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GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Warwick Station: gwrw2674

Section of the Gradient Profile for the Great Western Railway Birmingham Main Line showing the position of the various sidings adjacent to Warwick Station and Budbrook Signal Box

Section of the Gradient Profile for the Great Western Railway Birmingham Main Line showing the position of the various sidings adjacent to Warwick Station and Budbrook Signal Box (where after 1914, the Down Goods Running Line started on the Hatton Bank incline). Hatton Bank had a ruling gradient of 1 in 105 extending over about two and a half miles and this limited the maximum loads of freight trains, which could be conveyed on the Down Main Line unless the freight train was assisted by a Bank Engine. These limitations were detailed in the relevant Service Time Table (STT). In this extract see the line from Warwick to Hatton North *http://www.warwickshirerailways.com/misc/misc_equip195.htm#differentclasses). To provide assistance a Bank Engine was normally kept in the Down bay platform at Warwick Station and the following specific operating instructions were detailed in the Appendix to the STT (March 1929):

GOODS TRAINS ASSISTED FROM WARWICK TO HATTON

  • When necessary for a Goods or Mineral Train to be assisted from Warwick to Hatton Middle or North Boxes, the Bank Engine must be placed behind the rear van, but not attached.
  • When Hatton North Box is out of circuit, the Bank Engine must not go beyond the Down Main Starting Signal of Hatton Middle Box.
  • If the assisted train cannot have a clear road through Hatton, the Bank Engine must remain to assist it in its starting as shewn on page 150 of General Appendix.
  • When the Bank Engine is provided by Leamington Spa it should be run light to Warwick or coupled in front of Train Engine, and must be put to rear of train at Warwick.
  • When it is necessary to assist Goods Trains from Leamington Spa to Hatton and Warwick Signal Box is closed, the assistant Engine may be attached in front throughout, but in no case must the Trains to be assisted in front be made up to more than the maximum load for a 2-8-0 engine.
  • When necessary for Milk, Parcels and Stores Trains to be assisted from Warwick to Hatton, the assistant Engine may work in the rear under the same regulations as apply to Goods Trains

Robert Ferris

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