Warwick Station

GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Warwick station was opened on 1st October 1852 as one of the original stations on the Broad Gauge route between Oxford and Birmingham and is located approximately half a mile from the town centre. The station was also used in steam days for holding the banking locomotive required to assist heavy trains up Hatton Bank. The main goods yard was located on the up side on the other side of the bridge carrying the railway over the Coventry Road. The goods yard was accessed off Coventry Road and was equipped with both a goods shed and six-ton crane.

Warwick hosted the Royal Agricultural Show in 1859 and again in June 1892. For this second show, new sidings and ground frames were added on the down side about a mile north of the station, at Capes Yard and extra platform length and a temporary platform built on the down side of the station to accommodate the expected additional traffic. This increased length of the bay platform line, but in May 1894 a fire caused significant damage to the station and when it was rebuilt the end section of the bay platform line was filled-in reducing the bay's length and allowing the new down platform buildings to be extended. At the same time the main down platform was also further extended on the northern side. At the same time a siding was constructed to serve the gasworks sidings which lay a little beyond Capes Yard.

The station originally had two signal boxes, which had both been constructed in 1884. For the Royal Agricultural Show extensions, an additional ground frame was installed at Capes Yard and the frame in the North Signal Box was also replaced. These alterations came into operation in May 1892. On 27th June 1909, the original two Signal Boxes and the Capes Yard ground frame were replaced with a new brick built (type 7D) Signal box behind the up platform and two new four lever ground frames in cabins. The new Signal Box had a three bar horizontal tappet frame with 52 levers at 4 inch centres. The North Ground Frame was located on the down side in the middle of Capes Yard, while the South Ground Frame was located on the up side at the southern end of the Main Goods Yard.

In May 1911 the up relief siding was extended to hold 72 wagons in addition to a locomotive and brake van. This was later converted to a loop in June 1944 and taken out of use on 26th November 1967.

In July 1931 the Royal Agricultural Show was held at Warwick for the third time and at Capes Yard four additional sidings, each accommodating 22 wagons, were constructed with a double sided platform 700 foot long by 35 foot wide between the central pair. See the transcript of the Great Western Railway Magazine article at warwick-royal-show.htm for more details. These sidings and the platform were taken out of use in April 1961 and removed in July that year.

Over the first half of the twentieth century the sidings carried an increasing amount of coal from 5,750 tons in 1900, to 14,250 tons in 1947, although this rapidly decreased as the gasworks closed in 1952 (note the Gas Works siding is recorded as being taken out of use on 13th June 1965). The main goods yard officially closed on 11th November 1963, although most of the sidings had been taken out of use between 1955 and April 1961 and the South Ground Frame was removed in April 1961. On the opposite side of the running lines at this southern end of the station, the down relief siding was retained until 9th June 1968. The Cape Yard lasted a little longer, being closed on 31st January 1969. All the down side sidings here and the North Ground Frame were taken out of use on 3rd May 1969.

The main access to the station was off Coventry Road with a long drive up to the down platform which had the contained the main accommodation. Access could also be achieved via Woodcote Road to the up platform. Whilst both platforms are on the level with the surrounding area the land is lower towards Leamington allowing the two platforms to be connected by an underpass. The up platform for London is numbered platform one and the down platform for Birmingham and Stratford upon Avon is numbered platform two.

Robert Ferris

Use the links below to access the following sections:

• External views of Warwick Station
• Platform views of Warwick station
• The Royal Show
• Southern Approaches
• Northern Approaches
• Cape Yard and Warwick Corporation's Gas Works sidings
• Wharf Street bridge works
• Maps of the station and sidings
• Locomotives seen at Warwick prior to 31st December 1947
• Locomotives and rolling stock seen at Warwick or Budbrook post 1st December 1948
• Diesel Dawn

External views of Warwick Station

Ref: gwrw1590 D Parsons An Edwardian view of Warwick station and the station forecourt which was accessed from Coventry Road

