‘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
PPhoto Albums 1 Reply
AndyAbout two years ago I ended up with some railway matter from a Bill Kendall who had been a Signalman on SMJ ending his railway career at Northampton No 1. I worked with him when I was working in Rugby PSB, I also covered the signa?l boxes at…Continue
Started by Robin Leslie Patrick. Last reply by Dave Hayward on Monday.
Wartime passenger trains from Burton Dassett
Arthur Jordan in his book, The Stratford Upon Avon and Midland Junction Railway - The Shakespeare Route at pp 82 mentions a WW2 late night special from Stratford on Avon to Burton Dassett for soldiers at the CAD. I would envisage that this did not…Continue
Started by Dave Hayward on Sunday.
Broom Junction station site for sale 3 Replies
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.
National Archives, Donation and Kineton Photograph
Not sure if others are aware of the significant amount of documents held by the National Archives on the SMJ. The collection consists mainly of Directors Minutes etc. There is also a collection of early 20th C timetables, handbills etc. which I have…Continue
Started by Dave Hayward Apr 26.
SMJ photos
Towcester station looking east
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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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