‘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

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Bridge 12

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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Permalink Reply by Dick Bodily on April 16, 2009 at 14:45
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.
Permalink Reply by Gary on April 20, 2009 at 19:48
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.
Permalink Reply by Dick Bodily on June 8, 2009 at 17:04
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
Permalink Reply by Si Donal on June 9, 2009 at 22:08
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.
Permalink Reply by Barry Taylor on June 29, 2009 at 13:40
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.
Permalink Reply by Andy Thompson on July 2, 2009 at 16:41


This is about as good as I have

Andy
Permalink Reply by NIGEL on May 3, 2015 at 19:07

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?

Permalink Reply by Robin Cullup on May 4, 2015 at 9:27

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

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Permalink Reply by NIGEL on May 4, 2015 at 10:21

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.

Permalink Reply by NIGEL on May 4, 2015 at 20:41

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

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

Permalink Reply by NIGEL on May 4, 2015 at 21:32

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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