‘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 1 hour ago.
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
Bridge 149
One of the features of the SMJ was the big cast iron diamond shaped warning signs on the bridges. These warned against "Locomotives weighing more than x tons using the bridge.......etc."
As they were rusty, and basically obsolete, they were not really of any use.
I always meant to take a photo of one (after picking out the lettering with chalk say) but, in the usual way, they all suddenly disappeared. Presumably "liberated" either by "enthusiasts" or scrap merchants.
A bridge could have had 4 of these (each side of the road and each end) but most had fewer. At Blisworth I think it was 2.
Bridge 149 had the full complement of 4.
Peter
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Dick Bodily on
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They had similar ones on Grand Union Canal bridges around Northants as well. I think they were replaced when councils started putting up the modern standardised road signs including ones that were to do with weight and height restrictions over and under bridges.
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Permalink Reply by Andy Thompson on
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Peter
Do you mean one of these?
Andy
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Permalink Reply by Peter Fleming on
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Not sure.
It is of course about 40 years since I saw one, and they were always unpainted and rusty, so looked rather different.
Andy Thompson said:Peter
Do you mean one of these?
Andy
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I remember the canal ones.
On reconsideration I think that the ones I recall were different.
The reference to the SMJR was much more prominent, not tucked away at the bottom.
I also think it may have been dated and issued under the name of "company secretary" or such.
I wish I had taken a photo as intended.
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