‘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 14 POST AT TOWCESTER.
Concrete post near Bridge 14 over the River Tove. This would have held the cast iron Bridge number plate. Now leaning substantially, due to erosion of the embankment at this point. See previous photo of Bridge 12 with the Bridge number plate in LMS days.
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Comment by NIGEL on March 17, 2018 at 13:18
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What's left of the mounting holes are on 15.5 inch centres, as shown below.
As it happens, my LMS Bridge plate no. 17 has holes on 15.5 inch centres.
So why did they deem it necessary to have stand alone concrete posts for these bridge plates at this point, i.e. on Bridges 12 & 14 in Towcester? Are there any other bridges on the line that would have had these posts?
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The bolt hole of the left hand arm of the concrete post, is show in the photo below.
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Yes Dick, it was. When I get time I will upload a close up photo showing the bolt holes.
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Comment by Dick Bodily on March 3, 2018 at 12:03
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What's interesting about this apart from the fact that it still stands is that there are no bolt holes apparent in the photo image, was it once wider?
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