‘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
Roade Br166 Hartwell
This is bridge 166 on the Hartwell road out of Roade - as suggested by Jim this might be the unidentified pic location - the view is looking down from the bridge towards the camera. In the distance can just be seen the white water tower that still stands next to the WCML at Roade. This bridge has now totally gone, along with most traces of the trackbed.
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Comment by Mike Smith on November 4, 2015 at 23:07
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This started my interest in the SMJ, I live right where this bridge use to be and always wondered what it looked like
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I know of bridge 157 between Showsley and Stoke Bruerne and bridge 168 between Hartwell and the M1 are both single arched bridges that could accommodate double track, although some of the underline bridges around Easton Neston are definitely not for double track.
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I think that you are right Richard - I've blown up the original shot and you can just about make out the shape. Looking at one or two of the other (single span) bridges on the route, they could also have accommodated double. I wonder why some were built as double arches and others not - must be an obvious answer that I am not thinking of. Perhaps we should also add the 'style ' of each bridge to the bridges list on the website as an historical record - oh dear - another little project!
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Looking at it, it's definitely a double arched bridge, if you look closely enough on the right of the visible arch, you can just see the edge of a second arch, and also the bridge parapet continues to the right way beyond the visible arch, long enough to include a second one. And the design is identicle to the Ashton Road bridge, which was built for double track use, making it highly likely that a bridge just 300 yards down the line would also be built for proposed double track, even though double track was never implemented. Richard
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Glad to be of help Richard!
Actually. looking at this pic more closelyI now wonder whether this bridge was a single arch type - or was it a twin arch like the one across the Ashton road? The undergrowth here obscures the view, and certainly the trackbed is only single line width, but I wonder whether it was constructed like the other one for possible double track?
Anyone out there know?
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Marvellous! I've been wondering about this bridge for a number of years!
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