GWR Route: North Warwickshire Line

GWR Route: Hatton to Stratford on Avon

Wilmcote Station: gwrwil2623

View of the first Wilmcote Station looking south towards Featherbed Lane bridge and Stratford circa 1903. The 9¼ mile single track Stratford-upon-Avon Railway was opened on 10th October 1860 from the Birmingham and Oxford Junction Railway at Hatton, with three intermediate stations at Claverdon, Bearley and Wilmcote. The railway was nominally independent, but built with mixed gauge track and supported by the Great Western Railway, who operated the branch with broad gauge stock until a connection with the Strafford branch of the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway allowed narrow gauge (4’8¼”) trains to run through from Worcester via Honeybourne in 1863. Six years later on 1st April 1869 the broad gauge rail was removed. The railway was officially amalgamated with the Great Western Railway on 1st July 1883.

A small goods yard and transhipment sidings for the Blue Lias Lime Works were provided at the north end of Wilmcote station. Note the switch blades with occupation bar in the immediate foreground. The bar prevented the switch being changed while the track was occupied. This yard was overlooked by a fifteen lever Signal Box constructed in 1891 and the platform was extended northwards in 1892. Oil lamps with the station name etched in the glass illuminated the platform, which appears neat with well tended flower beds, but passenger accommodation was sparse. In 1903 there were three staff allocated to the station, two of whom can be seen on the platform.

This photograph is displayed courtesy of the HMRS (Historical Model Railway Society) and copies can be ordered directly from them using the link HERE, quoting reference AAM215.

Robert Ferris

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