‘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
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.
Ravenstone Wood Junction Signal Box-an anomaly 3 Replies
Closely examining the brass lever plates shown in the Olney Line entry in the Index Section of this website I noticed a significant anomaly. Some of the above plates, specifically 1, 10, 11, 12, 25, 32, 34. refer to platforms, loading dock, goods…Continue
Started by Dave Hayward. Last reply by Barry Taylor Oct 9, 2025.
SMJ photos
Blakesley - Trackbed looking towards Morton Pinkney, BHMR ran through the double hedge on the left passing under the SMJ bridge where the pile of brick rubble is in the foreground.
Add a Comment
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Comment by Dick Bodily on October 5, 2009 at 17:01
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Andy
I think most of my memories, knowledge and my gran's yarns are already on the site. You'd need to send me some questions to prompt me if you insist!
Also my memory for detail isn't as good as many others that have contributed in the past and my written records of SMJR workings are virtually non-existant. I'm amazed at the knowledge of some people who write reminiscing articles for magazines, how do they do it? I'm sure John or Barry could provide better info on these matters and people who contributed to the old site like Richard Copping and Bob Hodson if they could be recontacted probably have more accurate memories than myself especially about Towcester....where the website all started!
Dick
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Comment by Andy Thompson on October 5, 2009 at 16:26
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Dick.
I'd love it if you'd use the phone number and code listed on the home page and tell us some of these fantastic SMJ memories you have!
Andy
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Looking towards Morton, for comparison see also Lloyd's 60s picture taken from the same spot. The miniature railway route passed just to the left of the pile of rubble and ran between a double hedge in a shallow cutting. Blakesley's famously tall Up Home signal stood roughly next to the tallest bush on the right hand site of the trackbed, Station master, Cecil Smart lived in a bungalow roughly where the blue car is hidden behind the hedge. The house that can just about be made out to the right of the car was once occupied by Alec Wyatt, C W Bartholomew's engineer responsible for running of the BHMR.
© 2026 Created by Andy Thompson.
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