‘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
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.
PPhoto Albums 1 Reply
AndyAbout two years ago I ended up with some railway matter from a Bill Kendall who had been a Signalman on SMJ ending his railway career at Northampton No 1. I worked with him when I was working in Rugby PSB, I also covered the signa?l boxes at…Continue
Started by Robin Leslie Patrick. Last reply by Dave Hayward Jun 8.
Broom Junction station site for sale 3 Replies
Great opportunity for an SMJ enthusiast perhaps. I'm not sure what you could actually do with this site though!…Continue
Started by Simon Stevens. Last reply by Simon Stevens May 17.
SMJ photos
Single track?
Would I be right in assuming that the SMJ was single track all the way apart from passing loops at the stations?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Gary on
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It was single track yes, although engineered to double, apart from Goldicote Cutting.
Towcester to Greens Norton Junction was originally a double track section but was later remodelled to parallel single lines with no connection other than at Towcester.
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Permalink Reply by Richard Maund on
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After 1942, Clifford Sidings box to Stratford was double track.
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Permalink Reply by Barry Taylor on
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Just to qualify Gary's earlier comment - the line from Towcester to Greens Norton was in fact originally just single track, with a loop, a junction, and two signal boxes at Greens Norton. The loop was shortened and one signal box removed in 1894, and then in 1910 the junction and remaining signal box was abolished by the newly formed SMJR. At that point the layout became two single lines from Towcester. At Towcester the former east and west signal boxes were closed and one new taller box constructed (the one that survived through to closure of the line)
The track bed from Towcester to Greens Norton was built for double line, but there was also some widening done west of the Watling Street bridge as part of the 1910 alterations, on which new sidings were placed.
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