‘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
BLAKESLEY and an SMJ stamp
This item has come up in an auction recently and is a glimpse of the practice of carrying mail by train. Apart from the SMJ…Continue
Started by Graham Ward Nov 14.
Further about Ravenstone Wood Junction 1 Reply
Firstly a belated thanks to Barry for his excellent research that has returned these signal lever plates to their rightful home! [Perhaps their place of residence on the website needs changing!] Apologies for starting s new Forum discussion on this…Continue
Started by Dave Hayward. Last reply by Barry Taylor Oct 23.
Ravenstone Wood Junction Signal Box-an anomaly 3 Replies
Closely examining the brass lever plates shown in the Olney Line entry in the Index Section of this website I noticed a significant anomaly. Some of the above plates, specifically 1, 10, 11, 12, 25, 32, 34. refer to platforms, loading dock, goods…Continue
Started by Dave Hayward. Last reply by Barry Taylor Oct 9.
SMJ keys from the Towcester area 1 Reply
I have been contacted by someone who wishes to dispose of two sets of SMJ-related keys from the Towcester area, but does not want to put personal email or other details on this website. They have been given to him by the estate manager at Easton…Continue
Started by Barry Taylor. Last reply by Barry Taylor Sep 4.
SMJ photos
1930's reference to SMJ siding and A5 upgrade.
From Toby's Tale "The early thirties" a man who lived in Caldecote near Towcester.
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Comment by Dick Bodily on September 22, 2015 at 11:59
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In those days the Greens Norton road ran along the route of the present day road leading to the Tidy tip and Aldi so it was right next to the railway embankment. Bill Kendall's article (British Railway Journal 76) talked of road stone being unloaded manually at Towcester station yard for repairs to the A5, which was taken by local hauliers Challis' lorries to where it was needed, this would presumably have been used as a hardcore base rather than the top surface. Whether this was at the same time I've no idea. I wonder how they rolled the tarmac, Towcester RDC had an Aveling steamroller ideal for laying a hardcore base, which is incidentally preserved, but this wouldn't have been very suitable for the tarmacing. After the war in the 50s this section of the A5 was concreted possibly as flooding precaution as the river frequently overflowed onto the road there. The joins in the concrete are still detectable in that although metalled over nowadays they cause a clicking sound from your tyres as you drive over them.
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