‘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

National Archives, Donation and Kineton Photograph

Not sure if others are aware of the significant amount of documents held by the National Archives on the SMJ. The collection consists mainly of Directors Minutes etc. There is also a collection of early 20th C timetables, handbills etc. which I have…Continue

Started by Dave Hayward Apr 26.

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 by Jack Freuville Feb 23.

BLAKESLEY and an SMJ stamp

This item has come up in an auction recently and is a glimpse of the practice of carrying mail by train. Apart from the SMJ…Continue

Started by Graham Ward Nov 14, 2025.

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, 2025.

SMJ photos

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Richard Maund
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Richard Maund's Discussions

Blisworth - Towcester ETS working

Electric train staff equipment had been brought into use between Blisworth and Towcester by 9 August 1910 (date of SMJR minute 451 (TNA file RAIL 674/3)) and presumably the new signal box at…Continue

Started Apr 20, 2024

Blisworth 1920

SMJ board minute 1474 of 13 April 1921 (TNA file RAIL 674/4) approved that “the following expenditure be charged to Capital” for year 1920: “Blisworth: Signalling and alterations to Permanent Way,…Continue

Started Apr 20, 2024

Bidford-on-Avon
5 Replies

Shall we bring this discussion under the proper heading!So far as the OS plan surveyed 1885, published 1886, is concerned: the OS liked - wherever they could  - to have text running parallel to the…Continue

Started this discussion. Last reply by Richard Maund Feb 10, 2024.

E&WJR working timetables
1 Reply

Barry Taylor's first volume contains - at page 126 - reproduction of an1890 E&WJR working timetable. Is the original document in private hands or publicly accessible? E&WJR and SMJR WTTs are…Continue

Started this discussion. Last reply by Barry Taylor Jan 25, 2024.

 

Richard Maund's Page

Latest Activity

Richard Maund posted discussions
Apr 20, 2024
Richard Maund replied to Richard Maund's discussion 'Evesham Redditch & Stratford-upon-Avon Junction Railway'
"Bradshaw's Shareholders' Manual for 1891 makes no mention of the STMJR being in the receiver's hands at that date - so it looks as though the date of 27 May 1898 was correct, after all."
Feb 11, 2024
Richard Maund replied to Richard Maund's discussion 'Bidford-on-Avon'
"The brickworks owner has wrongly been identified  (Taylor vol. 2, p.10) as Lill - according to 1901 Census details he was Edward J Sill (with an 'S') - and the SMJ minute book confirms that spelling."
Feb 10, 2024
Richard Maund replied to Richard Maund's discussion 'Bidford-on-Avon'
"Having done their initial deal with Lill in 1909 for use of the brickworks site for public traffic (the alterations for which apparently were reported to the BoT), why would the SMJ subsequently bother to go to the expense of a new siding and ground…"
Feb 7, 2024
A discussion started by Richard Maund was featured

Bidford-on-Avon

Shall we bring this discussion under the proper heading!So far as the OS plan surveyed 1885, published 1886, is concerned: the OS liked - wherever they could  - to have text running parallel to the top and bottom borders. When they came to add the brick works and its autumn 1879 siding I suspect they simply put the 'Bidford Siding' name in the nearest available space that didn't conflict with any other lines on the plan. However,  the 25 inch version is more illuminating as it does more clearly…See More
Feb 6, 2024
5 Comments
Barry Taylor replied to Richard Maund's discussion 'Bidford-on-Avon'
"I think that we can now agree that there was definitely a siding behind Bidford station platform? The problem is dating the photograph. I have two prints in front of me as I write, both with info on the reverse. One has, in two different hands, the…"
Jan 28, 2024
Richard Maund replied to Richard Maund's discussion 'Bidford-on-Avon'
"Re-reading that Herald piece in issue of 25 March 1881: "17th ult" means 'last Thursday' not 17th of last month - so Bidford passenger opening date was Thursday 17 March 1881. That ties in with the railway's…"
Jan 28, 2024
Richard Maund replied to Richard Maund's discussion 'Bidford-on-Avon'
"A specific date is now available for the passenger opening: Thursday 17 February 1881. See Stratford upon Avon Herald  25 March 1881, page 8."
Jan 27, 2024
Richard Maund replied to Barry Taylor's discussion 'North End and Warwick Road stations?'
"I've responded to this under a new heading : Bidford-on-Avon."
Jan 27, 2024
Richard Maund replied to Richard Maund's discussion 'Evesham Redditch & Stratford-upon-Avon Junction Railway'
"Bradshaw's Shareholders' Manual for 1899 certainly shows it in the receiver's hands - have you consulted earlier relevant issues thereof? That would be the first course of action before trying to find something amongst all the…"
Jan 27, 2024
Richard Maund posted a discussion

Bidford-on-Avon

Shall we bring this discussion under the proper heading!So far as the OS plan surveyed 1885, published 1886, is concerned: the OS liked - wherever they could  - to have text running parallel to the top and bottom borders. When they came to add the brick works and its autumn 1879 siding I suspect they simply put the 'Bidford Siding' name in the nearest available space that didn't conflict with any other lines on the plan. However,  the 25 inch version is more illuminating as it does more clearly…See More
Jan 27, 2024
5 Comments
Barry Taylor replied to Richard Maund's discussion 'Evesham Redditch & Stratford-upon-Avon Junction Railway'
"Yes - I had noticed this anomaly.. I haven't yet found my original source for the 27/5/1898 date but think that the1890 date is very unlikely - that period seems quite well documented and there seems to have been no mention. I suspect that my…"
Jan 25, 2024
Barry Taylor replied to Richard Maund's discussion '1873 timetable'
"Ah good - thought it must be there somewhere. I have recorded  both RAIL 968 and 969 but somehow not 970 - although I did lose some Kew records on a corrupt CD years ago. Thought that I had recovered them on a later visit but this may be one…"
Jan 25, 2024
Barry Taylor replied to Richard Maund's discussion 'E&WJR working timetables'
"The 1890 WTT is safely in private hands.. I do have copies of the Kew WTTs, but thus far I have not located any other similar examples. That said there were a couple (I think) of EWJR WTTs for sale in one of Robert Humm's catalogues a year or…"
Jan 25, 2024
Richard Maund posted a discussion

E&WJR working timetables

Barry Taylor's first volume contains - at page 126 - reproduction of an1890 E&WJR working timetable. Is the original document in private hands or publicly accessible? E&WJR and SMJR WTTs are at National Archives, Kew under reference RAIL 982, stating with the 12 months from Nov 1900 to Nov 1901 at RAIL 982/1, then a smattering to 1920., After 1923 the line was in the LMS Midland Division wtts, of which a good run is available.Are there any other examples out there?See More
Jan 20, 2024
1 Comment
Richard Maund replied to Richard Maund's discussion '1873 timetable'
"Found it at Kew at RAIL 981/70. There is also another handbill for August 1873, promoting the London Euston connection - it's at RAIL 981/68."
Jan 19, 2024

Profile Information

Which station was not on the SMJ network?
Dawlish
Which rail company became a constituate part of the SMJ?
The East and West Junction Railway

Comment Wall (2 comments)

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At 19:20 on October 13, 2010, Peter S Lewis said…
Hello Richard,

Welcome to this corner of England..the SMJ!!

Peter
At 19:19 on October 13, 2010, Andy Thompson said…
HI Richard - welcome aboard! Andy
 
 
 

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