Harbury Cutting and Tunnel

GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Harbury Tunnel and adjacent structures

Ref:gwrhc94 N Briggs A panoramic view of the cutting being widened to remove the problem of land slippage

Ref:gwrhc94a N Briggs Close up showing GWR 0-6-0 No 311 being utlised to haul spoil during the widening of Harbury cutting

Ref: gwrhc2511 J Alsop View of the northern brick portal showing the line snaking through the short tunnel

Ref: gwrhc1575 Adrian Vaughan Looking through the mouth of the 73 yard Harbury Tunnel viewed from the western (Leamington Spa) end

Ref: gwrhc2512 J Alsop View of the three-arch bridge being repaired near Harbury tunnel during September 1907

Ref: gwrhc1576 Adrian Vaughan A graceful three arch brick bridge across the Harbury Cutting built to provide access to Harbury village

Locomotives seen at or near Harbury tunnel

Ref: gwrhc92 G Coltas GWR 4-6-0 No 5076 'Gladiator' is seen approaching Harbury Tunnel on an up express

Ref: gwrhc93 G Coltas GWR 4-6-0 No 6024 'King Edward I' at the head of an express leaving Harbury Tunnel

Ref: gwrhc1484 Colour Rail GWR 4-6-0 60xx Class No 6007 ‘King William III’ with a twelve coach southbound service in Whitnash Cutting

Ref: gwrhc1485 P Colebourn Collection GWR 2-8-0 No 2834 hauling a class H unfitted through freight train of Iron Ore empties in Whitnash Cutting

Ref: gwrhc1468 B Hicks Ex Great Western Railway 4-6-0 49XX 'Hall' class No 6937 'Conyngham Hall' with a north bound down excursion train

Ref: gwrhc1486 TE Willaims Ex-Great Western No 8100, a large 2-6-2T prairie tank engine in unlined black British Railways livery travelling south

Ref: gwrhc1487 TE Willaims Ex-Great Western No 4997 'Elton Hall' storms through the imposing southern brick portal of Harbury tunnel

Ref: gwrhc1488 TE Willaims Ex-Great Western No 4707 a 2-8-0 heavy freight locomotive effortlessly heads towards Leamington

Ref: gwrhc2509 RS Siviter BR Class 9F 2-10-0 No 92219 burst from Harbury tunnel on a mid morning southbound train of empty ore wagons

Ref: gwrhc2510 RS Siviter BR Class 9F 2-10-0 No 92090 approaches the southern end of Harbury tunnel on a down train on 18th July 1966

Ref: gwrhc2513 K Cribb An unidentified ex-GWR 4-6-0 King Class locomotive approaches Harbury Tunnel with a down express service

Ref: gwrhc2514 KH Cribb An unidentified ex-LMS 2-8-0 8F locomotive approaches Harbury Tunnel on 9th February 1952

Ref: gwrhc2518 KH Cribb Ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 6008 'King James II' approaches the East end of Harbury tunnel on 9th February 1952

Ref: gwrhc2519 KH Cribb Ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 6008 'King James II' emeges from the West end of Harbury tunnel on 9th February 1952

Ref: gwrhc2520 KH Cribb Another ex-GWR 4-6-0 Hall Class locomotive approaches Harbury tunnel on 9th February 1952

Ref: gwrhc2521 KH Cribb An unidentified ex-GWR Hall Class locomotive approaches the West end of Harbury Tunnel on 9th February 1952

Ref: gwrhc2516 KH Cribb Ex-GWR 4-6-0 Hall Class No 4987 'Brockley Hall' is seen near Harbury on an express service on 9th February 1952

Ref: gwrhc2517 KH Cribb Ex-GWR 4-6-0 Castle Class No 5034 'Corfe Castle' is seen near Harbury on an express service on 9th February 1952

Ref: gwrwc3910 Anon An unidentified GWR 2-6-0 26xx (Aberdare) class locomotive heading south through Whitnash Cutting

