‘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
Where is this?
Can anyone identify which road bridge this is? I'm certain that it is on the SMJ somewhere, as it is one of a number of negatives that I have recently acquired all of which are on that line. I don't think that it is the A43 bridge near Tiffield bewteen Northampton and Towcester - the girder panels are too big, and the A43 bridge did have a sort of corrugated top section, although that could have been removed. The road looks quite important, and the white railings and possibly a culvert in the foreground might help. judging by the rest of the negs this could be anywhere along the SMJ - date is probably between mid fifties and early sixties according to other notes that are provided - unfortunately this one has no clues!
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Comment by Barry Taylor on November 15, 2012 at 9:23
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Thank you John - mystery solved!
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I agree with your comment Alwyn it is bridge No 80 over the Fosse Way looking south. The culvert is the river Dene a tributory of the Avon that joins it in Charcote Park. I have the LMS bridge plate that survived on the brickwork hidden by brambles for a number of years! The deck was removed by Warwickshire Council and BR soon after closure as it was a "low" bridge.
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Thanks Alwyn - I sort of hoped that someone might suggest the Fosse Way bridge, because I don't have a photo of that one, and I hoped that this might fill the gap! Relatively few of the road bridges were photographed from road level, whereas quite a few were done from the trackside, so this is an unusual one.
Can anyone conform Alwyn's thoughts please - I must check whether there was a culvert close by as that might just confirm it too.
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Comment by alwyn sparrow on November 13, 2012 at 13:39
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Well Barry it looks very much like where the SMJ crossed the Fosse Way (B4455) between Kineton and Ettington, Approaching from northerly direction, It's situated in dip at bottom of hill before the road climbs again.But I could be wrong.
Alwyn.
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