‘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.
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Alison,
Here is a picture of a guard called Tom Phillips taken on the down platform of Blakesley Station probably around 1920, so it's not your ancestor but could it be a relation of his, son or nephew perhaps? He's the one with the shunter's pole. He was nicknamed 'Old Woster' as he hailed from Worcestershire and that's how he pronounced the county city's name. The other man was Albert Broomfield, Blakesley's station master.
For more on Blakesley Station click on 'smj photos', select 'view albums' then look for 'Blakesley', for an article about Bob Salmons - Blakesley Signalman ( in the 40s/50s) click on 'index' then look down the list, there's other stuff headed 'Blakesley' in the 'E&WJR stations' section of the index and quite a bit about Blakesley station in the 1950s/ 60s in an article I did about The Last Days of the Pickup Goods.
Best of luck with your researches.
Dick Bodily
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Many thanks - my Great Great Grandfather (mother's family) was Tom Phillips who moved up the ranks at Blakesley Station to become Station Master by 1891 - he was in this position until his death in 1912. I have a quiet fascination with all our defunct railways, a yearning over those days of rail travel. My dad was a guard with British Rail.
I am researching as I can - we stand on the shoulders as it were of our ancestors, I like to keep their memories alive.
Hello Alison,
Welcome to the SMJ site!
Peter
Welcome Alison. Andy