‘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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BLAKESLEY and an SMJ stamp

This item has come up in an auction recently and is a glimpse of the practice of carrying mail by train. Apart from the SMJ…Continue

Started by Graham Ward Nov 14.

Further about Ravenstone Wood Junction 1 Reply

Firstly a belated thanks to Barry for his excellent research that has returned these signal lever plates to their rightful home! [Perhaps their place of residence on the website needs changing!] Apologies for starting s new Forum discussion on this…Continue

Started by Dave Hayward. Last reply by Barry Taylor Oct 23.

Ravenstone Wood Junction Signal Box-an anomaly 3 Replies

Closely examining the brass lever plates shown in the Olney Line entry in the Index Section of this website I noticed a significant anomaly. Some of the above plates, specifically 1, 10, 11, 12, 25, 32, 34. refer to platforms, loading dock, goods…Continue

Started by Dave Hayward. Last reply by Barry Taylor Oct 9.

SMJ keys from the Towcester area 1 Reply

I have been contacted by someone who wishes to dispose of two sets of SMJ-related keys from the Towcester area, but does not want to put personal email or other details on this website. They have been given to him by the estate manager at Easton…Continue

Started by Barry Taylor. Last reply by Barry Taylor Sep 4.

SMJ photos

TOWCESTER & BUCKINGHAM RAILWAY

There is a local act for the above railway to be abandoned, dated 24th August 1893. Presumably this must have connected with the N & B Railway at some point, does anybody have any info ?

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Permalink Reply by Barry Taylor on January 28, 2014 at 12:32

There were quite a number of proposals over the years involving lines from the Buckingham area to connect with both the NBJR and the EWJR.

This one looks like an abandonment of the 1888 Act 52&53 Vict c.cci (1889) which consisted of five sections of railway:

1) From the Aylesbury & Buckingham Ry to Radclive

2) from an end on junction with line (1) to Towcester

3) from a junction with line (1) to a junction with the LNWR Banbury line at Radclive

4) from a junction with line (2) in Towcester to a junction with the authorised Stratford upon Avon Towcester & Midland Junction Ry at Easton Neston

5) from a junction with line (2) terminating at the NBJR in Towcester

The references to "Towcester" etc refer to parishes, so without the benefit of a map this is all a bit difficult to plot exactly, but it gives an idea of where the lines would have run

Best thing would be to go to Northampton Record Office at Wootton Hall where the Parliamentary Deposited Plans are kept - this one is listed as their ref. no. 199 - it should have a full map/plan with it and will reveal all !