‘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
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.
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