‘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 Jun 1.
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.
Loco N° 5. 2-4-0T 1 Reply
Hi everybodyI’m building a OO gauge model of Fenny Compton and Clifford Sidings over here in Belgium.Quite a strange idea but so be it…In view of this I plan to transform a RTR Beatie Well Tank into SMJR N° 5 the 2-4-0T and use some etchings for the…Continue
Started by Jack Freuville. Last reply by Simon Dunkley Mar 17.
SMJ photos
Towcester station looking east
Add a Comment
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Comment by Tim Roy on August 30, 2016 at 10:31
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Hi Dick,
The date on the back of this photograph is 1961. My Father's photographs of the SMJ at Roade were taken on August Bank Holiday, so it is possible that the ones of Towcester were taken on the same day.
Regards, Tim
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Comment by Dick Bodily on August 29, 2016 at 17:47
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This is late 50s, early 60s as the footbridge has gone as has the down line through the station and the station house has received its coating of black pitch like substance upstairs. Presumably as well as controlling the long siding that occupied the Banbury line's formation almost as far as the site of Green Norton junction it would have also allowed pick up goods to use it as a headshunt, heading forward over the Lucas Bridge before reversing wagons into the goods siding and shed. Certainly locos on such workings gingerly pulled forward over the bridge in order to do this as the long siding towards Norton was always full of condemned or stored coaches waiting to go to Wolverton or some scrapyard. I once saw an unidentified Jubilee on this siding reversing wagons into the good siding.
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Comment by Paul Parsons on August 27, 2016 at 16:53
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Fascinating shot. The former starting signal to Banbury on the bracket has been replaced by a subsidiary arm which implies that a portion of that line was retained as a siding after the route closed.
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Comment by John Evans on August 27, 2016 at 8:05
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Wonderful general view of Towcester in its last active days.
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Comment by Andy Thompson on August 26, 2016 at 15:02
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What a great station shot, including the Lucas bridge. Andy
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Comment by Peter S Lewis on August 26, 2016 at 12:11
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Great group of photos!
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