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Henley in Arden - Terminus Station (B&HRC)

GWR Route: Lapworth to Henley in Arden Branch Line

GWR Route: North Warwickshire Line

Henley in Arden's first station was opened by the Birmingham and Henley in Arden Railway Company on 6th June 1894 when a passenger services commenced. The station became open for goods traffic the following month, on 2nd July 1894. Whilst nominally independent, the station and goods yard was worked by the GWR before being formally taken into their ownership on 1st July 1900, a month before the GWR also took over the Birmingham and North Warwickshire Railway Company. The terminus station comprised of a single platform sufficiently long enough to accommodate several carriages and the train locomotive, the latter being a tank engine which had run from Lapworth bunker first. On arrival at the station the locomotive would uncouple from the train before running around the train in order to couple up at the other end of the coaching stock, the locomotive facing forward to the direction of travel. The line which facilitated the locomotive running around the train also provided access to a short siding adjacent to the single road engine shed as well as to the shed - see image 'gwrha1417' for a plan of the station.

Post 1908 most local passenger services to Henley-in-Arden were almost entirely worked with autocars and steam railmotors, around seven or eight over the branch via Lapworth with fifteen trains calling in each direction on the main line. Roger Carpenter and Chris Turner noted in their article on the station, in the Great Western Railway Journal - No 11 Summer 1994, that a Stratford on Avon Steam Railmotor carried out three round trips to Birmingham on the North Warwickshire line as well as a return trip via the branch to Lapworth. The branch auto worked five return journeys up the branch, including the 6:18am goods service to Lapworth. From 1908 all passenger services were diverted, over a 50 chain long new section, to use the new Henley-in-Arden station. However, the original station was retained for goods traffic as there were no goods facilities at the new North Warwickshire line station. Passenger services on the line from Lapworth (Rowington Junction) to Henley were withdrawn from 22 March 1915 and goods services likewise from 1 January 1917, although the section between the new and old stations was retained for goods traffic, until train services were withdrawn from 5 November 1962 (see also 'Lapworth to Henley in Arden Branch Line').

Extract from The Railway Club Journal Nov 1907

The Birmingham and North Warwickshire Railway by T Perkins

Approaching Henley in Arden station 13.5 miles from Tyseley Junction, the main line is joined on the left by a single line branch extending from the old station, which latter will be used for goods only on completion of the new line. The original line extends from Rowington Junction, between Lapworth and Hatton stations and has some severe gradients, 1 in 60 occurring in several places, while the last half mile approaching the old terminus is at 1 in 55. In October 1899 a passenger train ran away on this incline, tearing away the stop block at the end of the line and pursuing its way into the field beyond. Fortunately the train was nearly empty and no serious injuries were sustained. At the foot of this incline the new branch commences, rising at 1 in 80 and 1 in 92 to its junction with the North Warwickshire line and crossing the Alne by a bridge of one arch, while the mill-race and the Stratford Road are crossed by a bridge which consists of a skew arch and a girder span.

Robert Ferris

Much of the information on this and other pages of Warwickshire Railways is derived from articles or books listed in our 'bibliography'.

Henley in Arden - Terminus Station (B&HRC) (41) Henley-in-Arden Station (NWR) (58) Henley-in-Arden Engine Shed (B&HRC) (6)

The Terminus Station

An external view of the front of Henley-in-Arden's original passenger station building now closed even as station master's accommodation
Ref: gwrha659
Anon
External view of the the original the station building now used as the station master's accommodation
Looking along the station approach with Henley-in-Arden's original passenger station on the right and the goods yard and shed directly ahead
Ref: gwrha1421
Joe Moss
Looking along the station approach with the original station on the right and the goods yard directly ahead
Looking towards the buffers with the shed on the left and the station master posed standing on the rails
Ref: gwrha1419
GM Perkins
Looking towards the buffers with the shed on the left and the station master posed standing on the rails
Close up of the original Henley-in-Arden single-storey station building erected using red brick and grey slate roof
Ref: gwrha1419b
GM Perkins
Close up of the original Henley-in-Arden single-storey station building erected using red brick and grey slate roof
Looking towards Lapworth with the station starter signal and the goods shed in the near distance
Ref: gwrha1382
NRM
Looking towards Lapworth with the station starter signal and the goods shed in the near distance

