‘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"
.
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
Byfield
The East & West Junction railway (E&W) proposed a new
line from a junction with the Northampton & Banbury
Junction
Railway at Greens Norton to Stratford Upon Avon.
In 1864 Lady Palmerson came and cut the first sod. The
E&W became a part of
the SMJ in January 1st, 1909.
Byfield was the SMJ's connection station with Great Central
Railway. It also served the Ironstone quarries nearby. For more
about the Byfiled Ironstone Quarries, Click here.
Today the station and goods sidings area has been largely filled
in and the eastern end of the site is now a cemetary. The SMJ
road
bridge has been replaced by a banking. A 'pocket park' leads to
the
Byfield Playing Field where an interpretive noticeboard
explains
that the pocket park was once the SMJR route. The western
extreme
end of the down platform is still visible as is the ruined base
of
the water tower that stood there. Nearer to the cemetery is what
is
probably the remins of the cattle pens.
Click here for more Byfield photos
Find more
photos like this on "The Unofficial SMJ Society" at
www.smj.me
If you have any information or photos, sign up and leave us a
comment
Add a Comment
-
Comment by Si Donal on January 10, 2010 at 21:01
© 2026 Created by Andy Thompson.
Powered by
You need to be a member of The SMJ Society to add comments!
Join The SMJ Society