‘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"
.
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
Standard 4MT
Add a Comment
-
Comment by adrian vaughan on September 20, 2009 at 18:01
-
Hello again,
Thank you for Harpenden East. You could be right because I do have a negative taken of the ETT instrument inside Harpenden East - taken by the same photographer as took the 75xx pic. Some-one had a look on 6 Bells Jc and found no such Special. But - good as 6 Bells is - it cannot know every special that ran and clearly that's a Special. What is odd is the GWR carriage(s) BUT if the railway tour started from Oxford that would account for it. A Bletchley engine at Oxford would have been completly normal.
-
Comment by Barry Taylor on September 20, 2009 at 14:23
-
Adrian
This looks rather like Harpenden East on the Leighton Buzzard - Dunstable - Luton - Hatfield branch, which was LNWR to Dunstable and GNR beyond. I've only got an odd photo or two of the station but it looks about right and certain details do fit ie: the siding layout, the sign at the platform end and the roofline and chimneys. One photo I have also has a van standing in the same position at the platform end ! This could certainly fit a Bletchley loco - anyone have any more details on the line, and perhaps a track plan and notes on special workings ?
Barry
-
-
OK. Thanks for the effort. Tis a mystery location for the time being.
-
Comment by Dick Bodily on September 17, 2009 at 14:47
-
Adrian
I've been through SIx Bell Junction website pretty thoroughly to find details of any special workings on the SMJ and there were none I could find by a 75000.
Dick
-
-
We are, as the Victorians would have said 'thrown into confusion'.
I was slightly puzzled to see on the SMJ GWR carriages behind the loco which I think is a Bletchley engine. I have just noticed that it is carrying what appears to be a nameplate on the footplating between the leading and middle driving wheels. We know hat the 73xxx had King Arthur plates fitted towards the end of steam but not the 75xxx. Is this, perhaps, on the Bletchley - Oxford line.
I'll now send you another SMJ view.
-
Comment by Gary on September 14, 2009 at 12:49
-
I have to say that I don't think either of these two photos of '034 are on the SMJR. Kineton is certainly ruled out. From what I can tell no other station had a bay or a trailing point on the down line in this fashion.
So... where is it I wonder...?
© 2026 Created by Andy Thompson.
Powered by
You need to be a member of The SMJ Society to add comments!
Join The SMJ Society