Hatton Bank

GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

North of Warwick Station, both the Grand Union Canal and the Great Western Railway’s Main Line run close together climbing from the towns beside the Avon River to the Birmingham plateau. The imposing twenty-one locks of the Hatton flight raised the Warwick and Birmingham Canal 146 feet, 6 inches, whilst the former Birmingham and Oxford Junction Railway ascended the Hatton Bank incline on a ruling gradient of 1 in 105 extending over about two and a half miles. This was not the steepest main line gradient, but was sufficient to slow expresses and require heavy freight trains to be assisted in the rear by Banking Engines, normally based at Warwick Station.

When the line up the Hatton Bank incline was originally built, it was constructed as a mixed gauge double track, but the broad gauge rail was subsequently removed in April 1869. A Down Refuge Siding was provided in May 1879 about a third of the way up the incline at Budbrook and in October 1911, this refuge siding was converted into a loop. In May 1914, the loop was extended up the incline to provide a second Down line all the way to Hatton Station. This was referred to as the Down Goods Running Line and allowed heavy freight trains to proceed up the Hatton Bank incline without stopping, while leaving the Main Down Line clear for faster traffic. This third line was taken out of use on 25th May 1969 and the track removed shortly after.

Hatton Bank was a popular location for railway photographers because the incline slowed the approach of the hardworking northbound trains which produced some suburb photographic opportunities.

Robert Ferris

Locomotives and trains from the grouping period (1st January 1923 to 31st December 1947)

Ref: gwrhb2351 J Alsop GWR 2-4-2T 36xx Class No 3624 is seen on a four coach Birmingham to Leamington passenger service

Ref: gwrhb2221 J Alsop GWR 3150 Class 2-6-2T No 3167 heads a down local passenger service comprising 4 and 6 wheel coaching stock

Ref: gwrhb2222 J Alsop GWR Class 3150 2-6-2T No 3179 heads a Leamington to Snow Hill local passenger train made up of 4 wheel coaches

Ref: gwrhb2223 J Alsop GWR 3150 Class 2-6-2T No 3186 heads a Stratford on Avon to Snow Hill local made up of 4 and 6 wheel coaches

Ref: gwrhb2217 J Alsop GWR 28xx Class 2-8-0 No 2840 is seen breasting Hatton Bank with a Class J stopping mineral train

Ref: gwrhb2218 J Alsop GWR 28xx Class 2-8-0 No 2810 is seen heading a Class D down express freight service on Hatton Bank

Ref: gwrhb2219 J Alsop GWR 28xx Class 2-8-0 No 2871 heads a Class H mineral freight of empty wagons on the down goods line

Ref: gwrhb2224 J Alsop GWR 36xx Class 2-4-2T No 3606 heads a down local passenger service to Snow Hill from Leamington

Ref: gwrhb2225 J Alsop An 5101 Class 2-6-2T locomotive sprints up Hatton Bank with a local passenger service to Snow Hill

Ref: gwrhb102 HW Robinson GWR Diesel Railcar No 26 with auto trailer No 62 on a Stratford-upon-Avon local service in September 1946

Ref: gwrls2675 R Hendry GWR 0-6-0PT pannier No 1748 ascends Hatton Bank on the Down Main Line with a class K freight train

Ref: gwrhb2963 PB Whitehouse Great Western Railway 2-8-0 28xx class No 2832 ascends Hatton Bank with a class H through freight

Ref: gwrhb2964 Great Western Railway GWR 4-6-0 60xx (King) class No 6017 ‘King Edward IV’ in immaculate condition with a Northbound express

Locomotives and trains from the British Railways period (1st January 1948 to 4th August 1968)

Ref: gwrhb2227 C Verrall Ex-GWR 6959 Class 4-6-0 No 6966 'Witchingham Hall' climbs Hatton Bank with a Poole to Birkenhead service

Ref: gwrhb96 PB Whitehouse Collection GWR 4-4-0 No 3377 climbs Hatton Bank approximately 1 mile east from Hatton on the down main line

Ref: gwrhb97 G Coltas Ex-GWR 2884 class 2-8-0 No 3825 climbs Hatton bank on the down main line with a class C express freight

Ref: gwrhb99 Weston Collection Austerity WD 2-8-0 No 77015 is seen ascending Hatton bank on the goods down line with a class H freight train

Ref: gwrhb98 G Coltas Ex-GWR 4-6-0 class No 4902 'Aldenham Hall' on a seven coach express climbing the down main Hatton bank

Ref: gwrhb1466 TE Williams Ex-GWR 2-6-0 43xx class No 5332 descends the Bank on the up main line with a class H freight train for Banbury

Ref: gwrhb1473 TE Williams BR built 4-6-0 4073 ‘Castle’ class No 4082 'Windsor Castle' with the Royal Train on 24th May 1962

Ref: gwrhb1467 TE Williams Ex-GWR 0-6-0T 57xx class No 7702 on the down main line with a Leamington to Stratford local on 6th May 1953

Ref: gwrhb1462 M Moran An unidentified ex-GWR 2-6-0 43xx class with a Northbound Express ascending Hatton Bank on the Down main line

Ref: gwrhb1482 B Hicks Ex-GWR 2-8-0 No 3028 progresses slowly up Hatton bank on the down relief line with a heavy train

Ref: gwrhb1470 B Hicks Ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 6879 'Overton Grange' at the head of the S.O. Weymouth to Wolverhampton service

