‘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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Some SMJ news folks:

The SMJ Bridge 170 on the Olney Branch, which crosses Quinton road near Salcey Forest, is currently in the process of being demolished. The actual bridge itself was lifted in the late 60's, but the abutments on both sides and also the embankments either side have remained. The embankments too are in the process of being taken out. I learned of this today, whilst crossing over the line on the M1.


Could anybody shed any light on what is going on down there? Are some houses being built there or something?

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Hi

  You you are correct the abutments are now gone. There is a windfarm being built the other side of the M1  and the railway line bridge under the m1 is being used for the access road to the wind farm site. The access road will start from where the abutments were located on the Quinton road and pass under the moterway to the site. The embankments have been cleared to provide better view for the new road turning to the windfarm off the quinton road..

It's in the Roade local residents newsletter.

The area around Hartwell, Stoke Bruerne, Shutlanger, Hanslope, Stoke Goldington, Castlethorpe and Haversham is beset with planning proposals for windfarms and solar energy farms, of which this is the first to get approval.  It's a case of 'watch this space' regarding all the various others.

Yes

I noticed this from the M1 myself yesterday (Nov 30).

 

The embankment to the W of the M1 has been steadily eroded over the years so that there is little left.

 

As I was driving I couldn't look too hard, especially as I wasn't expecting anything to be going on. Heavy machinery was doing something in the field - I got the impression that something was being put up there rather than agricultural changes.

 

I did wonder from the tracks whether the machinery was using the bridge under the M1 for access. This is the bridge reputed never to have seen a train - apart from track-lifting trains ?

 

(I see Stephen Dawson has beaten me to it!)

Interesting info Richard - every time that I've driven past there I've wondered just how much longer the abutments could last - but I expected them to disappear for road safety reasons!

Seems along time ago that the old LNWR twelve wheel coach stood right on top of the bridge.

I'm just uploading a couple of pics in the photos section which might prove interesting.

There are now 4 wind generators up or almost complete.

Looking from the M1 it appears that only one (the western-most) is actually on the SMJ alignment.

There are going to be 9 wind turbines in total on that plot.

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