‘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

Bridge sign 3 Replies

An East and West Junction and Stratford-On-Avon, Towcester and Midland Junction Railways bridge weight notice, cast iron, 16½"x11¾", the front repainted. As is usual, the company title has been altered to Stratford-On-Avon and Midland Junction…Continue

Started by Graham Ward. Last reply by Russ Firth on Sunday.

SMJ Bridge number for sale.

Stratford & Midland Junction Railway bridge number 42. This is a very rare bridge number, which hardly ever comes up for sale! 28cm x 20cm. It was from a cattle creep between Byfield & Morton Pinkney. £500. PayPal payment required and I can…Continue

Started by Russ Firth May 28.

SMJ Postage stamps 1911 and 1924

A couple of items recently up for auction.GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAY COMPANY AND STRATFORD-UPON-AVON & MIDLAND JUNCTION: 6…Continue

Started by Graham Ward May 21.

More building at Towcester 3 Replies

I hear there has been more building at the station site in Towcester.Anyone know what they've dug up?…Continue

Tags: Towcester

Started by Andy Thompson. Last reply by John Evans Apr 19.

SMJ photos

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Index

 

 

Welcome to the SMJ index page.

From here you can find your way to all the pages on the website.

 

General Page Links

 

Mining Index Click here

Mining of the earth’s natural resources in the Blisworth area of Northamptonshire has been evident for many centuries. It was this mining that first sparked the idea of a new railway line to the blast furnaces of South Wales. A direct line, it was thought could be very profitable, independent of the other rail companies such as the London & North Western Railway (L & NWR) ...more

 

Station Pages - Each station along the line has its own page. Please feel free to sign up and add what you know.

The Northampton & Banbury Junction Railway opened a station   on the new main line at Blisworth and on May 1st 1866 ran the first train to Towcester. The following years saw the
line push-on to Banbury, joining the L&NWR's Verney Junction line at Cockley Brake with two intermediate stations:

Blisworth
Towcester
Wappenham
Helmdon
Banbury

 

The East & West Junction railway (E&W) proposed a new line from a junction with the Northampton & Banbury Junction Railway at Greens Norton to Stratford Upon Avon.

The joint committee decided to build a single-track railway line between Towcester and the Midland main line near Olney in an attempt to save the two companies. The line to Ravenstone Junction branched off from just north of Towcester station and ran through Easton Neston to continue through Shutlanger and crossed over the L.N.W.R. at Roade where a connection was made. There were two intermediate stations:

 

To visit a list of all pages Click here

 

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