‘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
Lucas Bridge at Towcester
Add a Comment
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Comment by Barry Taylor on August 9, 2009 at 12:13
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Great stuff Andy - that really puts the whole thing into perspective. Now all we need is a shot of the other side !
Barry
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Comment by Andy Thompson on August 8, 2009 at 17:00
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Side by side
Andy
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Superimpose ancient & modern 2009 Andy
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Comment by Gary on August 8, 2009 at 13:43
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This picture I took in somewhere between 88-96 (see link) is looking from the other side of the road at the point where the lorry is.
http://thesmjr.ning.com/photo/a5-abutment-pre-tesco?context=user
Fantastic picture Barry, I have never seen a side view of this bridge - it has appeared to have been most ellusive.
Andy I have a comparison shot of yours & I will up load it very soon.
G
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Comment by Dick Bodily on August 2, 2009 at 11:09
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Barry
Those houses you mentioned were in Tiffield parish and formed an approved school for delinquent youths. It was always refered to as Tiffield School.
Dick
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Hi all - well this one certainly raised a few comments ! I should really have been a bit more accurate with my description - when I described it as 'Tiffield' I was thinking of the few houses and school that are just off the A43 main road rather than the village of Tiffield itself . As you have correctly identified, it is the one halfway between Blisworth and Towcester on the A43 - according to my source of the photo it was 'demolished in 1966 and the embankments graded back' . Looking at the site nowadays that is quite an understatement !
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Andy
According to the spreadsheet the A5 bridge was 12, the A43 one was 150. The A43 bridge was much more skewed than the A5 one. When the railway still existed the A43 ran on a different route from Silverstone village, through the traffic light comtrolled cross roads that still exists at the north end of Towcester's shops on Watling Street, joining the present route near the site of the bridge 150. I think north of the traffic lights it is still called Northampton Road and is nowadays the access road to Toby's estate. Equally confusingly Hulcote is sometimes called Easton Neston.
Dick
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A map with modern overlay featuring location of bridge 12
Andy
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