‘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
Ettington
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.
Ettington was a typical East & West station, to the north of the village from where its name came. It had sidings, goods yard and signalbox. It is worth noting that the small and very rare E & W boundary marker plates were only ever found near this location. A few were found in the sixties and a couple have been found in more recent times. There is no record of why they were cast but it was probably to mark the boundary between the local Quarry Co and the E & W. They were cast by the foundry in Old Town, Stratford just down the road from the E & W Station. This foundry later became known as The Royal Label Factory because it produced road signs for the Government. The sidings were right at the top of the incline and there was a kick back road laid on the level to enable standard gauge trucks to be horse shunted. This can be seen going through the gate in one picture in the slide show link below. I was told that empties were worked uphill from Stratford with the loco running into the siding and then reversing past the dock. Loaded trucks were always taken out eastwards and if they were destined to go west the train would be reformed at Ettington and reverse.
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