Ref: gwrhb1472 B Hicks BR built 4-6-0 No 7904 'Fountains Hall' is seen with Southern Region stock on an express from Weymouth

Ref: gwrhb2209 Anon Ex-GWR 60xx Class 4-6-0 No 6018 'King Henry VI' is seen working a down express on 8th July 1962

Ref: gwrhb2232 Rick Eborall Ex-GWR 60xx Class 4-6-0 No 6027 'King Richard I is seen climbing Hatton Bank whilst at the head of a down express

Ref: gwrhb1464 B Hicks Ex-GWR 4-6-0 Castle class No 5091 'Cleeve Abbey' is seen nearing the summit at the head of a down express

Ref: gwrhb1469 B Hicks Ex-GWR 2-8-0 28xx class No 2886 is seen passing Warwick Common as it begins its ascent of Hatton Bank

Ref: gwrhb2208 J Moss Ex-GWR Hall Class 4-6-0 No 6911 'Holker Hall' pilots an unknown ex-GWR 2-6-0 Mogul locomotive

Ref: gwrhb1481 TE Williams Ex-GWR 4-6-0 4073 ‘Castle’ class No 5012 ‘Berry Pomeroy Castle’ with a down express ascends Hatton Bank

Ref: gwrhb2214 BPC BR built Castle Class No 7019 'Fowey Castle' is seen prior to receiving its double chimney in September 1958

Ref: gwrhb1474 TE Williams Ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 6014 ‘King Henry VII’ on with the 5:10pm Paddington to Wolverhampton express

Ref: gwrhb2262 K Pirt Ex-GWR 56xx class 0-6-2T No 6604 with a Bordesley to Leamington Spa local freight train descends Hatton Bank

Ref: gwrhb2352 A Pratt BR built 4-6-0 Castle Class No 7029 'Clun Castle' storms up Hatton Bank on 9th September 1966

Ref: gwrhb2216 K Cribb Ex-WD 'Austerity' 2-8-0 No 90589 is seen at the head of a down freight train on 1st December 1951

Ref: gwrhb2211 K Cribb An unknown King Class 4-6-0 locomotive descends Hatton Bank at speed on an express on 1st December 1951

Ref: gwrhb2212 R Siviter Ex-LMS 8F 2-8-0 No 48477 is seen working hard as it heads a down freight to Birmingham on 26th July 1966

Ref: gwrhb2213 G Coltas Ex-GWR 72xx Class 2-8-2T No 7246 receives assistance from a 2-6-2T banker as it climbs the down goods line

Ref: gwrhb2231 R Eborall Ex-GWR Castle Class 4-6-0 locomotive ascends Hatton Bank with a twelve coach down Summer Saturday special

Ref: gwrhb2233 GT Robinson Ex-GWR 49xx Class 4-6-0 No 5955 'Garth Hall' climbs Hatton Bank with the 10:10 Poole to Birkenhead service

Ref: gwrhb2234 GT Robinson Ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 6918 'Sandon Hall' is seen climbing Hatton Bank with an express from Eastbourne

Ref: gwrhb2226 R Postill British Railways built 6959 Class 4-6-0 No 7908 'Henshall Hall' descends Hatton Bank on 28th March 1964

Ref: gwrhb2230 C Verrall Ex-GWR 68xx Class 4-6-0 No 6871 'Bourton Grange' works the 13:11 am Portsmouth to Wolverhampton service

Ref: gwrhb2229 C Verrall BR built 6959 Class 4-6-0 No 6991 'Acton Burnell Hall' with the 09:05 Birkenhead to Poole service

Ref: gwrhb2354 C Verrall Ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 6933 'Birtles Hall' descends Hatton Bank with a Wolverhampton to Weymouth service

Ref: gwrhb2374 N Kendall Ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 6853 'Morehampton Grange' is seen running south on Hatton Bank with an up freight

Ref: gwrhb2353 C Verrall Ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 6937 'Conygham Hall' climbs Hatton Bank with a Weymouth to Wolverhampton service

Ref: gwrls2377 N Kendall Ex-LMS 4-6-0 No 45188 battles up Hatton bank with a heavy northbound freight service on 22nd April 1965

Ref: gwrhj2260 N Kendall Ex-GWR 0-6-2T 56xx class No 6624 with a cement train from the Harbury Cement works on 9th May 1953

Ref: gwrhb2961 B Hicks Ex-Great Western Railway 2-6-2 5101 class large prairie No 4155 with a class E express freight

Ref: gwrhb2962 K Pirt Ex-GWR 4-6-0 49xx (Hall) class No 4984 ‘Albrighton Hall’ powers up Hatton Bank on the Down Main line

Ref: gwrhb3888 TE Williams Ex-GWR 4-6-0 King class No 6012 'King Edward VI' on the down 4:10pm Paddington to Birkenhead service

Diesel Dawn

Ref: gwrhb2228 C Verrall Diesel Locomotive D1733 is seen descending Hatton Bank with the 08:35pm Snow Hill to Paddington service

Ref: gwrhb1465 M Mensing A single car DMU bound for Leamington passes a Paddington to Chester service headed by D1756

Route Profile

Ref: hatton-bank-profile GWR Profile of the route from Leamington Spa to Lapworth showing the continuous effort required up Hatton Bank

Ref: gwrhb4005 GWR Plan presented to Parliament in 1913 showing the extra land required at the top of Hatton Bank & the station