View looking in the direction of Rowington Junction showing Henley-in-Arden's disused original station and locomotive shed
Ref: gwrha475
Lens of Sutton
Looking in the direction of Rowington Junction showing the disused original station and locomotive shed
Close up of Henley-in-Arden's disused original station building now being used to provide accommodation for the station master of the new station
Ref: gwrha475b
Lens of Sutton
Close up of the disused original station now providing accommodation for the new station's station master
View of Henley-in-Arden's disused original station and its now isolated engine shed showing just the one set of rails used to marshal goods trains
Ref: gwrha476
Lens of Sutton
View of the disused original station and its now isolated engine shed showing just the one set of rails
Close up showing Henley-in-Arden's original station building showing its use in the 1930s as accommodation for the station master
Ref: gwrha476b
Lens of Sutton
Close up of the original building showing its use in the 1930s as accommodation for the station master
View of the front elevation of the original Henley-in-Arden station building and platform which are now seen in a derelict condition
Ref: gwrha657
Anon
The front elevation of the original station building and platform which are now seen in a derelict condition

A general view of Henley-in-Arden's original passenger station showing TR Perkins standing on the derelict platform in August 1939
Ref: gwrha1404
NJ Allcock
A general view of the original passenger station showing TR Perkins standing on the derelict platform in
View of Henley-in-Arden's original station, now abandoned with weeds growing through the track, after closure of the goods facilities in 1964
Ref: gwrha477
Anon
The abandoned station with weeds growing through the track, after closure of the goods facilities in 1964
View looking along the platform of Henley-in-Arden's original station showing much neglect and over growth since the 1940s views
Ref: gwrha1424
Anon
View looking along the platform the original station showing much neglect and over growth since the 1940s

The Goods Shed and Yard

View of the end of the goods yard, complete with wagons, looking in the general direction of the front of Henley-in-Arden's original passenger station
Ref: gwrha1400
JH Russell
The goods yard looking in the direction of the front of Henley-in-Arden's original passenger station
Close up showing the two sidings and the typical array of vans and five-plank wagons used to transport primarily coal to Henley-in-Arden
Ref: gwrha1400a
JH Russell
Close up of the two sidings and the typical array of vans and five-plank wagons used to transport primarily coal
Close up showing the two buffer stops at the end at Henley-in-Arden goods yard's main sidings with the original passenger station in the background
Ref: gwrha1400b
JH Russell
Close up of the two buffer stops at the end of the goods yard's with the original station in the background
Looking towards Henley-in-Arden goods shed whilst the original branch line to Rowington Junction can be seen disappearing in the distance
Ref: gwrha1405
CL Mowatt
Looking towards the goods shed with the original branch line to Rowington Junction disappearing into the distance
Close up showing Henley-in-Arden goods shed and the track on the truncated former branch forming the head shunt with buffer stops in the distance
Ref: gwrha1405a
CL Mowatt
Close up of the goods shed and the track on the truncated former branch forming the head shunt

A side view of Henley-in-Arden's original goods shed now seen in a derelict state after the tracks in the yard were lifted in 1964
Ref: gwrha658
Anon
A side view of the original goods shed now seen in a derelict state after the tracks in the yard were lifted in 1964
Looking towards Rowington Junction from the end of the station platform with the truncated branch line in the distance
Ref: gwrha1423
J Moss
Looking to Rowington Junction from the end of the station platform with the truncated branch line in the distance
Henley-in-Arden's brick built stable which accommodated one horse used deliveries and for shunting in the yard
Ref: gwrha2768
BPC
Henley-in-Arden's brick built stable which accommodated one horse used deliveries and for shunting in the yard
Henley-in-Arden's ground frame which was controlled by a train 'staff' allowing the train access to the yard
Ref: gwrha2769
BPC
Henley-in-Arden's ground frame which was controlled by a train 'staff' allowing the train access to the yard
View of Henley-in-Arden's now abandoned goods yard showing the timber storage sheds to the right of the white timber structure
Ref: gwrha656
Anon
Henley-in-Arden's abandoned goods yard showing the timber storage sheds on the right of the white structure

The newly completed plate girder bridge over the main Stratford Road at the northern edge of Henley-in-Arden
Ref: gwrha2813
R Ferris
The newly completed plate girder bridge over the main Stratford Road at the northern edge of Henley-in-Arden
Wolverhampton built GWR 0-4-2T 517 class No 539 is seen at the head of the branch passenger train at the beginning of the 20th century
Ref: gwrha2811
R Maund
Copy of Midlands Division (Birmingham District) Freight Train Notice No TF 152 dated 29th October 1962
Detailed plan and elevation of the Station Road Approach bridge over the River Alne in Henley-in-Arden
Ref: gwrha3878
R Ferris
Detailed plan and elevation of the Station Road Approach bridge over the River Alne in Henley-in-Arden

