GWR Route: North Warwickshire Line

GWR Route: Hatton to Stratford on Avon

Wilmcote Station: gwrwil2624

Gradient Profile of North Warwickshire Line from Birmingham Snow Hill to Honeybourne. Excluding the short section through Snow Hill tunnel, the steepest section on this route (marked red on the profile) was the mile and quarter from Stratford-upon-Avon to Wilmcote where the gradient was 1 in 75. A Bank Engine was kept at Stratford-on-Avon to assist Up trains. The following information has been extracted from the Great Western Railway Service Time Table (STT) dated March 1929:

Standard Instructions
When assistance is required to Wilmcote only, the Bank Engine must assist at the rear uncoupled.
When assistance is required to Bearley East, the Bank Engine must be coupled to the rear Van to Bearley West Box and uncoupled from Bearley West Box to Bearley East Box.
When assistance is required to Hatton North or Middle or Earlswood Lakes, the Bank Engine must be coupled to the rear Van throughout.
When assistance is required beyond Wilmcote the Assistant Engine must only use steam when running up inclines.
When running over falling gradients he must not push the train, the speed being controlled by the Train Engineman.

Assistant Engines on Passenger Trains - Stratford-on-Avon to Wilmcote and Earlswood Lakes
Engines of the 2-6-2T 36XX type may be attached in front of the train engine when assisting passing trains from Stratford-on-Avon to Wilmcote. When assistance is required beyond Wilmcote Station, the engine must be attached behind the train engine. In no case must the assistant engine work beyond Earlswood Lakes, and Drivers wiring forward for the Bank Engine should state whether it is required to Wilmcote or Earlswood Lakes.

Bank Engines on Up Goods trains
When it is necessary for the Bank Engine to assist a train in the rear from either of the Stratford-on-Avon Signal Boxes, the Guard will be responsible for coming to a clear understanding with the Train Engineman as to how far assistance is required and for advising the Bank Engineman, He must also acquaint the Signalman on duty at the Signal Box where the Bank Engine is placed in the rear, and the Signalman there must telephone the information from box to box to the destination of the Bank Engine.

Goods Guards giving information to Drivers of Bank Engines
Guards of all Goods Trains requiring a Bank Engine must hand a slip to the Driver of the Bank Engine giving the following information :-
          What the train is.
          How many Wagons are on the Train.
          The Train Driver’s name.
          The number of the Train Engine.
          This information to be handed to the Driver of the Bank Engine before starting from the point at which the Engine is attached.

In those cases where the assistant engine is attached in front of the train this information should be furnished by the Fireman of the Train Engine.

Robert Ferris

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