Railways of Warwickshire

mikemusson · Post by **mikemusson** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 10:47 pm

We are developing a web site on the railway history of Warwickshire. Its aimed at the railway enthusiast, modeller and local "historian". Currently we have over 2500 images on the site covering approximately 80% of the 180 stations that existed at one time in the county.

Some stations are not very well illustrated having only one or two, and occassionally no, images. Can you help? Even if we have lots of images on one station we NEVER say no to more.

Also, if any one would like to provide information on any aspect of railways in Warwickshire (recollections as well as historical information) that would be great too. Finally, if you visit the site and see a broken url, spelling or grammatical error please let us know.

The url is: http://www.warwickshirerailways.com

Thanks

Mike

dinmore · Post by **dinmore** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 11:25 pm

What a superb website, living in the Shirley/Hall Green area all my life it's amazing how the stations have changed so little over the years. I spent a bit of time between christmas and new year walking along bits of the old Rowington jc. to Henley in Arden line that closed in 1908 when the north warickshire line opened, little of it remains although we did mange to find a boundry marker which dates from 1880 in it's original position. Using the aerial photo view on multimap.co the path of the line is reasably clear. Having been in use for only 14 years before closure precious little information is available about that line. Do you know much about it? Regards, Mike

EDIT: Having spent a bit longer browsing your site I found this pic of the old junction, the footings of the signal box are now directly under the M40

!!! http://www.warwickshirerailways.com/gwr/gwrrj264a.htm

250787 · Post by **250787** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 5:46 pm

What an excellent website. I liked the old photos my local station, Coventry. Keep up the excellent work

Cheers

Matt

mikemusson · Post by **mikemusson** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 6:30 pm

Thanks for the kind comments it helps to keep the team motivated.

We have a copies of Henley being built (actually just the foundations) as well as a derailed loco at the old station circa 1890.

Coventry was my home town hence the number of photos. I was very pleased to find the rare 1880 view of Coventry as it is far superior to the well known view with the LNWR Southern Division Bloomer. Its url link is:

http://www.warwickshirerailways.com/lms/lnwrcov1282.htm

Currently we are working on Nuneaton to Leamington after which we have the MR routes to Derby etc, the Harbourne route and the SMJ. After these we will start to up load the photos acquired since various stations were up loaded.

Mike

viperskil · Post by **viperskil** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 9:16 pm

Absolute class, would it be possible if you can do a more modern section too, so that the comparissons can be easily be made.

dinmore · Post by **dinmore** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 12:23 am

A site with pictures of the modern staions on the north warickshire line is available here, http://www.shakespeareline.com/line_stations.htm You can see just how little some of the stations have changed, much of the GWR architecture remains, as does the signalling. This is the line used for the "Shakespeare Express" steam services twice daily on summer sundays and occaisional loco tests, I'm lucky enough to live by it!

allypally · Post by **allypally** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 12:23 pm

Ouch, what did those Germans and then those concrete loving swines in the 60s do to our New Street...

jamestcc · Post by **jamestcc** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 4:05 pm

Shame they lifted the line that ran through my first town of Southam (details here: http://www.warwickshirerailways.com/lms/southam.htm ) as it desperatly needs more links to Leamington Spa and Banbury with a non-existence bus service and a by-pass running around it that links Banbury to Coventry.

P.s. I wonder how much it would cost to re-build those lines that were lifted?? Lets get Warwickshire moving again!!!

jamestcc · Post by **jamestcc** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 4:17 pm

This site is full of information that I've been wanting to know for ages.

Southam was linked to the old Wolves lower level that I keep on seeing everytime I go through Wolves to Brum http://www.warwickshirerailways.com/gwr ... ampton.htm

Get that line back up!! It will help all of the places with a line that connects from Banbury to Wolves, who do I get in touch with to get the line re-laid?? Start a petition?? details??

James

Ex Warwickshire lad but still has a strong feelings for my old town where I first lived!

JonPotter · Post by **JonPotter** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 4:29 pm

What an amazing site - well done!

allypally · Post by **allypally** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 7:34 pm

Wolverhampton Low Level is a non start - it's blocked off by roads and a Royal Mail Regional sorting depot

It's also due to be turned into a new inner city development (sympathetically restored apparently) with the platforms made into restaurant terraces etc etc.

jamestcc · Post by **jamestcc** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 7:56 pm

Ah right, that's good for the city itself that its been developed but shame that line can't be re-built.

Has anyone been to the Wolves Lower Level site in its current or previous (working) state?

allypally · Post by **allypally** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 8:07 pm

I've 'ad a peak, it's as it could be expected to be - rather barren!

jamestcc · Post by **jamestcc** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 8:25 pm

It does looks barren everytime I see it when I pass through Wolves, the only thing at note is that old rusty rail wagon at the end of the platform! Surly the last service that left Wolves Lower Level must have forgot to take it!

Still the old Warwickshire Railways is an ideal route to recreate on MSTS??

mattvince · Post by **mattvince** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 8:35 pm

One other problem - Priestfield to Snow Hill has been relaid and electrified at 750V DC Overhead to LRT standards. It is the core of what will hopefully be a large Midland Metro network. The Stour Valley and Grand Junction lines into New Street work well enough - why duplicate them?

Wolves Low Level is not the nicest place - the Great Western pub is fairly good - but remember to bring a numerically-strong 'posse' with you.