‘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
Trespasser sign
Hello All.
Brought myself a trespasser sign to restore. I have seen in it three colors....
Black on white.
White on black.
White on red.
Not sure which one is correct, which would be the authentic color please?
I have been told white on black.
Thanks.
Alan.
Views: 311
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Tim Roy on
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Hi Alan,
From “A History of the Stratford-upon-Avon & Midland Junction Railway” by R C Riley and Bill Simpson, published by Lamplight Publications in 1999:
Page 106: Towcester. The SMJ “Beware of Trains” sign stands out in white paint at the end of the platform protecting the footway across the tracks. Perhaps when the adjacent fence was painted white the sign was painted at the same time?
Page 108: Near Helmdon. The SMJ “Beware of Trains” sign is painted a dark colour (black?) with white letters and a white raised border. However, the bridge plate is painted white with dark letters and a dark raised border.
Neither photograph is dated, but both are in the section "S&MJR as part of the LM&SR".
With regards,
Tim
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Permalink Reply by Dick Bodily on
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I seem to remember that in BR days these signs showed vestiges of white background but were mainly rusty. Stations on the SMJ route and probably other lines too were issued with copious quantities of white paint during the WW2 blackout to be used to paint the platform edges so that they stood out a bit to avoid passengers falling in the dark. Bob Salmons who was a wartime signalman at Blakesley told how the stationmaster there got him to use some of this paint to adorn stones around the edge of the station's flower borders to avoid passengers stepping on his precious blooms in the dark! As trespass signs stood adjacent to station boarded foot crossings possibly it was at this time that they were painted with white backgrounds, to help passengers safely find such crossings on dark cloudy nights. I've seen restored examples of such signs painted with white letters on black and on red backgrounds as well as black letters on white background, so take your pick as to what they were painted in early earlier SMJ and pre-WW2 LMS days.
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Permalink Reply by alan wilson on
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Thank you. I will do white on black. But I too have seen all three versions,
Alan
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Thank you Tim.
Will do White on Black.
Alan
Tim Roy said:Hi Alan,
From “A History of the Stratford-upon-Avon & Midland Junction Railway” by R C Riley and Bill Simpson, published by Lamplight Publications in 1999:
Page 106: Towcester. The SMJ “Beware of Trains” sign stands out in white paint at the end of the platform protecting the footway across the tracks. Perhaps when the adjacent fence was painted white the sign was painted at the same time?
Page 108: Near Helmdon. The SMJ “Beware of Trains” sign is painted a dark colour (black?) with white letters and a white raised border. However, the bridge plate is painted white with dark letters and a dark raised border.
Neither photograph is dated, but both are in the section "S&MJR as part of the LM&SR".
With regards,
Tim
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