Berkswell and Balsall Common Station

LMS Route: Rugby to Wolverhampton

Berkswell station originally opened as a gated crossing when the London & Birmingham Railway was first built and only became a station after the Board of the L&BR ordered on 9th October 1844 that 'short trains' (local passenger services) 'shall call to take up and set down passengers at Docker's Lane, Marston Green and Stechford Gates'. It is thought that these and possibly other gated crossings may well have been in use from the outset as unofficial stations. The three stations gained further recognition on 27th November 1844 when the Board ordered that there be provided platforms and booking huts. The station changed from Docker's Lane, to Berkswell on 1 January 1853 and then to Berkswell & Balsall Common on 1st February 1928 before finally reverting to Berkswell at a later yet to be determined date. David Felthouse of the Berkswell & District History Group wites 'In 1923 Balsall Parish Council complained to LMS that “Balsall Common was off the map and goods get lost”. It was agreed to rename the station ‘Berkswell and Balsall Common’; it took until 1st February 1928 to make the change. At some point, believed to be either at the end of the 1950s or beginning of the 1960s, the name reverted to ‘Berkswell’. Though it is within living memory we have been unable to ascertain a precise date. We have found the following references, which are very contradictory:
       Bradshaw
       3rd March 1957 - 'Berkswell & Balsall Common'
       January 1959 - 'Berkswell'
       Birmingham ABC Guide
       1958, 1959 and 1960 'Berkswell & Balsall Common'
       Toby Cave (Royal Leamington Spa Historian)
       1955 Change back to 'Berkswell' taken from engineering records stated in 'Railway Stations in Great Britain and        Chronology' by Michael Quick 4th edition revised 2009. Published by Railway & Canal History Society.
       London to Birmingham Railway” by John Boynton
       Picture taken 13th September 1959 showing 'Berkswell & Balsall Common'.

The name of the road leading to the station also changed, from Dockers Lane to Station Road. John Boynton noted in his book 'The London & Birmingham Railway between Birmingham and Coventry' (Mid England Books 2004) that a Dockers Close still existed near to the station in 2004. When first built Berkswell station was provided with two platforms which were staggered diagonally opposite each other with the up platform being on the Coventry side of the level crossing. The station master's house, which was initially in all probability the crossing keeper's house, was sited north of the level crossing next to the down platform. The signal cabin was located on the down side of the station on the Coventry side of the level crossing. In addition to the level crossing, the L&BR had provided a narrow and low underbridge to allow farm traffic to pass from one side of the line to another without having to use the level crossing. Berkswell commenced operating a goods service in 1865 with its goods yard sited on the down line adjacent to the signal cabin which itself was located on the Coventry side of the level crossing. The goods yard was small being one siding for open wagons which was accessed via two loop lines. A weighbridge and office appears to have been provided.

On 2nd March 1884 the Berkswell to Kenilworth branch line opened. Initially it was limited to goods traffic but later, on 2nd June 1884, access was extended to passenger services. In the early 19th century Berkswell's platform configuration changed from being staggered to having both platforms opposite each other. This resulted in the up platform being rebuilt using timber framing for the platform with standard LNWR timber buildings being positioned on the Birmingham side of the level crossing. A steel passenger footbridge was erected between the two platforms was erected at a later unknown date. It is thought that the up platform was moved due to the problems associated with the increasing length of local passenger trains which used non-corridor carriages. It was becoming increasingly necessary at stations with short platforms for local trains to draw forward so that passengers at the rear of the train could alight. On direct Birmingham to Leamington services using the Berkswell to Kenilworth branch this manoeuvre caused the front of the train to foul the down Coventry to Birmingham line. Moving the up platform to the Birmingham side of the level crossing overcame this problem. The Berkswell to Kenilworth branch closed to passenger services on 18th January 1965 and to goods services on 17th January 1969. The LNWR Society stated on their website that the Berkswell to Kenilworth branch was planned by the LNWR as an alternative route in competition with the GWR between Leamington and Birmingham. In 1910 six trains used the line on weekdays, two being Rugby to Birmingham via Leamington services but just one service remained in existence under the authority of British Railways. A greater use was made by freight (as it avoided Coventry and the WCML at Rugby) until it closed completely in 1969. The original route between Leamington and Coventry was used after closure and cross-country trains still use this single line.

Reg Kimber recalls, 'the siding handled incoming wagons of oxygen cylinders from British Oxygen for the nearby RAF base at Honiley. I did most of my national service at Honiley and I sometimes had to help the stores lads on their weekly trip to the siding. We took empty cylinders down and brought full ones back. It was hard work but it didn't take long and once the job was done we would settle down out of sight in the open wagon and partake in refreshment purchased from the local shop. We would depart for the camp just in time to arrive outside the airmen's mess where we would be first in the queue for lunch. The timing was always impeccable'.