Ref: gwrwc3910a Anon Close up of the GWR 2-6-0 heading south with a train comprising a large number of Greaves Cement Vans

Ref: gwrhc3916 Anon A GWR 2-6-2T 31xx class tank locomotive running bunker first with an up suburban passenger service

Ref: gwrhc3917 Anon GWR 4-6-0 Star class No 4033 ‘Queen Victoria’ heads an up express through Whitnash Cutting

Ref: gwrhc2521 KH Cribb An unidentified ex-GWR Hall Class locomotive approaches the West end of Harbury Tunnel on 9th February 1952

Ref: gwrhc2516 KH Cribb Ex-GWR 4-6-0 Hall Class No 4987 'Brockley Hall' is seen near Harbury on an express service on 9th February 1952

Ref: gwrhc4033 Anon GWR 2-6-0 Aberdare class No 2618 with C Lamp Headcode on the down line at Whitnash Cutting in 1928

SUICIDE OF A SCHOOLMASTER – HM 154 JULY 13th 1895

A sad case of suicide took place at Harbury, on Monday evening, when Mr Charles Henry Savage, the village schoolmaster, aged 33, in a state of mental depression, threw himself in front of the eight o'clock passenger train to Leamington, near the Harbury tunnel.

Some three years’ ago the deceased figured as the defendant in a local breach of promise suit, and it is believed that the public annoyance which he sustained in consequence of the proceedings, gradually affected his mind, the state of which some few months ago necessitated his taking a three month vacation. He was much respected in the neighbourhood, and had been in Harbury for many years, but was a native of Redditch, where the funeral takes place. The inquest was held at Harbury, on Wednesday, before Mr DR Wynter (Coroner for Central Warwickshire) — Beatrice Dewitt stated that deceased had lodged at her house for the past seven years. She last saw him alive at about 7.30 on Monday evening. When he came out into the garden to her he said he would go for a short stroll, as was his custom, unless he played cricket or tennis. As the deceased was rather later than usual in returning, this witness made enquiries of a man named Wilkins, who said the deceased was on the line near the tunnel. The witness, on hearing this, said it was quite unusual for him to be there, and asked Wilkins to tell him she wished to see him. Wilkins did so, but the deceased told him he would come home presently. Shortly afterwards a train approached, and almost at the same instant she saw Wilkins throw up his arms and shout, "He's done it! Oh, he's done it!".

The deceased had frequently complained of bad pains in his head, but went about his duties at the school alright. – Tom Wilkins, platelayer, Harbury, stated he was at work in his garden on the top of Harbury tunnel on Monday evening. He saw the deceased coming from under the tunnel on the down side of the line, and at the request of the last witness he went down to the deceased. They wished each other good evening. The witness told the deceased he was wanted. The deceased said he should go a little higher up the line. The witness went back to garden, when he observed a passenger train approaching about a quarter of a mile off, and saw deceased jump from under a wall either in front of the train or into one side of it and roll over. The witness called to some one near to run for the doctor, and Dr. Pirie got to the deceased just before witness. A man named Young also assisted and they got deceased up the bank to his lodgings. Deceased was alive and breathing, but died about half-an-hour afterwards. His head was badly cut, and the right arm badly injured. – PC Collet, stationed at Harbury, deposed to assisting to get the deceased home, and produced a note in the deceased's handwriting as follows: "I am quite tired of life, and to me it's not worth living. Months of great mental depression, religious mania, and past troubles have quite shattered my health. I thank Mrs Linklater for past kindnesses and I thank my other friends in the parish. I leave £50 for the school, £25 for the church, and £10 for Mrs Dewitt, everything else will go to my brother. God bless my dear father and mother, and may we meet in Heaven as I hope we shall. — C.H. Savage. Lord forgive us our trespasses as I freely forgive all those who have trespassed against me and brought me to this." — After a brief summing up, the jury returned a verdict that the deceased committed suicide of unsound mind.

Courtesy www.harburyheritage.org.uk