‘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
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
Line Tour III
Well we completed the tour with all station,s apart from Salcey Forest, and junctions, apart from Ravenstone Wood, visited.
We've covered some miles by road and a few by foot too.
I have finally managed to complete the upload of the photos from the latest one and that has been a task and a half.
In doing so I have tried to give folks the best of the tour and most if not all of the relics we found. As I said last time, we took nothing but photos and all we found was left behind for others to see in the future, how much will survive I cannot say.
By posting have we given certain people in the community the temptation to remove them? I hope not. However, if we have inspired folks to go out and look and explore then good. Post your pictures if you take them. Make this a living document of "our" line.
We could have spent longer out and about exploring and probably missed some things but we had a good time and enjoyed it. We have memories that we will treasure and the thrill of possibly finding something new or of pinning down the location of something.
Line Tour IV for the last two bits will wait now until Autumn/Winter now as the undergrowth is now starting to bloom and grow making further exploration difficult/impossible. I will post any more photos I take of things I may have missed if I go out. A new twist for future line tours have been mooted and all I will say is watch this space.
As time goes on the line will continue to deteriorate and may our recollections and images help to record it as it was.
To my fellow "Tourists" and our ever suffering and patient driver I extend my deepest thanks and appreciation for helping me realise the dream and experience and sharing it with me.
ATVB
G
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Comment by Jim Goodman on March 14, 2011 at 21:23
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Thanks go to Gary for the planning of the 'Line Tours', to Abi for the driving, and to Alwyn and Kevin for their company on the trips.
I have uploaded some photos of the remains of Salcey Forest station taken last summer. Even though it only had a passenger service for three months and completely closed about 100 years ago the platform is still clearly visible.
Jim.
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