‘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
Blisworth - Towcester ETS working
Electric train staff equipment had been brought into use between Blisworth and Towcester by 9 August 1910 (date of SMJR minute 451 (TNA file RAIL 674/3)) and presumably the new signal box at Blisworth appeared at the same time. In that this was so…Continue
Started by Richard Maund on Saturday.
Blisworth 1920
SMJ board minute 1474 of 13 April 1921 (TNA file RAIL 674/4) approved that “the following expenditure be charged to Capital” for year 1920: “Blisworth: Signalling and alterations to Permanent Way, Improvements and additional signalling: £800”. In…Continue
Started by Richard Maund on Saturday.
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.
SMJ photos
Walking the SMJ
Careful scrutiny of the 1:25000 maps on Streetmap suggests that very little of the SMJ trackbed is a public right-of-way. There are short sections near Roade and Kineton and one or two places where there is an adjacent footpath. Can anyone advise of any other sections where it is acceptable to walk without risk of being confronted by an angry farmer?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mike Burrows on
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There is about a mile of the track bed that is a community park North of Tiffield. Going North from Tiffield there is a left turn over the railway bridge. Just over the bridge is a staircase leading down to the track way.
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Hello Michael,
Our 1/2 mile stretch of the SMJ trackbed is now a nature reserve, supported by the Butterfly Conservation Warwickshire volunteers. They, and my husband`s hard toil has transformed it from a dark tunnel of mainly Hawthorn on the embankments with nothing growing under them to a wonderful wildlife haven.
Even Grass Snakes on the embankments now spotted for 1st time in our 52 years here.
Should anyone want to walk it, yes it is private for now with a public footpath over, but just give us a ring
on 01789 773653 We would be delighted to see you. Jean.
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Permalink Reply by Michael Roake on
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Hi Jean, many thanks for the info and invitation - the photos look great - will definitely visit when we have an opportunity, Regards Mike
Jean Cholerton said:Hello Michael,
Our 1/2 mile stretch of the SMJ trackbed is now a nature reserve, supported by the Butterfly Conservation Warwickshire volunteers. They, and my husband`s hard toil has transformed it from a dark tunnel of mainly Hawthorn on the embankments with nothing growing under them to a wonderful wildlife haven.
Even Grass Snakes on the embankments now spotted for 1st time in our 52 years here.
Should anyone want to walk it, yes it is private for now with a public footpath over, but just give us a ring
on 01789 773653 We would be delighted to see you. Jean.
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Good question!
Broom Junction station site is easily accessible for the moment; from there you can walk north to Alcester or south to Salford Priors along the remains of the Gloucester Loop Line. The southern curve of the Broom junction triangle is not a right-of-way but can be walked.
The line from the Arrow river bridge at Broom up to Bidford Road bridge is a nature reserve with a path.
In Stratford, you can walk the old line from near the racecourse entrance to the Greenway roundabout and Seven Meadows Road is built on the trackbed.
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