GWR Route: North Warwickshire Line

Earlswood Lakes Station: gwrel2952

Behind the up platform was an elevated 12,000 gallon water tank, which supplied a head of water to the water cranes at the lead ends of both platforms. The provision of this tank allowed several tenders and tanks to be rapidly filled irrespective of the volume of water flowing into the tank.

Earlswood Lakes station was at the summit of the Birmingham & North Warwickshire Line (see gradient profile on 'gwrwe2888') and when trains had required assistance up the inclines from Stratford, the assisting engines were detached either here or at Wilmcote station. Those requiring assistance only to Wilmcote would be assisted either by double heading at the very front (Passenger Trains) or uncoupled behind the brake van (Goods Trains), but if working through to Earlswood Lakes the working instructions in the Appendix to the Service Time Table required the assisting engine to double head Passenger trains by being attached directly behind the main train’s engine. Assistance to Goods trains would still be provided at the rear of the train, but would need to be coupled to the brake van. Both these arrangements complicated the detaching of the assisting engines, which also had to return to Stratford tender first. It was therefore generally preferred only to bank as far as Wilmcote. With heavy loads the stiff ten mile 1 in 150 climb up Danzey Bank could leave the tender drained and the watering facilities at Earlswood Lakes were very welcome.

The water tank was a standard design of the period and could be found at small stations where limited water facilities were required. The tank was constructed of riveted cast iron plates resting on seven steel cross girders above a framework made from two main girders supported at each end by a pair of braced steel girder up-right legs. The overall curved steel roof reduced evaporation. The ladder provided access for inspection and maintenance to the top of the tank, while a simple float gauge connected to a chain which passed over a spoked pulley wheel to the outside of the tank gave a reverse indication the water level. The metal cabinet on the adjacent wooden pole was a later addition. A pair of overhead wires cross from the telegraph pole to the top of this pole. These might provide electrical power or be for monitoring circuitry.

Robert Ferris

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