Ref: gwrw1590a D Parsons Close up of the entrance to the underpass to the up platform and some of the staff posing for the camera

Ref: gwrw943 P Kingston Looking up Station Road from Coventry Road towards the down platform buildings on 24th August 1963

Ref: gwrw943a P Kingston Close up of the down platform buildings at the Birmingham end of the station with the bay out of view on the left

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Platform views of Warwick station

Ref: gwrw2174 Stations UK Looking towards Leamington in 1925 with a small group of passengers waiting on the down platform

Ref: gwrw390 P Hopkins Looking towards Leamington and across to the down platform from the Hatton end of the station

Ref: gwrw390a P Hopkins Close up showing the various phases of building reflected by the different platform levels of the down platform

Ref: gwrw390b P Hopkins Close up of the ex-GWR horse box with groom's compartment at one end and a hay store at the other end

Ref: gwrw389 Anon Looking towards Leamington along the down platform with the signal box on the left and the goods yard in the distance

Ref: gwrw389a Anon Close up of the down platform showing the short spur at the Leamington end of the station is now gone

Ref: gwrw393 P Hopkins Looking towards Leamington from the Birmingham end of the down platform with the bay on the right

Ref: gwrw393a P Hopkins Close up showing the 52-lever frame signal box located on the down platform which had replaced two signal boxes

Ref: gwrw393b P Hopkins Close up showing the much lower platform level of the platform at the Leamington end of the station

Ref: gwrw400 Lens of Sutton Looking from the up platform towards the down platform with the headshunt of the landing dock on the left

Ref: gwrw400a Lens of Sutton Close up of the Leamington end of the down platform building which included a timber clad lean-to

Ref: gwrw400b Lens of Sutton Close up of the down platform and main building with the entrance in the centre and a telephone box on the right

Ref: gwrw370b G Coltas Close up showing one of Warwick station's several ornate gas lampposts situated on the up platform

Ref: gwrw2195 RG Nelson A view from the south end of Warwick's down platform looking towards Leamington Spa on 20th August 1956

Ref: gwrw2197 P Kingson View of the demolition of the up side buildings at Warwick Station which had paused over the weekend

Ref: gwrw1591 W Wright View of Warwick Signal Box seen on 17th August 1969 which replaced the North and South boxes in 1909

Ref: gwrw386a P Kingston Close up showing one of Warwick station's ornate gas lampposts and to its right, an enamel Bryant & May advert

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The Royal Show

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.

Re: gwrw2025 Great Western Railway Special Fordson tractor No 2316 towing a modified horse drawn trailer (No 3553) at Warwick Royal Show

Re: gwrw2646 Great Western Railway Fordson tractor No 1194 towing large agricultural machinery to the Warwick Royal Show on 4th July 1931

Re: gwrw2647 Great Western Railway Temporary garage facilities erected for Warwick Royal Show with Fordson tractor No 2313 under repair

Re: gwrw2651 Great Western Railway Six wheel Morris Commercial ex WD lorry chassis originally allocated No 1115 when purchased by the GWR

Ref: gwrw2198 GWR Magazine GWR enquiry office on the grounds of the Royal Agricultural Show, held in Castle Park in July 1931

Ref: gwrw2199 GWR Magazine 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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Southern Approaches

Ref: gwrw399 RS Carpenter Looking towards Leamington with the Grand Union Canal being carried over the railway via the second bridge

Ref: gwrw2172 P Kingston View of Warwick South Ground Frame which controlled the Leamington end of Coventry Road goods yard

Ref: gwrw379a G Coltas Close up of the two sidings which facilitated the loading and unloading of horses and horse drawn road vehicles

Ref: gwrw395a P Kingston Close up of a GWR horse box stabled on one of the two sidings located adjacent to the bridge over Coventry Rd

Ref: gwrw374a G Coltas Close up showing the simplified pointwork and single siding which served the landing dock for horse drawn vehicles

