The Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway (SMJR) was a strange

little line that stretched from Broom Junction (Warwickshire) to Bedford in the east. Built to take advantage of the movement of iron ore from Northamptonshire to South Wales it was never a money-spinner and fell into decline but did see a rise in fortunes during the two wars due to its route traversing the Midlands linking the arterial mainlines. For the most, it was double-tracked with a number of stations that served very low population centres. In this view, looking west, the former trackbed is seen just south of the village of Roade with the next station being Stoke Bruerne.