‘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
Woodford Halse
Add a Comment
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Comment by les gee on November 27, 2012 at 19:37
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Corrected it now
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Thanks for the comments Dick, have to say sorry and i have labelled this picture wrong, the track to the left is going to Byfield and is therefore the SMJ and the GC is on the right. The earthworks in the background would become Woodford Station.
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Comment by Dick Bodily on November 27, 2012 at 12:35
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Some great old pictures here, Les. At first I was sure this was looking towards Woodford station near Woodford 'North' Junction and that the wagons were on the GC and the curve the north spur from the GC to the E&WJR, but I'm not now 100% sure . One thing for sure is that 'our' line would have been the E&WJR at the time. Could this possibly be looking towards where bridge 37A is going to be built and the line coming in from the left the GC and the line on the right the soon to be abandoned GC to E&WJR south spur? Having studied John Cosford's pictures of the Woodford 'North' junction taken in the 60s, I am more inclined to think that my original view is correct. Apart from the alignment and embankments which fit this theory, the strangely shaped tree on the left of your picture would seem to appear slightly bigger and partially grown out next to a new tree in John's much later views.
Picture Copyright John Cosford
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