‘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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More building at Towcester 2 Replies

I hear there has been more building at the station site in Towcester.Anyone know what they've dug up?…Continue

Tags: Towcester

Started by Andy Thompson. Last reply by Nigel Nov 7.

Broom History Group Event 9th November 2024

Broom History Group will be holding an event at Broom Village Hall 2-4pm on 9th November 2024 including a film on the railway and Broom Junction.…Continue

Started by Simon Stevens Oct 25.

Misunderstanding Easton Neston 2 Replies

Hello, I'm a new member and I've searched through the articles and can't find anything specific to my answer/ question. Can anyone help?…Continue

Started by Matt Davis. Last reply by Matt Davis Oct 16.

Loco N° 5. 2-4-0T

Hi everybodyI’m building a OO gauge model of Fenny Compton and Clifford Sidings over here in Belgium.Quite a strange idea but so be it…In view of this I plan to transform a RTR Beatie Well Tank into SMJR N° 5 the 2-4-0T and use some etchings for the…Continue

Started by Jack Freuville Aug 29.

SMJ photos

Ravenstone Wood Junction.

Hi All. I've joined up after an internet search looking for information regarding Ravenstone Wood Junction. It has come to light that there were sidings here. Did they link to the army depot?

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Permalink Reply by Si Donal on March 15, 2012 at 17:13

Hello Richard,

There were no sidings at Ravenstone Wood Junction itself. There were sidings to into the Army Depot but they were located at Piddington on the Bedford - Northampton (ex Midland) line. They were not far away at all form the SMJ line but not directly connected. This end of the SMJ is well covered in this month's Railway Bylines magazine and Ravenstone Wood Junction features in a few pictures and maps.

Regards

Simon

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Permalink Reply by Richard Pike on March 15, 2012 at 18:57

13 points were trailing from the up main worked with a trap, also numbered 13 and protected by 14, a miniature semaphore. On the plan i have seen this siding splits into two, one shown as going to stops and the one furthest from the up main continuing on.

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Permalink Reply by Barry Taylor on March 16, 2012 at 17:22

Hi Richard

Just to add to Si's recent reply, there was in fact a connection into the Army depot from the Ravenstone Wood Junction end too - but only from around 1939 until the end of the war after which it was removed. Presumably this was as a wartime contingency, just in case the usual access near at Piddington station became blocked for any reason. The Army sidings were very extensive and stretched right up towards Ravenstone Wood, so the connection was presumably very easy to install. It may well have been controlled by the signal box there - it would be interesting to know if there were spare levers in the frame that could have accommodated this - otherwise it may have had a temporary ground frame.

Regards