‘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 18 hours ago.
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 on Sunday.
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
John Whitehead's Discussions
Can anyone help?
I've received a request through a Northants family tree website for any information on a George Brown, born c.1836 and onetime stationmaster at Wappenham. His wife was Mary Ann Foster, born 1837 at…Continue
Started Feb 16, 2012
John Whitehead's Page
John Whitehead's Blog
Blisworth Junction
Posted on March 12, 2011 at 10:25 0 Comments 0 Likes
My SMJ memories
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 19:23 0 Comments 0 Likes
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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You need to get the book by Robert Stevens. I'm sure it was number 12. We know Tony - he's been very helpful
Andy
I'm in Bidford-on-Avon....
And you?
Peter
Hello John,
Welcome !!
Your memories and anecdotes are keenly anticipated!!
Peter
I hope you enjoy the site John. I haven't any talks planned. Anything you can add we will be very interested in. You mentioned Park St. Will Caton lived in Park street, number 12. He was a shunter porter.
Andy