‘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

More building at Towcester 1 Reply

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 on Sunday.

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.

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.

Loco N° 5. 2-4-0T

Hi everybodyI’m building a OO gauge model of Fenny Compton and Clifford Sidings over here in Belgium.Quite a strange idea but so be it…In view of this I plan to transform a RTR Beatie Well Tank into SMJR N° 5 the 2-4-0T and use some etchings for the…Continue

Started by Jack Freuville Aug 29.

SMJ photos

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Please feel fee to join the debate.

Q: Is this fence post original?
A: (in my opinion - YES!

Q: Prove it!

I will! - look at this current image of the post. Note the clasp device for receiving a shut gate on the 'yard side' of the post. This says to me the gate was to the right, swung from another post even further right and no-longer with us.

Look at the aerial shot taken in 1927. Mid right is the entrance to the goods yard from the Tiffield Road. Do you see a post to the left of the entrance? Yeah, but could be any post! Look across the the road to the Tattersall's Foundary and can you see their gates! (Still there now)



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The evidence Gentlemen! What do you think?

Andy
I would agree personally.

It would be interesting to see what survives along the trackbed in the undergrowth along the line.
Lots! My nephew, (son of Towcester brother) has a den! My brother lives on the Shires, the estate built by Persimmons on land bought from his lordship inbetween the old and new A43. It transpires Guy (said nephew) has made his den on the embankment of the old Olney branch and is turning up laods of railway stuff. I have asked him to take me there next time

A
Andy

Had a look at the post today, its very sustantial and must have supported a large heavy gate. The gate could have been on either side. I can't see what else it could have been but an entry gate into the goods yard, but I'm not sure that its the one shown in the 1927 photo I think that would have been sligfhtly nearer the Tiffield Road bridge but its difficult to judge from an aerial photo and the access layout could have changed between 1927 and closure.
I can't remember how the Towcester goods yard was accessed from the road, I only walked up there a few times and a long while ago. I can remember the gate arrangement at Blakesley good yards, which may or may not be relevant. The gateway there was wide enough for lorries to swing in from either the Blakesley village or Bradden Road direction. There were white wooden double 5 barred gates, fastened centrally by a swing over clasp. They could be locked together by chain and padlock. On the top bar of each was a metal plate which either read 'shut and fasten' or carried a trespass message and may have been labelled LMS ( not sure). The gate posts were either white painted concrete or wooden, again not sure. The whole area leading up to the roadbridge and beyond on either side of the road was secured by typical LMS style wooden fencing with 3 horizontal rails of stout timber with vertical supports every few feet and a single vertical rail midpoint between. In fact much of it still remains, patched up in places.

Back to Towcester, I visited the Tiffield Road Bridge, its still there depite Westleigh's development next to it. I also noticed that the tiny industrial estate on the Old Greens Norton Road is called Lucas Bridge Business Park.

Dick
So Dick, is that a yes then? I'm a head of you with the Lucas Bridge Industrial estate - my brother knows the owners too and is on to it!
Andy
Andy

Sort of yes!

Next time I visit Tescos I shall take a print out of the old photo with me, I shall also check the entrance to Blakesley Yard to see if there is any evidence of concrete posts there. My theory about why the post is still there is that someone whacked it a few times with a sledge and discovered how well it was reinforced, then gave up! This would account for the damage to the edges and the slight list it now has.

Dick

I have found many artifacts on that section of the Olney Branch at the back of Coulthard Close. Also on the Olney Branch close to Salcey Forest station, myself and my cousin Tom retrived a massive peice of railway. It is the metal chunk that holds the rail to the wodden sleeper.

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