Warwickshire Railways
Compiled by Martin Creese
Large Prairie 8109 sits alongside Leamington Spa coaling stage, the water tank above holding 45,000 gallons. Built as 3115 in 1907, the loco was renumbered to 5115 in March 1928. Rebuilt to 8109 with smaller five-foot six-inch driving wheels in 1939, 8109 was a Leamington engine from December 1939 to December 1960 when it moved to 84E Tyseley, being withdrawn in December 1965 after a working life of over sixty years and the last of the 81xxs to be withdrawn. An overhaul in March 1963 saw the loco remain in BR black but with late crest. The bracket signal in the background is on the Rugby to Leamington line. (Neville Stead collection)
Top Right: A ‘privileged position’ image from the footplate of 6003 King George IV as it approaches Leamington Spa on 23 April 1960. The wonderful wooden posted GWR bracket signal is set for the down through road, with the left signal governing the Down platform line and the right hand one the down goods, which went round the back of the Up platform. An ATC ramp is just visible in front of the engine which, as the engine goes over it, will ring all clear in the cab. Leamington Spa South Box sits beyond the signal: A GWR type 27c, it was an all- wooden construction and contained a 45-lever frame which covered the station platform, through and goods roads to Leamington Spa North signal box. The south exit from Leamington was on a series of bridges and viaducts and the South signal box at the front was supported on the viaduct wall and at the back on brick supporting pillars. 6003 was an Old Oak Common engine from entering service in July 1927 to September 1960 when it moved to Cardiff Canton. It returned to Old Oak Common in February 1962 and was withdrawn from there in June 1962, being cut up at Swindon in the September. Referring to the 1959 working timetable the ‘Cambrian Coast Express’ to Aberystwyth and Pwllheli was one of the few workings not scheduled to stop at Leamington Spa, passing through at 11.46pm, so R. C. Riley may well be enjoying his footplate ride on that working. Perhaps it can be assumed that he was holding his camera at arm’s length! (R. C. Riley)
Bottom Right: Worcester (85A) allocated Churchward Mogul 5337 arriving at Leamington Spa General on a local working in the 1950s. Allocated to Worcester from October 1956 to May 1958, before moving on to Hereford (85C), she would survive until October 1960 and enjoyed a working life of just under forty-three years. There is plenty of luggage on the trolley down the platform and most eyes from the passengers and staff are on the arriving train. Again we can see the single slip on the crossover of the up and down through lines. GWR Journal No. 58 identified the Parcel Porter with the sack truck as Alf James. Through the smoke and on the wall of the building is a painted advert for Francis and Sons of 34-40 Bath Street, Leamington. The store had departments covering Ladies and Gentleman’s fashions, fabrics, millinery, furniture and carpets. By the time of the photograph the store was starting to decline albeit final closure did not occur until the early 1980’s. (Arthur Mace)
Part Four – LNWR Lines to Leamington
Top Left: It is sobering to reflect how early passenger workings were withdrawn on the lines radiating from Leamington Spa (Avenue) station. The Weedon branch ended in September 1958 and was quickly followed by passenger workings finishing on the Rugby line in June 1959. Coventry line passenger workings survived up until January 1965, after which it became a valuable freight-only and diversionary route. (R. C. Riley)
Bottom Left: We allow ourselves a final study of Leamington Spa (Avenue) station, this time looking towards Milverton. An unidentified Ivatt 2MT has the road and the angle permits a good view of the driving compartment end of the motor trains and how they are converted from a non-corridor brake coach. Just above the left hand buffer can be seen the words ‘pull and push’. The control system was vacuum operated - the control piping can be made out on the buffer beam. Between the Ivatt and the signal box are the GWR yard and sidings and a rake of wagons, with what I think are new BMC Minis, can just be discerned. The foreground also shows the wooden platform extension and to the left a crossover between the up and down lines. (Arthur Mace)
We now head along the line towards Rugby and the first station is Marton, seven and a half miles from Milverton. Opening in 1851 the line was initially single with the goods yard opposite the station. With doubling of the line in 1880 to accommodate the new up platform, it was staggered and built outwards across the bridge carrying the line over the Southam to Coventry Road. Note the LMS ‘Hawkseye’ station nameboard on a wooden platform and LNWR pattern waiting shelter. (Leslie Freeman)
Part Five – The Shipston on Stour Branch
The origins of this line were in the sixteen-mile long Stratford and Moreton Tramway which opened on 5 September 1826 as a horse worked tramway, the original Act of Parliament forbidding the use of a steam locomotive. The branch to Shipston on Stour from Longdon Road opened in February 1836. The Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway took the line over in 1853 and relaid the line to a standard suitable to accept main line wagons, albeit it was still horse worked. The opening of the line from Honeybourne to Stratford in 1859 took away most of the traffic from Moreton to Stratford and by 1904 the northern section of the tramway was closed with the track lifted in 1918. The branch to Shipston had a Stratford facing connection at Longdon Road and the GWR, who had taken over the OWWR in 1882, laid a short south facing spur to allow through running from Moreton to Shipston. The line reopened in 1889 and with another Act of Parliament to lift the restriction on steam locomotives. Intermediate stations were at Longdon Road and Stretton on Fosse. Passenger trains ceased in 1929, with a goods service finally ceasing on 2 May 1960.
Taken on the 24 April 1955 during the REC railtour to Shipston on Stour, this scene from the buffer stop highlights the wooden station building, still in reasonable condition considering the withdrawal of passenger services some twenty-six years earlier. The building contained, from left to right, Gentleman, Ladies Waiting room, waiting room and a booking office. The platform on the left was a loading dock with a headshunt from the run round loop running up to it. On the left can be seen the goods shed. (R. C. Riley)
Left: Dean Goods 2458 is seen shunting at Shipston on Stour. Built at Swindon and new to traffic in December 1895 she would survive until April 1954, being withdrawn from Brecon where she moved to in January 1954. Prior to that she was a Worcester engine, being allocated there in June 1947. To the right can be seen the cattle dock and goods shed, the latter a utilitarian design with corrugated iron sheeting and a curved roof. The summer 1952 working timetable records that on weekdays there was one goods from Moreton-in-Marsh leaving at 12.30 and taking a leisurely hour and a quarter to travel the nine miles, arriving at 1.47pm. After just under an hour allowed for shunting, departure was at 2.40pm and arrival back at Moreton-in-Marsh at 3.53pm. Branch services were limited to 20mph with around eight level crossings for the crews to open and close, hence the easy schedule. (David Horne)
Embark on a nostalgic journey through the railways of Warwickshire with a seasoned enthusiast whose passion for steam locomotion spans decades. From the bustling platforms of Birmingham Snow Hill to the quaint charm of Fenny Compton, this captivating narrative weaves through the rich tapestry of Warwickshire’s railway history. Guided by vivid recollections and meticulously curated images from the Transport Treasury collection, immerse yourself in the bygone era of steam, semaphore signals, and the rhythmic clatter of iron wheels on tracks. Join the author as they traverse forgotten routes, explore hidden gems, and uncover the stories behind each railway line. With heartfelt acknowledgments to fellow enthusiasts, railway preservationists, and the unwavering support of family, this book is a testament to the enduring allure of steam travel and the enduring legacy of Warwickshire’s railways.
Published by Transport Treasury Publishing Ltd.
£14.95
ISBN 978-1-913251-65-9