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Northern Approaches

Ref: gwrw938 PJ Garland Looking towards Birmingham along the down platform with the Hatton banker's bay on the left

Ref: gwrw372a G Coltas Close up showing the refuge siding located on the Hatton side of Warwick station's up platform

Ref: gwrw370a G Coltas Close up showing the length of the mixed freight train which been set back to allow faster traffic to pass

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Cape Yard and Warwick Corporation's Gas Works sidings

Ref: gwrw938 PJ Garland Close up showing the crossover to Cape Yard, which is sited on the left, and in the distance Cape Road bridge

Ref: gwrw387a G Coltas Close up showing workmen in the process of unloading coal prior to stacking the coal on the ground circa 1938

Ref: gwrw384a G Coltas Another close up of Cape Yard sidings which has several coal stacks in view by the yard advertising hoarding

Ref: gwrw375a G Coltas Close up of a locomotive shunting wagons within Cape Yard sidings and Warwick station in the distance

Ref: gwrw378a G Coltas Close up showing Cape Yard sidings which is full of both oil and mineral wagons whilst the six-ton crane is still evident

Ref: gwrw2193a P Kingston Close up showing a train of four-wheel petrol tank cars being marshalled for the Regent Oil Company

Ref: gwrw2194a P Kingston Close up of the main sidings on the left and the single arch bridge carrying Cape Rd over the gas works sidings

Ref: gwrw396a G Coltas Close up showing the two sidings, one private the other on railway property, utilised to accommodate coal traffic

Ref: gwrw2167a G Coltas Close up of the siding where coal was transferred from standard to narrow gauge wagons for the local gas works

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Wharf Street bridge works

Ref: gwrw1586 C Capewell View of railway workers placing concrete into the abutment of Wharf Street bridge via a concrete pump

Ref: gwrw1587 C Capewell Another view of workers placing concrete into the abutment of Wharf Street bridge via a concrete pump

Ref: gwrw1588 C Capewell View of the old water pipes being replaced which once supplied Leamington with water from Rowington

Ref: gwrw1589 C Capewell A JCB 3c excavates one of Wharf Street's bridge abutments over the week end of 5th and 6th July 1975

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Maps of the station and sidings

Ref: gwrw940 OS Maps Map of the station with Birmingham to the right and Leamington to the left of the diagram

Ref: gwrw941 OS Maps Map of the station with Birmingham to the left and Leamington to the right of the diagram

Ref: gwrw2171 J Copsey Plan of Warwick Avon Bridge sidings showing the three loop lines on the up side controlled by Avon Bridge Signal Box

Ref: gwrw2463 Signalling Record Society Signalling Diagram of Warwick Signal Box & the track layout and signalling arrangement in the early 1950s

Ref: gwrw2674 R Ferris Gradient Profile showing the position of the various sidings adjacent to Warwick Station and Budbrook Signal Box

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Locomotives and rolling stock seen at Warwick prior to 31st December 1947

Ref: gwrw370 G Coltas GWR 2-8-0 28xx Class No 2872 pulls slowly out of the up refuge siding with a Group 10 classified freight train

Ref: gwrw373 G Coltas GWR 4-6-0 Star class No 4065 'Evesham Abbey' is seen running through the station on an up express

Ref: gwrw398 G Coltas GWR 4-6-0 No 6015 'King Richard III is seen passing through the station at speed at the head of an up express

Ref: gwrw374 G Coltas GWR 49xx Class 4-6-0 No 4912 'Berrington Hall' enters the station at the head of a down express service

Ref: gwrw377 G Coltas GWR 2-6-0 Mogul No 5399 workis hard ready to tackle Hatton Bank whilst on an express freight working

Ref: gwrw379 G Coltas GWR 4-6-0 King Class No 6026 'King John' roars through the station on a down express service

Ref: gwrw380 G Coltas GWR 2-6-0 43xx Class Mogul No 6389 runs through the station with a down express freight service

