‘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
magnet fishing
Hi everyone, yesterday I did some magnet fishing with the grandchildren from the SMJ bridge over the river Tove in Towester, to great excitement of the children (and myself) we pulled out three chair screws and a rivet which looked similar in style…Continue
Started by Steve Camm Sep 1.
One of the best preserved SMJ bridges? 1 Reply
I was at Ettington the other day and apart from the good shed, which has had a lot of money spent on it including full glazing, the station building is still there. But my attention went to the station bridge (No. 73?) which is in very good…Continue
Started by John Evans. Last reply by Andy Thompson Aug 30.
Passenger Trains connected to the SMJ
Following on from the previous discussion about WD passenger trains on the SMJ during the 1940s; it must be said that passenger trains ran on metals connected to the SMJ until the mid 1960s. There was a passenger service from the nearest point to…Continue
Started by Dave Hayward Jun 16.
Wartime passenger trains from Burton Dassett 3 Replies
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. Last reply by Dave Hayward Jun 16.
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
Views: 108
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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