‘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
1873 timetable
Page 12 of Arthur Jordan's book features a full page reproduction of the E&WJ public timetable handbill for August 1873. Does anyone know where the original of that handbill is preserved?
Incidentally, the timetable itself formed the basis of adverts in various newspapers throughout the area - for example, the Northampton Mercury 2 August 1873 as reproduced in Barry Taylor's Vol. 1, page 87.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Barry Taylor on
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There is an easily missed footnote at the very bottom of that page in Arthur's book that states 'by kind permission of Public Records Office Kew'
That said, I haven't found it so far in my notes / records from my own visits although I thought that I did cover all things EWJR back then.
The nearest I can get us RAIL 981/68 which is a double sided leaflet for the LNWR and EWJR publicising the 'opening of the new route between London and Stratford via Blisworth and Towcester'. Part of the front page is a timetable, similar to but not the same as, Arthur's. It is however dated August 1873 until further notice - fares info is on the reverse.
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Permalink Reply by Richard Maund on
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Yes, I saw that note but (like you) hadn't come across it at Kew.
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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.
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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 that I missed second time around.
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