‘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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Funny Story about Kineton Military Railway 1 Reply

An improbable, funny, but absolutely true story relating to the Kineton military railway.Long after my Army days I still retained an affection and passing interest in Kineton ammunition depot where I served during the 1960s. Coupled to a 'love' of…Continue

Started by Dave Hayward. Last reply by Dave Hayward Apr 28.

Blisworth - Towcester ETS working

Electric train staff equipment had been brought into use between Blisworth and Towcester by 9 August 1910 (date of SMJR minute 451 (TNA file RAIL 674/3)) and presumably the new signal box at Blisworth appeared at the same time. In that this was so…Continue

Started by Richard Maund Apr 20.

Blisworth 1920

SMJ board minute 1474 of 13 April 1921 (TNA file RAIL 674/4) approved that “the following expenditure be charged to Capital” for year 1920: “Blisworth: Signalling and alterations to Permanent Way, Improvements and additional signalling: £800”. In…Continue

Started by Richard Maund Apr 20.

Evesham Redditch & Stratford-upon-Avon Junction Railway 8 Replies

Did this railway (as opposed to the East & West Junction Railway) go into receivership - if so, when. And when did it come out of receivership?Continue

Started by Richard Maund. Last reply by Richard Maund Feb 11.

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).