Ref: gwrw386 G Coltas GWR 4-6-0 29xx Class No 2914 'Saint Augustine' is seen at the head of a down express service to Snow Hill

Ref: gwrw387 G Coltas GWR 4-6-0 No 6005 'King George II' works hard at the head of a down express as it passes Cape Yard

Ref: gwrw392 P Hopkins GWR 0-6-0 No 354 stands at the throat of the Hatton Bankers bay ready to assist the next down goods train

Ref: gwrw394 G Coltas GWR 2-6-2T Prairie Tank No 3162 stands in the station on a down local train made up with Clerestory coaches

Ref: gwrw395 G Coltas GWR 2-6-2T Prairie No 5192 runs in to the station on a passenger service probably bound for Stratford upon Avon

Ref: gwrw396 G Coltas GWR 4-6-0 No 6000 'King George V' hurries past Warwick's gas work sidings in the Summer of 1946

Ref: gwrw942 G Coltas An unidentified GWR 0-6-0 'Armstrong Goods' is seen at the head of a down cattle train en-route to Bordesley

Ref: gwrw2175 RK Blencowe GWR 4575 Class 2-6-2T No 5544 is seen at the head of a local train made up of clerestory coaches

Ref: gwrw376 G Coltas Ex-GWR 2-6-2T Large Prairie No 5163 runs bunker first at the head of a Leamington local passenger service

Ref: gwrw2665 G Coltas GWR 2-6-2T large prairie No 3163 with two ganged brake composite corridor coaches on an up local passenger train

Ref: gwrw2178 G Coltas Great Western Railway 30xx Class 2-8-0 No 3026 passes by Cape Yard with a down goods train in 1938

Ref: gwrw2169 G Coltas GWR 2-6-2T 45xx class small prairie No 4558 arriving at Warwick with a down passenger in the late 1930s

Ref: gwrw2627 GWR Magazine An official photograph showing a large consignment of crated Winget concrete mixing machines leaving Warwick

Ref: gwrw4031 G Coltas Ex-GWR 2-6-2T Large Prairie No 5163 runs bunker first at the head of a Leamington local passenger service

Ref: gwrw2665 G Coltas GWR 2-6-2T large prairie No 3163 with two ganged brake composite corridor coaches on an up local passenger train

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Locomotives and rolling stock seen at Warwick post 1st December 1948

Ref: gwrw369 G Coltas Ex-GWR 28xx Class 2-8-0 No 2822 runs through Warwick station at the head of an express goods train

Ref: gwrw375 G Coltas Ex-GWR 2-6-2T Large Prairie No 5156 is seen at the head of a four-coach passenger service to Snow Hill

Ref: gwrw371 G Coltas Ex-GWR 4-6-0 Saint Class No 2933 'Bilbury Court', relegated to secondary duties, arrives on a down stopping train

Ref: gwrw372 G Coltas Ex-GWR 0-6-0PT 57xx class Pannier Tank No 3624 glides through the station on the up line with a single van in tow

Ref: gwrw2382 N Kendall British Railways Standard Class 9F 2-10-0 No 92028 builds up speed for Hatton Bank on 22nd April 1965.

Ref: gwrw378 G Coltas Ex-GWR 4-6-0 King Class No 6014 'King Henry VII' is seen as it starts to tackle Hatton Bank with a down express

Ref: gwrw381 G Coltas Ex-GWR 4-6-0 Hall Class No 6933 'Bintles Hall' stands at the head of a down express train bound for Snow Hill

Ref: gwrw382 G Coltas Ex-GWR 2-6-0 43xx Class Mogul No 7301 on a down one-coach railcar trailer service in June 1951

Ref: gwrw383 RS Carpenter Ex-GWR 0-6-0PT 55xx Tank No 9740 shunts wagons into the goods yard from the down main between paths

Ref: gwrw384 G Coltas WD 2-8-0 8F Austerity No 77497 is seen at the head of an express goods train as it passes Cape Yard sidings