Select an image below to view the larger version with accompanying text:

Views of the station as first built with staggered platforms

Ref: lnwrberk2353 J Alsop A coloured view of the original Berkswell station looking towards Birmingham with the first up platform on the right

Ref: lnwrberk2354 J Alsop View of Berkswell station looking towards Birmingham showing the iron plating protecting the underbridge

Ref: lnwrberk2354a J Alsop Close up showing Berkswell's down platform which accommodated the booking office and waiting rooms

Ref: lnwrberk1313 WA Camwell Looking towards Birmingham showing Berkswell station's signal cabin and down platform from the up platform

Ref: lnwrberk1313a WA Camwell Close up of Berkswell signal cabin which was located adjacent to the siding and Truggist Lane underbridge		Ref: lnwrberk1313b WA Camwell Close up of the platforms and the level crossing and the under-bridge with the station master's house on the left		Ref: lnwrberk2356 J Alsop Looking south towards the Kenilworth branch junction which is curving away to the left alongside the goods yard

Views of the station after the relocation of the up platform

Ref: lnwrberk524 A Docherty Collection Looking towards Birmingham showing the up platform has now been re-sited opposite the down platform		Ref: lnwrberk1309 Coventry Library Local Studies Looking across the level crossing towards the station master's house with the underbridge on the left		Ref: lnwrberk525 P Hopkins Looking to Birmingham with the replacement timber up platform and passenger building on the right		Ref: lnwrberk525a P Hopkins Close up of the approach to Berkswell and the duplicated tall signals needed because of the bridge on the curve

Ref: lnwrberk525b P Hopkins Close up of the up platform building which accommodated a general waiting room as well as a ladies waiting room

Ref: lnwrberk2355 J Alsop Looking south towards Coventry from the Birmingham end of Berkswell station's down platform

Ref: lnwrberk1555 DS Norton Looking towards the station from the Balsall Common side of the level crossing with the underbridge on the right

Ref: lnwrberk1555a DS Norton Close up showing Berkswell's level crossing gates closed and a Morris Minor van using the underbridge

Ref: lnwrberk1556 DS Norton Looking towards Coventry from the Birmingham end of the down platform showing the trailing crossover

Ref: lnwrberk1554 DS Norton Looking from the footbridge towards Coventry with main line on the left and the Kenilworth branch to the right

Ref: lnwrberk1554a DS Norton Close up of Berkswell signal cabin and to its right the entrance to the goods yard and the weighbridge

Ref: lnwrberk2357 B Brooksbank Looking towards Birmingham from the passenger footbridge showing the two sets of signals on the right

Ref: lnwrberk2794 Berkswell History Group View from the level crossing of the station with overhead gantries already erected in advance of electrification

Ref: lnwrberk2795 Berkswell History Group Photograph showing one of the several British Railways totems which displayed the station's name

Locomotives and trains seen at Berkswell Station

Ref: lnwrberk530 WL Good Ex-LNWR 4-4-0 George V class No 1504 'Boarhound' is seen at the head of an up excursion still in LNWR livery

Ref: lnwrberk526 WL Good Ex-LNWR 2P 4-4-2T Precursor Tank No 6796 is seen on a down Rugby to Birmingham local passenger service

Ref: lnwrberk534 P Hopkins Ex-LNWR 3P 4-4-0 Precursor class No 5306 'Lang Meg' is seen on an Euston to Blackpool excursion

Ref: lnwrberk529 LGRP LMS 5XP 4-6-0 Jubilee class No 5624 'St Helens' is seen at the head of an up express as it enters Beechwood tunnel

Ref: lnwrberk1292 LGRP LMS 2-6-4T 4P Stanier tank No 2568 is seen with an all stations Birmingham to Coventry passenger service		Ref: lnwrberk533 WL Good LMS 4P 4-4-0 Compound No 1152 is seen at the head of a Brighton to Birmingham down express near Berkswell		Ref: lnwrberk531 P Hopkins LMS 4P 4-4-0 Compound No 1167 passes Berkswell on an Birmingham to Euston express		Ref: lnwrberk527 WL Good Ex-LNWR 4P 4-6-2T No 2670 is seen at the head of a local passenger service still wearing its LNWR livery

Ref: lnwrberk528 WL Good Ex-LNWR 3P 4-4-0 Precusor class No 5231 'Ganymede' heads an up express as it approaches Berkswell station

Ref: lnwrberk535 J Hyde LMS 4MT 2-6-4T No 2593 on a Rugby to Birmingham local passenger train as it passes Kenilworth junction

Ref: lnwrberk1294 M Mensing Ex-LMS 4-6-0 Royal Scot class No 46144 'Honourable Artillery Company' heads the 4:30pm Euston to New Street express

Ref: lnwrberk1293 M Mensing Ex-LMS 2P 4-4-0 No 40646 leaves Beechwood tunnel at the head of a Coventry to Birmingham service

Ref: lnwrberk2796 M Mensing A two-car Metro-Cammell DMU arrives with the 4:05pm Rugby to Birmingham service on 13th September 1959

Maps relating to Berkswell & Balsall Common station

Ref: lnwrmap115 M Hollick A 1930s LMS Control strip map of the route between Berkswell Junction and Kenilworth Junction signal box