‘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, 2025.
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, 2025.
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, 2025.
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, 2025.
SMJ photos
SMJ track recovery train near Roade 29 7 1964
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Comment by Andy Thompson on April 1, 2010 at 12:39
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There you go Martin - what do I know! Andy
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Comment by David Blagrove on April 1, 2010 at 10:57
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The picture is taken in one of three possible locations:
1. From the Roade-Hartwell Road looking east. The cutting has now been entirely infilled and is almost untraceable unless you know where to look.
2. From the Roade-Ashton road, also looking east and about 200 yards north of the WCML bridge. This is doubtful, since the line did not really run in a cutting at this point. Again most of the trackbed has been obliterated, but the bridge is still there.
3. From the Stoke Bruerne-Blisworth Road adjacent to Stoke Station, looking east. I would suggest this is the most likely spot. Near the point where the line emerges from the cutting, on the left side of the line is a ventilation shaft for Blisworth canal tunnel and a short distance further on the line crossed the line of the Blisworth Hill tramway, a horse-worked plateway laid down in 1800 during the construction of the canal tunnel and said to be the first railway in the south of England. It was taken up in 1805 and relaid from Blisworth Arm to Northampton; taken up again in 1815 when the parallel canal arm was opened and parts of it were recycled yet again to serve a quarry near Blisworth and some supposedly bought by Sir Marc Brunel to be used in the building of the Thames Tunnel. Today the stretch of line that runs under the course of the SMJ is well-preserved and forms part of the old "boat horse road" by which horses were led over the tunnel top while boats were worked through. The bridge that took the SMJ over the tram road was removed c1964/65 and the train seen here may have been engaged in this work. The scrap wagons stored on the line at this spot were removed in the summer of 1963.
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Comment by Martin Broughton on March 31, 2010 at 14:33
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Interesting photo.... the amount of vegatation and encroachment of hedge growth contradicts the brightness of the rails.
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Given the date Richard - I would say so. Andy
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So is this Track lifting then?
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