‘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
A scene on the SMJ at Xmas.
Add a Comment
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Comment by NIGEL on January 1, 2013 at 16:39
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Richard Woods is absolutely right ..it is on the Ravenstone Wood line past Showsley pits looking east towards Stoke Bruerne, you have to make a slight detour here then the line runs out near to bridge 154. See map below for more info / detail.
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Comment by Richard Woods on January 1, 2013 at 16:15
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This photo is along the Olney Branch near Showsley, just off the Showsley Road there is the Permanent Way hut with a bridge, follow the track bed east, along the embankment past the old quarry pit and through, where you come across a second bridge and the embankment quickly turns to a cutting through a forest. Keep following the track bed for about 200 yards, there is a discarded rail on the left of the track bed along here. The track bed comes to an abrupt halt courtesy of a pine tree plantation, where THIS photograph is taken.
Richard Woods
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Not directly relevant but I remember a walk by the Northampton RCTS in the 1970s. It started at the site of the bridge over the Quinton to Salcey Forest road and went east along the trackbed. I don't recall it getting as far as the main road bridge. I seem to remember that the platform of Salcey Forest station was still there but nothing else.
Interesting about the old main road. Could this have any bearing on the MR station being called Piddington - which always seemed a bit odd?
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Not directly relevant but I remember a walk by the Northampton RCTS in the 1970s. It started at the site of the bridge over the Quinton to Salcey Forest road and went east along the trackbed. I don't recall it getting as far as the main road bridge. I seem to remember that the platform of Salcey Forest station was still there but nothing else.
Interesting about the old main road. Could this have any bearing on the MR station being called Piddington - which always seemed a bit odd?
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Not directly relevant but I remember a walk by the Northampton RCTS in the 1970s. It started at the site of the bridge over the Quinton to Salcey Forest road and went east along the trackbed. I don't recall it getting as far as the main road bridge. I seem to remember that the platform of Salcey Forest station was still there but nothing else.
Interesting about the old main road. Could this have any bearing on the MR station being called Piddington - which always seemed a bit odd?
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Sorry Andy, it is not Salcey Forest station - but you are on the " right track " !!!!
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Comment by Andy Thompson on December 31, 2012 at 20:10
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NOT ONE SINGLE GUESS!!!
WHERE ARE ALL THE SMJ LINE WALKERS ???
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Ian
Thanks for the update. Can you give us (non-local) folk a little more info? I always had it as one third along the trackbed in your screen grab from the left, the worn track around the field being the access.
Andy
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