‘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"

Welcome to
The SMJ Society

Or sign in with:

SMJ Forum

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.

PPhoto Albums 1 Reply

AndyAbout two years ago I ended up with some railway matter from a Bill Kendall who had been a Signalman on SMJ ending his railway career at Northampton No 1. I worked with him when I was working in Rugby PSB, I also covered the signa?l boxes at…Continue

Started by Robin Leslie Patrick. Last reply by Dave Hayward Jun 8.

Broom Junction station site for sale 3 Replies

Great opportunity for an SMJ enthusiast perhaps. I'm not sure what you could actually do with this site though!…Continue

Started by Simon Stevens. Last reply by Simon Stevens May 17.

SMJ photos

Woodford - Byfield passenger closure date

I've seen different sources quoting two dates in May 1948 for the withdrawal of the LNER service between Woodford and Byfield: both were Mondays: 3 and 31 May.

Certainly, 31 May 1948 was the start date for the first timetables under the BR regime and that would be entirely plausible. And on the other hand, 3 May could simply be a typo with the figure 1 (of 31) missing.

Can anyone point me to a definitive source which can resolve the query, please?

Richard Maund

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Robin Cullup on December 22, 2015 at 12:35

The Riley/Simpson book "A History of the SMJ etc" gives a date of 31st May 1948 - i.e. "The north curve to Woodford.....did not close to passenger trains until May 31, 1948". I cannot find any reference to this closure in Arthur Jordan's book.

Hope this helps.

Robin Cullup

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Richard Maund on December 22, 2015 at 12:52

The late Charles Clinker's 1960 compilation, The Railways of Northamptonshire gives 31 May 1948 as the date. That - taken with the fact that it was the timetable change date - leads me to think it is the correct date. But if anyone comes up with any contrary evidence I would be interested to hear.....

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Barry Taylor on December 22, 2015 at 13:50

I have a couple of photos of a 3F 0-6-0 and train at Woodford from the Stephenson Loco Society archives, and they are dated 15th May 1948 - so if these are correct, then the 31st seems to be right.