‘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
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 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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