Shunting the Goods Yard

British Railways built 0-6-0PT 94xx class No 9973 is at the rear of a short goods train as it runs from the branch to the main North Warwickshire line
Ref: gwrha2767
MEJ Deane
BR built 0-6-0PT No 9973 is at the rear of a short goods train entering the main North Warwickshire line
Ex-GWR 0-6-0PT 94xx class No 9432 is seen cautiously reversing down the gradient towards the head shunt in order to gain access to the yard in 1958
Ref: gwrha1403
MEJ Deane
Ex-GWR 0-6-0PT 94xx class No 9432 is seen cautiously reversing down the gradient towards the head shunt
British Railways built 0-6-0PT 94xx class No 9432 is seen at the head of the 'Henley goods' as it runs forward from the head shunt into the yard
Ref: gwrha1427
MEJ Deane
BR built 0-6-0PT No 9432 at the head of the 'Henley goods' as it runs forward from the head shunt into the yard
Ex-GWR 0-6-0PT 94xx class No 9432 is seen with its wagons rolling past, by gravity, into a parallel siding
Ref: gwrha1401
MEJ Deane
Ex-GWR 0-6-0PT 94xx class No 9432 is seen with its wagons rolling past, by gravity, into a parallel siding
Ex-GWR 0-6-0PT 94xx class No 9432 is seen having just completed the shunting of the wagons into one of Henley-in-Arden's two long sidings
Ref: gwrha1402
MEJ Deane
Ex-GWR 0-6-0PT No 9432 has just completed the shunting of the wagons into one of the two long sidings

Miscellaneous

GWR 0-4-4T No 3556 is seen derailed at Henley after running through the buffers on 4th September 1899
Ref: gwrha669
RS Carpenter
GWR 0-4-4T No 3556 is seen derailed at Henley after running through the buffers on 4th September 1899
Close up of GWR 0-4-4T No 3556, one of William Dean's double-framed tank engines rebuilt from 0-4-2Ts
Ref: gwrha669a
RS Carpenter
Close up of GWR 0-4-4T No 3556, one of William Dean's double-framed tank engines rebuilt from 0-4-2Ts
An aerial view of Henley-in-Arden in 1930 showing the layout of the original terminus station plus the engine shed and goods shed and yard
Ref: gwrha1397
Aerofilms
Aerial view of Henley-in-Arden in 1930 showing the layout of the original station, engine shed and goods shed
Close up showing the former branch terminus and the relationship of the goods sidings, goods shed and passenger station to the engine shed
Ref: gwrha1397a
Aerofilms
Close up of the former branch terminus and the layout of the sidings, goods shed, station and engine shed

Locomotives seen at or near Henley in Arden's terminus station

Wolverhampton built GWR 0-4-2T 517 class No 539 is seen at the head of the branch passenger train at the beginning of the 20th century
Ref: gwrha1380
J Whybrow Ltd
GWR 0-4-2T No 539 is seen at the head of the branch passenger train at the beginning of the 20th century
An unidentified GWR 0-4-2T 517 class locomotive stands at the head of a three-coach train comprising of four-wheel coaching stock
Ref: gwrha655
Anon
An unknown GWR 0-4-2T locomotive stands at the head of a short train comprising of four-wheel coaching stock
GWR 0-4-2T 517 class No 539 is seen buffered up to the stops on the track adjacent to the branch line locomotive shed
Ref: gwrha1418
GM Perkins
GWR 0-4-2T 517 class No 539 is buffered up to the stops on the track adjacent to the branch line locomotive shed
GWR 0-4-2T 517 class No 1432 and GWR 2-4-2T 36xx class No 3601 are seen standing on the tracks leading to Henley-in-Arden locomotive shed
Ref: gwrha1426
C Maggs
GWR 0-4-2T 517 class No 1432 and GWR 2-4-2T 36xx class No 3601 on tracks leading to the shed
View of GWR 2-4-2T 36xx class No 3606 is seen at the head of a through working from Henley-in-Arden to Birmingham Snow Hill
Ref: gwrha1381
GM Perkins
GWR 2-4-2T No 3606 is seen at the head of a through working from Henley-in-Arden to Birmingham Snow Hill

Ex-GWR 0-6-0PT 57xx class No 7713 is seen standing on one of the back sidings with the connecting line to the new station behind
Ref: gwrha1398
C Jacks
Ex-GWR 0-6-0PT No 7713 stands on one of the back sidings with the connecting line to the new station behind

Maps of Henley in Arden Terminus Station (BHRC)

View of a map of the Henley-in-Arden branch terminus in 1905 showing the layout of the original station, engine shed and goods yard
Ref: gwrha1417
Crown Copyright
Map of the branch terminus in 1905 showing the layout of the original station, engine shed and goods yard

Henley in Arden - Terminus Station (B&HRC) (41) Henley-in-Arden Station (NWR) (58) Henley-in-Arden Engine Shed (B&HRC) (6)