong way round!) and with your help we have come a long way! Let’s keep it going and keep it fresh.

Now I have got to know you chaps, I know that I am just a very, very small fish in a very large pond. My SMJ memorabilia collection doesn’t even make the pointer move on the scale of things compared to you so I am not going to start preaching to you about what we should or could do. What I intend to do is to tidy up my collection, in its red box bought from “Homebase” in Northampton the day I came over to do my talk and let the museum have it on a very long loan. I don’t look at it that much so I’d love to see it go to good use.

What about these as ideas, to help us and the museum along…?

Don’t we, between our membership, have both name-boards from the Towcester signal box? What a great photo-op!
Why don’t we get them together, at the site, talk to Tesco’s, get the local/national newspapers to come along!
Good for us and the museum!
I am willing to support other museums
Has Stratford got one?
Are they interested?
Have any of you a few little bits and bobs with an SMJ connection you loan?
We could have further meetings at the museum
We could initiate displays at the museum
We could …

You get the idea! I’d love you to come along with me on this one. We all care, remember, collect, have an interest in, all things SMJ. How can we make this work for us