‘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
Ravenstone Wood as three way junction? 1 Reply
A close analysis of the 1945 RAF aerial photographs available in the historical imagery resource on Google Earth has provided evidence that Ravenstone Wood was probably a three-way junction during the latter part of WW2 and for an unknown period of…Continue
Started by Dave Hayward. Last reply by Robin Cullup Apr 15.
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Many of you will be aware that in common with all other railway companies the SMJR lost many of its employees for all or part of the Great War as the patriotic duty to volunteer was overwhelming. Railwaymen were technically exempt but many chose to…Continue
Tags: of, Honour, Roll, War, SMJR
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Fenny Comptn
HelloI purchased the book « Track Layout Diagrams of the Great Western Railway and B.R. (W.R.) section 29 » « Stratford-upon-Avon & Midland Jcn Rly » by R.A.Cooke ISBN 10 :1 871674 20 4N page 29/9 on the 1903 track plan it shows a goods shed at…Continue
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Ravenstone Wood as three way junction?
A close analysis of the 1945 RAF aerial photographs available in the historical imagery resource on Google Earth has provided evidence that Ravenstone Wood was probably a three-way junction during the latter part of WW2 and for an unknown period of time afterwards. Trains approaching from Bedford would have been faced with the SMJ to the left, Northampton straight ahead and a line into WD (later MOD) Yardley Chase explosives depot to the left. It would appear that this latter line was a secondary connection to the principal connection to the depot at Piddington Station.
From the photographs I have attached it seems to indicate that the 'Ravenstone' connection extended from the main line to the north-east across a field where some reception sidings were sited before turning to the east to join the main military network through the extended siding of the nearest storage shed. This latter arrangement would have been most unusual to allow 'through' trains by a storage shed considering the fire risk from sparks emanating from a WD 0-6-0 saddle tank! I believe second connections at these depots, although Kineton never had one (or did it?), were to ensure that the depot would keep working if one junction was taken out by enemy action.
Does anybody have further information on this, maybe i have missed previous discussions etc on this intriguing subject!
Dave Hayward
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Different angle of 'three-way' junction at Ravenstone Wood with possible trains in reception siding and storage-shed sunenhanced as at 411973.PNG, 1.1 MB -
Google Earth 1945 sun enhanced as at 1157 showing complete depot with both mainline juntions.PNG, 981 KB
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Piddington reception sidings busy with trains on the same day.PNG, 1.3 MB
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Robin Cullup on -
I wrote an article on Ravenstone Wood Jcn that appeared in the Midland Railway Society Journal No.58 (Summer 2015) which dealt (briefly) with the Yardley Chase Munitions Depot. The Piddington connection was announced as opening on 23rd April 1942. The connection at the Ravenstone Wood Jcn end was dated as opening 23rd October 1942 described "new sidings for construction purposes up side opposite box and connection into up line".
The Fortnightly Notices for 2nd December 1944 state:
"Ravenstone Wood Jcn - temporary connection from contractor's siding to up line removed".
Finally on 7th October 1945 "Ravenstone Wood Jcn - trailing connection up siding to up line removed".
Unfortunately we don't have all the Train Registers from RWJ for this period but there are 4 entries in 1944 mentioning the siding before it was disconnected.
Regards,
Robin Cullup
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