‘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
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.
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.
SMJ keys from the Towcester area 1 Reply
I have been contacted by someone who wishes to dispose of two sets of SMJ-related keys from the Towcester area, but does not want to put personal email or other details on this website. They have been given to him by the estate manager at Easton…Continue
Started by Barry Taylor. Last reply by Barry Taylor Sep 4.
Bridge sign 3 Replies
An East and West Junction and Stratford-On-Avon, Towcester and Midland Junction Railways bridge weight notice, cast iron, 16½"x11¾", the front repainted. As is usual, the company title has been altered to Stratford-On-Avon and Midland Junction…Continue
Started by Graham Ward. Last reply by Russ Firth Jun 1.
SMJ photos
Welcombe Hotel (Stratford upon Avon) Advert
My dad was rummaging through old magazines. This was in one of the old Punch Magazines. It's dated 30 Mar 1932, just after the Ro-Railer experiment.
Albums: Memoribilia, Stratford upon Avon, SMJ Documents
Add a Comment
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Comment by John Jennings on January 15, 2010 at 21:38
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My full account of the Ro-railer is elsewhere on this site. It did not enter pubic service until 23.4.32 but it is fair to assume that it would have been around for training runs in the preceding weeks. The advert therfore just pre-dates the Ro-railer "experiment"!
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Comment by Si Donal on January 15, 2010 at 10:40
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There are also copies of a set of hand coloured or sepia postcards that come up on Ebay, marketing Stratford. If I recall they are LNWR so the SMJ would have provided the means to get there! I'll keep a look out for them again, and get a set if they're cheap enough.
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Of course, go for it. I am interested into why this hotel was so favoured by the LMS, especially as they had a hotel chain of their own. Was it a formal partnership I wonder because that would justify the expense of the Ro-Railer experiment. Or perhaps just mutually beneficial.
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I stayed one night at this hotel in about 1996.
I was surprised (in view of its railway connections) as to how far out from Stratford it is.
Peter
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Comment by Andy Thompson on January 14, 2010 at 20:34
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Vic We'd love it if you could! If that's OK Si? Andy
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Comment by Stratford Bike Hire on January 14, 2010 at 20:11
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Great picture. I know a couple of the managers at the Welcome, I will forwrd it to them. You never know they might be able to dig up something for you from their records
Vic
Stratford BIke Hire
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The Welcome Hotel, originally built in 1866 is a very interesting aside to the SMJ story; being bought from the Trevelyan family, being tied up as it is with the Ro-railer which ran from the Old Town station to the hotel, all be it briefly - I'd love more if anyone has any
Andy
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