‘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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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

Stoke Bruerne

Stoke Bruerne
Salcey Forest
Ravenstone Wood

Stoke Bruerne station opened to passengers in December 1892 and closed in March 1893. There was one other station on the line from Towcester to Olney, Salcey Forest, which was literally in the
middle of nowhere. A train and loco were hired from the Midland Railway at Bedford to operate the Olney to Towcester service for £500.00 per quarter. At the end of the first quarter passenger
receipts averaged £5, so the Company gave it up as a bad job.

The station was however used by specials, such as Sunday School outings, and also specials to Towcester for the Easter Monday race meetings from London (St Pancras) via Bedford, plus troop trains in both World Wars. Goods traffic of farming supplies (fertilisers etc) and coal survived until 1953

Station Masters House - Stoke Bruerne

Find more photos like this on "The Unofficial SMJ Society" at www.smj.me