‘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

Evesham Redditch & Stratford-upon-Avon Junction Railway 8 Replies

Did this railway (as opposed to the East & West Junction Railway) go into receivership - if so, when. And when did it come out of receivership?Continue

Started by Richard Maund. Last reply by Richard Maund Feb 11.

Bidford-on-Avon 5 Replies

Shall we bring this discussion under the proper heading!So far as the OS plan surveyed 1885, published 1886, is concerned: the OS liked - wherever they could  - to have text running parallel to the top and bottom borders. When they came to add the…Continue

Started by Richard Maund. Last reply by Richard Maund Feb 10.

North End and Warwick Road stations? 57 Replies

Some time ago we ahd an interesting and lively discussion on the mystery station at Tiffield, which added quite a lot to our collective knowledge.I've recently been looking closely at two of the other mystery stations- at North End (sometimes…Continue

Started by Barry Taylor. Last reply by Richard Maund Jan 27.

1873 timetable 4 Replies

Page 12 of Arthur Jordan's book features a full page reproduction of the E&WJ public timetable handbill for August 1873. Does anyone know where the original of that handbill is preserved?Incidentally, the timetable itself formed the basis of…Continue

Started by Richard Maund. Last reply by Barry Taylor Jan 25.

SMJ photos

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Has anyone got any information about bridge 12? This was the A5 bridge over Watling Street, Towcester. Any info, photos, anything!

Andy

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It was a blackish coloured metal girder bridge with flat metal sides/parapets supported by brickwork. I seem to remember that it was covered by an advert, but not sure. I think it was taken down when the A43 Towcester bypass was built. It may have been before as it was an accident blackspot because the junction from the Greens Norton road ( which was then where the tidy tip entrance is now) was obscured by it when travelling north up the A5. For many years one of the famous Black Widow 'Keep death off the roads' posters was prominently displayed on a billboard next to it.
It was gone by the 1980's maybe even earlier as I don't ever remember seeing it when we moved into Towcester in the very late 70's.

I seem to recall seeing a picture somewhere where you can make out that there is an advert but not what it was advertising or any detail.
Andy

I think the advert was for car batteries or tyres, either EXIDE or FERODO. There must be someone from Towcester who can remember. Perhaps Eric Pickles?

Dick
I too have seen a photo with the advertising logo on the bridge. I am fairly convinced that it was FERODO but until I find that photo, I'd not commit to it.
Hi
I can add a bit to this. Way back in 1982 I had a footballing friend who worked for Northamptonshire County Council, and had some responsibility for highways etc. I was interested in some of the old SMJ bridges, and he recommended me to write to the council. I seems that they (at least then) had something known as a 'Bridges register' where they kept details(usually including a photo) of all bridges affecting their roads, including of course railway bridges. I received back from them a few very poor photocopies, but have just looked them out and can confirm that the A5 bridge at Towcester (at least when the photo was taken) had a 'LUCAS' advert, with also the words 'Batteries and dependability' alongside. the bridge is described as having brick abutments, steel plate girder parapets and steel cross girders, and carried (in addition to trains !) Post Office telephones, and water and gas mains. However, the very poor photo is taken from the 'Weedon' side on the A5 and of course it may well have had a different advert on the other side. Unfortunately all that the Council recorded about its fate is the word 'demolished' written right across the page. However, my SMJ notes, most of which are from the RCTS 'Railway Observer' state that in October 1968 'the bridge has been demolished' .
Now - somewhere the NCC might have in their archives an old register with lots of photos of rail bridges - anyone have any contacts there?

Dick said:
It was a blackish coloured metal girder bridge with flat metal sides/parapets supported by brickwork. I seem to remember that it was covered by an advert, but not sure. I think it was taken down when the A43 Towcester bypass was built. It may have been before as it was an accident blackspot because the junction from the Greens Norton road ( which was then where the tidy tip entrance is now) was obscured by it when travelling north up the A5. For many years one of the famous Black Widow 'Keep death off the roads' posters was prominently displayed on a billboard next to it.


This is about as good as I have

Andy

An interesting article in BRJ No.76, about Bridge 12 over the A5, the Lucas Bridge.

In the early postwar years, (assuming WW2), so late 1940's, early 1950's, the bridge was RAISED to increase headroom, which had been insufficient despite a dip in the road. I wonder what the original headroom was, and what was it raised to ?? Was this done to accommodate the new Routemaster buses which were 14' 5" tall?

Herewith a view of the Lucas bridge at Towcester - probably taken on the same occasion as the one already posted, but showing all of the bridge (from the railway). Date 29.4.1956

Attachments:

Would you agree that the track does not look level from the platforms to the bridge?

I like the INDIA TYRES advert to the side of the bridge.

The bridge abutments look very new, especially the left hand side pair.

I can't quite make out the first advertising poster.

All the brickwork for the abutments and retaining walls on either side were of blue brick. I do not recall seeing any red bricks in this structure. Any ironwork for the advertising boards was grey. The girders on the bridge were black.

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