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 regardsJackSee More
‘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
Jack Freuville's Discussions
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 Feb 23
Loco N° 5. 2-4-0T
1 Reply
Hi everybodyI’m building a OO gauge model of Fenny Compton and Clifford Sidings over here in Belgium.Quite a strange idea but so be it…In view of this I plan to transform a RTR Beatie Well Tank into…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by Simon Dunkley Mar 17, 2025.
SMJR Logo
4 Replies
Hi ThereI’m planning to print some water slide decals of the EWJR and the SMJR in 4 mm scale.Can anybody help me sort out the size and color scheme?For the size; following photos, this would be…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by Jim Goodman Aug 4, 2022.
DVD on the SMJ
3 Replies
HiI’m looking for a copy of the film “The Stratford Upon Avon & Midland Junction Railway” edited by Hillside Publishing some time ago.This company is now out of business and cannot be called upon…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by Jack Freuville Dec 18, 2021.
Jack Freuville's Page
Latest Activity
"Hi Terry
Great to see that I'm not the only mad man interested in English pre-grouping railways on this side of the channel.
It'l be great to meet you and have a chat on our hobby.
Things have changed a bit since 2015
My phone N° is…"
"To add a confirmation to Simon's info - I have an original copy of a SMJ Working Timetable Appendix booklet for 1916 which has annotations and amendments as the instructions etc were updated over the years after issue. On page 35 there is a…"
"Engines 4, 5 and 6 were fitted with the Westinghouse air brake, on the LH side (looking forward) and 10-13 were dual fitted, but the air pumps maybe have been removed by late pre-grouping days: 10-12 had the pump on the LH side (most photos are of…"
"Hi Jack,
The EWJR locos were part of an order for three locos by the Swindon, Marlborough and Andoversford Railway (later part of the MSWJR), to be numbers 8, 9 and 10. The SMA could only afford 1 of the three locos, and the other two remained with…"
"Most SMJ rolling stock had vacuum and Westinghouse brake systems or at least through pipes.
photos of SMJ locos show no Westingh..pump."
Loco N° 5. 2-4-0T
Hi everybodyI’m building a OO gauge model of Fenny Compton and Clifford Sidings over here in Belgium.Quite a strange idea but so be it…In view of this I plan to transform a RTR Beatie Well Tank into SMJR N° 5 the 2-4-0T and use some etchings for the body I got from Peter Dawson.The overall dimensions are similar enough to represent an acceptable loco.The question is:The Beatie Well Tank has outside cylinders which can be removedSMJR N°s 5 & 6 were made by Beyer Peacock and had inside…See More
"Thanks Jack, I'll look forward to seeing them. Your model looks really good. I'm building Fenny Compton too, not exactly as it was, I can't fit in all the trackwork and, like you, I'll use a bit of licence with the buildings!"
"Fenny Compton station circa autumn 1922"
"Thanks a lot Jim
I'm working on printable examples of the Garter; Logo as well as the letters and numbers used by the SMJ
This will take a couple of weeks then I'll come back to you.
Here's a sample of what I'm…"
"Hi Jack,
These images may be of interest to you I would suggest the infill on the garter is light blue rather than grey. Also worth noting that in Stanley C Jenkins book on the Northampton and Banbury Junction Rly, the photo of the coach on page 46…"
SMJR Logo
Hi ThereI’m planning to print some water slide decals of the EWJR and the SMJR in 4 mm scale.Can anybody help me sort out the size and color scheme?For the size; following photos, this would be between 3 and 4 mm in 1/76For the EWJR Garter I have Crimson background Gold trim and letters Grey infill of the garterFor the SMJR seal I have no definite idée; I think Crimson background Gold trim and letters Following heraldic…See More
"Hi Mark
I’ve been in contact with Ian of Wolverton Rail but he cannot help.
Would you agree to sell me one of your copies of the DVD?
I propose you give me your price, including postage to Belgium, I’ll transfer you the amount by…"
"I would be keen on getting hold of the DVD too.David"
"Hi Jack
I have a spare unused copy of 'The Shakespeare Route - The SMJ' DVD, as I had to purchase three from the supplier 'Wolverton Rail' to make it worthwhile for them to record new set of copies. Apparently the original…"
Jack Freuville's photos
Comment Wall (2 comments)
- At 11:49 on March 12, 2015,
Terry Dorrity said…
Hi Jack,
I've lived in Brussels since 1980 and am, also, retired. As I told you, I used to live in Stratford and took many photos on the SMJ as well as elsewhere. I've even had books published, one a bi-lingual one: "Goodbye Vapeur Francaise", published in France by LR Presse, and others published in England on industrial steam in the English Midlands and the Ulster Transport Authority. I even had an exhibition of photographs held at the Berlaymont in Brussels called " Europe at Full Steam" in October 2010. So, you can see, I'm still interested in railways and, in particular, steam locomotives.
I was interested to see you were making a model of Clifford Sidings, I remember that area well as it was an easy bike ride from home. Another system on the way to Banbury was the Oxfordshire Ironstone which, I am sure you know, was the source of much traffic after the "new" curve was installed between Old Town and Racecourse stations. The subject of another book.
It would be great to meet. Perhaps I could go to Rebecq on a working day if that would be ok with you. It will have to be a bit later because I am going to be in England for a little while for my mother's 99th birthday. She must have travelled on pre-grouping trains! She wasn't at Stratford at the time, though!
All best,
Terry
- At 16:27 on January 18, 2010,
Andy Thompson said…
- Welcome aboard Jack I hope you enjoy the site and feel able to contribute to it!
Andy
© 2026 Created by Andy Thompson.
Powered by
