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Warwick Station - Royal Show

GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Extract from Great Western Magazine Vol. XLIII. No.8, August 1931

Royal Agricultural Show

The Royal Agricultural Society’s show was held this year at Castle Park, Warwick, from July 7 to 11. The general depression in trade of the country had its influence upon the number of exhibitors, in addition to which a serious outbreak of foot and mouth disease, just prior to the opening of the show, considerably restricted the movement of cattle.

The show yard was a little over a mile from the Great Western Railway Station at Warwick, and accommodation was provided in the Company’s Cape Yard for dealing with the whole of the traffic, including that of the London, Midland and Scottish Company.

Platforms measuring 700 feet long by 35 feet wide with a siding for 22 vehicles on each side, enabling two trains to be dealt with simultaneously, were provided, equipped with cranes for lifting heavy articles.

About 590 vehicles of live stock in 32 special trains were received, and 550 vehicles in 31 special trains were drspatched. It was necessary to work continuously in the reception of the show animals from 3.0 p.m. on Friday, July 3 to 3.0 p.m. on Monday July 6.

To meet the requirements in connection with the return of the live stock after the show, special trains were despatched at regular intervals of one hour from 7.0 p.m. Saturday, July 11, to 9.0 a.m. Monday, July 13. The scheduled times were closely followed throughout.

The transport arrangements, which had been carefully planned prior to the meeting, had to be modified from time to time to meet the varying conditions arising out of the restrictions in the movement of cattle.

At the conclusion of the meeting the Royal Society passed a resolution expressing their thanks for the excellent rail arrangements made in connection with the show.

Restriction of Movement of Animals from the Royal Agricultural Society's Show at the Royal Showground, Warwick. July 1931

2.(1) No animal shall be moved out of the Show Ground of the Royal Agricultural Society at Warwick, except with a licence granted by an Inspector or officer of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, and then only to some suitable premises approved by the Inspector of the Ministry and subject to such conditions as the Minister considers necessary or expedient for the purpose of preventing the spread of disease, and are inserted in the licence.

2.(2) No licence shall be required under the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (Infected Areas Restrictions) Order of 1925, in respect of any animal being moved from the Show with a licence under this Order.

3. The term " animal " in this Order means cattle, sheep, goats and swine.

Warwick Station (42) Locomotives at Warwick Station (50) Royal Show facilities at Warwick Station

A view from the south end of Warwick's down platform looking towards Leamington Spa on 20th August 1956
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RG Nelson
A view from the south end of Warwick's down platform looking towards Leamington Spa on 20th August 1956
View of the demolition of the up side buildings at Warwick Station which had paused over the weekend
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P Kingson
View of the demolition of the up side buildings at Warwick Station which had paused over the weekend

Ex-GWR 43xx class 2-6-0 No 6363 heads north through Warwick Station with a down Class H unfitted freight train
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RS Carpenter
Ex-GWR 43xx class 2-6-0 No 6363 heads north through Warwick Station with a down Class H unfitted freight train

A busy scene in early July 1931, showing the new wide platform and sidings at Capes Yard, just north of Warwick
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GWR Magazine
A busy scene in early July 1931, showing the new wide platform and sidings at Capes Yard, just north of Warwick
GWR enquiry office on the grounds of the Royal Agricultural Show, held in Castle Park in July 1931
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GWR Magazine
GWR enquiry office on the grounds of the Royal Agricultural Show, held in Castle Park in July 1931