‘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"
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 yesterday.
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
Permalink Reply by Gary on December 7, 2020 at 15:07
It was single track yes, although engineered to double, apart from Goldicote Cutting.
Towcester to Greens Norton Junction was originally a double track section but was later remodelled to parallel single lines with no connection other than at Towcester.
Just to qualify Gary's earlier comment - the line from Towcester to Greens Norton was in fact originally just single track, with a loop, a junction, and two signal boxes at Greens Norton. The loop was shortened and one signal box removed in 1894, and then in 1910 the junction and remaining signal box was abolished by the newly formed SMJR. At that point the layout became two single lines from Towcester. At Towcester the former east and west signal boxes were closed and one new taller box constructed (the one that survived through to closure of the line)
The track bed from Towcester to Greens Norton was built for double line, but there was also some widening done west of the Watling Street bridge as part of the 1910 alterations, on which new sidings were placed.