Warwickshire's Industrial Railways

Foleshill Railway

Nominally independent, the Foleshill Railway was opened in 1901 to serve Webster's brickwork's from a junction off the Nuneaton line. In 1905 it was extended to serve the new Courtaulds factory and Coventry Ordnance Works and in doing so it crossed on the level at Stoney Stanton Road the 3 foot 6 inch gauge Coventry Corporation Tramway system. During the Great War (First World War) of 1914-18 the line carried much heavy ordnance traffic from the Admiralty works in the form of gun barrels for the Royal Navy's Dreadnought class battleships. A new connection was made with the Coventry Loop Line in 1914 making it not only a through route but one with access to the Rugby to Coventry line as well as the Nuneaton to Coventry line. Courtaulds eventually took over the Foleshill Railway and their traffic was always steam worked, the line closing on 29th February 1972 after Courtaulds converted their boilers from coal to gas. A final steaming was staged on 8th April 1972 before some 100 enthusiasts and Courtaulds wove a silk bookmark to commemorate the event. 'Rocket', the 0-4-0ST Peckett (Works No 1722 of 1926), which was purchased new for the line, was handed over to a local RCTS member for transmission to Tyseley Museum.

Foleshill Railway - The Great War

Ref: miscfr001 Coventry City Libraries An unidentified 0-4-0ST locomotive is seen moving a large naval gun through Coventry Ordance Works

Ref: miscfr002 Coventry City Libraries Another naval gun, mounted on MR trucks, stands in the exchange sidings adjacent to the Coventry Loop Line

Ref: miscfr003 Coventry City Libraries Inside the Shell Shop at White & Poppe's factory in Holbrooks as workers load shell cases into wagons

Ref: miscfr004 Coventry City Libraries Another view at the exchange sidings showing a 15 inch gun barrel for one of the Dreadnought class battleships

Ref: miscfr005 Coventry City Libraries The 0-4-0ST hauls a barrel through the boundary fence between the Foleshill Railway and the Coventry Loop Line

Ref: miscfr006 Coventry City Libraries The 0-4-0ST hauls a 15 inch gun barrel along the Foleshill Railway as it passes alongside the Coventry Canal

Ref: miscfr006a Coventry City Libraries Close up of the 0-4-0ST and the 15 inch gun barrel and the special four-bogie wagon attached at this end

Ref: miscfr006b Coventry City Libraries Close up of the opposite end of the short train showing this end only needed a special two-bogie wagon

Ref: miscfr007 Coventry City Libraries View of the short train carrying the 15 inch gun barrel between two 0-4-0STs passing over Pridmore Road

Ref: miscfr007a Coventry City Libraries Close up showing the 0-4-0ST which is working hard as it crosses over the bridge at the head of the short train

Ref: miscfr007b Coventry City Libraries Close up of the short train carrying the 15 inch gun barrel showing the breech end of the gun barrel

Ref: miscfr010 Coventry City Libraries View of one of the 15 inch gun barrels being transported on the Foleshill Railway as it crosses Stoney Stanton Road

Ref: lnwrfr2080 Coventry City Libraries Another view of one of the 15 inch gun barrels being moved on the Foleshill Railway crossing Stoney Stanton Rd

Foleshill Railway - The last two decades of steam

Ref: miscfr015 RA Fox Peckett Class OY1 Special 0-4-0ST Works No 2085 is seen standing cold outside of Courtauld's shed

Ref: miscfr016 TJ Edgington Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST 'Nellie' built in 1938 stands within Courtauld's factory on 6th March 1955

Ref: miscfr017 TJ Edgington Peckett 0-4-0ST 'Rocket' is seen working a train of coal wagons through Courtaulds factory in March 1969

Ref: miscfr018 J Ryan Manning Wardle 0-6-0ST 'Netherton' moved to Coventry in 1916 to build the Holbrooks Lane munitions factory

Ref: miscfr304 R Carr Peckett locomotive 0-4-0ST No 2085 waiting with empty mineral wagons on the Kingfield Road overbridge

Foleshill Railway Open Day - Marking the closure of the line

Ref: miscfr302 R Carr Peckett 0-4-0ST No 1722 'Rocket' approaches Foleshill shed and the photographer on 8th April 1972

Ref: miscfr303 R Carr Peckett 0-4-0ST, Works No 2085, is seen standing in front of the locomotive shed on 8th April 1972

Ref: miscfr307 R Carr The 'Foleshill Railway Company' flag flutters above railway enthusiasts inspecting the locomotive shed

Ref: miscfr307 R Carr Railway enthusiasts on a platform watch Peckett 0-4-ST, Works No 1722, 'Rocket', steam

Ref: miscfr305 R Carr View of the sandbox fitted to Peckett, Works No 2085, with its BTC registration plate fixed to its side

Ordnance Survey Maps

Ref: lnwrcll3234 Scottish National Library An 1888 Ordnance Survey map showing mainly countryside where the Foleshill Railway was later to be built

Ref: lnwrcll3231 Scottish National Library A 1915 Ordnance Survey map showing the line of Foleshill Railway and the various factories it served

Ref: lnwrcll3232 Scottish National Library Close up of the 1912 OS map showing the junction of line of the Foleshill Railway at Webster's Sidings

Ref: lnwrcll3230 Scottish National Library A 1926 Ordnance Survey map showing the line of Foleshill Railway and the various factories it served

Ref: lnwrcll3229 Scottish National Library A 1944 Ordnance Survey map showing the line of Foleshill Railway and the various factories it served