‘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
Tramway
Looks like nothing doesn't it? Oh no! The hump running left to right immediately after the brown muddy area in the foreground is the site of a quarrying tramway which was taken across the SMJ right next to bridge 3 (Blisworth to Gayton road) on bridge 2. Only one set of piers still survives of bridge 2. Picture on site.
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Comment by Andy Thompson on November 1, 2010 at 16:31
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This whole field was quarried around 1900. Quote: Blisworth.org.uk
http://www.blisworth.org.uk/images/Mining/Mining-Map.htm
http://www.blisworth.org.uk/images/Mining/Blisworth_mining.htm
"Another field was mined with a dispatch point to the railways, labelled (8 - refer to map link above), and was run by another entrepreneur, R.B.Sparrow according to Tonks, who was simultaneously serving the expanding iron industry. Dispatch point (8), which is in Gayton parish, consisted of a wooden 'bridge' passing over a standard gauge railway linked to the SMJ line. From the bridge, wagons were emptied into rail wagons.
Tony Marsh Feb 2008
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