Ref: gwrw388 G Coltas Ex-LNWR 0-8-0 'G2 class' No 49413 is seen at the head of stopping freight train as it passes Cape Yard

Ref: gwrw391 G Coltas Ex-GWR 2-6-0 43xx class Mogul No 5362, with a through train head lamp code, stands in the Hatton Bank bay

Ref: gwrw1603 GRJ Blenkinsop Ex-GWR 4073 'Castle' Class No 5047 ‘Earl of Dartmouth’ in British Railway livery approaches Warwick Station

Ref: gwrw397 G Coltas Ex-GWR 2-6-0 Mogul No 5313 ghosts pass Warwick station at the head of an up semi-fitted express goods train

Ref: gwrw2176 P Kingston Ex-GWR 81xx Class 2-6-2T No 8109 is seen being topped up with water whilst acting as banker in 1960

Ref: gwrw2177 N Simmons Ex-Great Western Railway 30xx Class 2-8-0 No 3028 stands on the up refuge loop during the Winter of 1955

Ref: gwrw2173 P Kingston Ex-GWR 49xx Class 4-6-0 No 5912 'Queens Hall' heads an up train past Coventry Road Yard's good shed in 1959

Ref: gwrw2179 R Postill British Railways built 4MT 2-6-0 No 43003 runs light engine through Warwick station on 3rd April 1965

Ref: gwrw2181 R Postill Ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 6879 'Overton Grange' passes through Warwick station on an up goods on 5th October 1963

Ref: gwrw2182 R Postill Ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 5983 'Henley Hall' passes through with a down Class H goods service on 8th June 1963

Ref: gwrw2183 R Postill Ex-GWR 4073 Class 4-6-0 No 5031 'Totnes Castle' passes through with a Class C XP working on 5th October 1963

Ref: gwrw2185 R Postill Ex-LMS 5XP 4-6-0 No 45577 'Bengal' passes through with a Class C XP working on 5th October 1963

Ref: gwrw2187 R Postill Ex-LMS 8F 2-8-0 No 48412 is seen at the head of a Class F unfitted up express goods on 5th October 1963

Ref: gwrw2193 P Kingston Ex-GWR 2-6-2T No 8109 passes Warwick Cape Yard with a down Class B service in May 1955

Ref: gwrw2191 R Postill British Railways Standard 9F 2-10-0 No 92204 heads an up Class F unfitted freight on 13th March 1965

Ref: gwrw2192 R Postill Ex-GWR 2251 Class 0-6-0 No 2210 runs tender first through Warwick on an up goods service on 8th June 1963

Ref: gwrw2167 G Coltas GWR 60xx Class 4-6-0 No 6008 'King James II' rushes past the GasWorks siding on an up named express

Ref: gwrw2194 P Kingston Ex-GWR Hall Class 4-6-0 No 4919 'Donnington Hall' on up main with Class D freight on 22nd July 1964

Ref: gwrw2667 C Capewell Ex-BR built 4073 Class No 7029 'Clun Castle' heads a down freight through Warwick in July 1966

Ref: gwrw2626 HMRS Ex-Bristol and Exeter (B&E) Railway coach converted to a Divisional Engineer’s Inspection Saloon by the GWR

Ref: gwrw2960 Anon Ex-LMS 4-6-0 Royal Scott class No 46123 ‘Royal Irish Fusilier’ at the end of the up platform after failing to stop

Ref: gwrw2959 Anon Another view of ex-LMS 4-6-0 Royal Scott class No 46123 ‘Royal Irish Fusilier’ at the end of Warwick's up platform

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Diesel Dawn

Ref: gwrw2169 C Capewell British Railways Type 2 Bo-Bo D6348 is seen waiting in the bay whilst on Hatton banker duties in July 1966

Ref: gwrw2180 R Postill A three car Diesel Multiple Unit is seen arriving at the up platform on a local passenger service on 3rd April 1965

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