‘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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Malcolm Ranieri

Sad to report the untimely death last week of SMJ Society member Malcolm Ranieri. Malcolm was well known for his excellent steam train photographs that have appeared for many years in the rail preservation press. He was also one of the main…Continue

Started by Dick Bodily on Friday.

Salvaged track bolts 1 Reply

Does any know if the bridges were numbered? Similar to how the canals number thier's. Because a few weeks ago I was magnet fishing under the if I bridge behind the bellebaulk housing estate in Towcester and pulled out a number of chair bolts and I…Continue

Started by John Godwin. Last reply by Dick Bodily Sep 28.

Planning Application for Binton Station Site 8 Replies

I've just been told by friends from Welford that there's a planning application to redevelop the Binton Station site:Binton Station Planning…Continue

Started by Simon Stevens. Last reply by Simon Stevens Sep 20.

Proposed conversion of numbers 5 and 6.

According to Dunn, the problems with the two BP tanks ns 5 and 6 running backwards were twice addressed with the idea of converting them to 2-4-2Ts, and that drawings were prepared on at least one occasion.Has anyone ever seen anything of these…Continue

Started by Simon Dunkley Jun 27.

Broom Junction station site for sale 1 Reply

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.

Ravenstone Wood as three way junction? 1 Reply

Started by Dave Hayward. Last reply by Robin Cullup Apr 15.

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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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Permalink Reply by Robin Cullup on April 15, 2018 at 19:55

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.