‘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

Evesham Redditch & Stratford-upon-Avon Junction Railway 8 Replies

Did this railway (as opposed to the East & West Junction Railway) go into receivership - if so, when. And when did it come out of receivership?Continue

Started by Richard Maund. Last reply by Richard Maund Feb 11.

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 top and bottom borders. When they came to add the…Continue

Started by Richard Maund. Last reply by Richard Maund Feb 10.

North End and Warwick Road stations? 57 Replies

Some time ago we ahd an interesting and lively discussion on the mystery station at Tiffield, which added quite a lot to our collective knowledge.I've recently been looking closely at two of the other mystery stations- at North End (sometimes…Continue

Started by Barry Taylor. Last reply by Richard Maund Jan 27.

1873 timetable 4 Replies

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…Continue

Started by Richard Maund. Last reply by Barry Taylor Jan 25.

SMJ photos

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At Fenny Compton there is the unusual situation of a level crossing and road underbridge apparently fulfilling the same purpose.

Does anyone know the precise sequence of events in terns of the opening of the level crossing and underbridge?

I am guessing that the level crossing existed first -  just on the GWR line - and was then extended to cover the EWJR when that opened in 1871

Was the road underpass then added later on, if so at what date?

Presumably it could have been added to relieve pressure on the level crossings which might have by then become a problem with holding up of road traffic ?

The old level crossing was however presumably still used when required if the road underpass flooded - or was this locked out of use once the underpass opened?.

Or have I got it totally wrong - was the bridge there originally, with the level crossing being added later?

Any ideas please.

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I've actually partly answered my own question by referring back to some old notes from a visit to the national Archives at Kew a few years ago. I'd forgotten that I copied some old plans for the original layout at Fenny Compton, which clearly show that the road underbridges were there when the EWJR was opened.

So the level crossings were obviously added later - but has anyone any idea just when.

I've jsut loaded the plan up in the photos section

Hello Barry, here is a section of information on the area in question  from a book on the SMJ. Still leaves a lot to be answered and with no specific dates.

Thanks Nigel - I'd missed the point about the inner set of gates being removed at some time.

But as you say, it still doesn't tell us when the gates were put in. A bit more research needed!

Interestingly, when the EWJR was first proposed back in the 1860's, there was a plan for an island platform here serving the GW down & EWJ up lines, with a through running connection from the GWR onto the EWJ from the Banbury direction. But by the time the line was built this had been modified into two separate stations with a siding connection. It then took until 1960 to put in the through connection, when it was too late !

Hi Barry, found some more interesting info on the level crossing. Looking at google maps the height restriction on the bridges is 13' 3".

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