‘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

SMJ seats at York Museum ?

I took my grandson to the National Railway Museum on Dec. 30th and noticed two bench seats, of the type found on station platforms until traditional stations were replaced with bus-shelters. Both bear the title " STRATFORD " - I'll try and upload…Continue

Started by Paul Atherton Jan 5.

More building at Towcester 2 Replies

I hear there has been more building at the station site in Towcester.Anyone know what they've dug up?…Continue

Tags: Towcester

Started by Andy Thompson. Last reply by Nigel Nov 7, 2024.

Broom History Group Event 9th November 2024

Broom History Group will be holding an event at Broom Village Hall 2-4pm on 9th November 2024 including a film on the railway and Broom Junction.…Continue

Started by Simon Stevens Oct 25, 2024.

Misunderstanding Easton Neston 2 Replies

Hello, I'm a new member and I've searched through the articles and can't find anything specific to my answer/ question. Can anyone help?…Continue

Started by Matt Davis. Last reply by Matt Davis Oct 16, 2024.

SMJ photos

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All Blog Posts (26)

My SMJ memories

I’ve just joined your group, having been pointed to you following Andy Thompson’s article in the January 2009 edition of Steam Days, a magazine which crossed my desk recently.

 

I was born in 1940 and grew up at Eastcote, a small village near Towcester. My first experience of the SMJ was when I was about 6 or 7, my best mate and I walked the 4 miles to the Blisworth overbridge adjacent to where the SMJ turntable was and peered through the fence at the small signalbox, the…

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Added by John Whitehead on March 10, 2011 at 19:23 — No Comments

Line tour thoughts.

I'd know I put some of this on the discussion thread but once again I would just like to thank my fellow "Tourists" for yet another enjoyable day out and to appologise for the 5 minute walk that was just a little longer and involved a bit of a backtrack (no pun intended).

 

Just in case anyone is wondering; we have removed nothing that we have found during our tours to date (save a singular lump of coal) only taking photos of any artifacts in situ as we…

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Added by Gary on February 28, 2011 at 22:00 — 3 Comments

Todays tour

Thanks Gary for organising another interesting day out despite the rain.  Same good company as usual. I think it gets better each trip!

Alwyn. 

Added by alwyn sparrow on February 26, 2011 at 20:08 — 1 Comment

The SMJ has always been of interest to me. When I was in my early teens I would travel to Blisworth fom Northampton by train to collect train numbers and was always attracted to that train which went…

The SMJ has always been of interest to me. When I was in my early teens I would travel to Blisworth fom Northampton by train to collect train numbers and was always attracted to that train which went up the branch line through the trees towards Towcester. I never went on the train and of course I never will.

I went to the Stoke Bruene Canal Weekend recently and came across your stand tucked away in a corner next to the NDMRC stand. I became aware then of the SMJ Society. The other…

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Added by William E. (Bill) Latchford on August 10, 2010 at 12:00 — No Comments

Watling Street Bridge

Ive been interested in the SMJ since I moved to the area in 1996. I have never seen a photo of the Watling Street Bridge, taken from the road and I wonder whether it was interesting or even of architectural interest. I assume it must have been large enough to allow buses and lorries to pass. If anyone can shed any light on this I would be interested.

Ian

Added by Ian Taylor on April 14, 2009 at 0:00 — 1 Comment

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