‘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

SMJ seats at York Museum ?

I took my grandson to the National Railway Museum on Dec. 30th and noticed two bench seats, of the type found on station platforms until traditional stations were replaced with bus-shelters. Both bear the title " STRATFORD " - I'll try and upload…Continue

Started by Paul Atherton Jan 5.

More building at Towcester 2 Replies

I hear there has been more building at the station site in Towcester.Anyone know what they've dug up?…Continue

Tags: Towcester

Started by Andy Thompson. Last reply by Nigel Nov 7, 2024.

Broom History Group Event 9th November 2024

Broom History Group will be holding an event at Broom Village Hall 2-4pm on 9th November 2024 including a film on the railway and Broom Junction.…Continue

Started by Simon Stevens Oct 25, 2024.

Misunderstanding Easton Neston 2 Replies

Hello, I'm a new member and I've searched through the articles and can't find anything specific to my answer/ question. Can anyone help?…Continue

Started by Matt Davis. Last reply by Matt Davis Oct 16, 2024.

SMJ photos

Location of SMJ Beware of Trains plate near Salcey Forest

Hi everybody,

My late Father had an SMJ Beware of Trains plate on the wall in his garden. A couple of weeks ago my family donated it as a gift to Towcester Museum, as we wanted it to be kept in the area as a reminder of the railway for future generations.

Some years ago my Father described its origin as being “near Salcey Forest, near where the Hackleton Road crossed the railway; it was reached via a farm access track.”

Having studied a 1:25k map from 1950 and a 1:1250 map from 1900, I have identified some possible locations.

From west to east on the pictures below:

South of Piddington is Bridge 171. Just north of the bridge is a track past some allotments that turns right and terminates at the edge of the railway. The larger scale map suggests that the railway is still in a cutting at this point. Neither map suggests a continuation of the track on the south side of the railway.

Further east a footpath crosses the railway line. Both maps indicate that there was a footbridge at this location, although I could not make it out in any of the published photographs looking west along the line from Salcey Forest station.

Next there is the site of Salcey Forest station, close to Bridge 172 on the road from Hackleton and accessed by a farm track. My Father visited the station in 1961 and took 2 photos (I will upload these onto this site later). I am puzzled why he did not say that he had found the plate at the old station site if that had been the case.

Finally there is the occupation crossing near Ravenstone Wood Junction. However, that is 1.6 miles away from where the Hackleton Road crossed the railway, and I am sure that my Father would have described the location as being near the junction if it had come from there (he took a photo of the water tower at Olney, so knew of the junction).