LMS Route: Nuneaton to Birmingham New Street
LMS Route: Birmingham New Street to Tamworth
LMS Route: Hampton in Arden to Whitacre

Whitacre Station

There were two stations at Whitacre and both were built because of junction being created. The original 'Whitacre' station was opened on 10th February 1842 by the Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway (B&DJR), some thirty-one months after the route from Derby to Hampton became operational. It was built because a new direct line was opened from Whitacre to Lawley Street in Birmingham. This new line diverted Birmingham to Derby traffic away from the more convoluted route via Hampton and the necessity of passengers being transferred to onward London & Birmingham Railway (L&BR) services to Birmingham. The B&DJR's passenger services to London still remained, although by this date the Midland Counties more direct route to London via Rugby had resulted in their daily services being reduced to five 'Down' through coaches to London and three 'Up' through coaches to Derby. On 1st November 1864 the line from Nuneaton to Birmingham was opened. It met the Birmingham and Derby line at Whitacre, some 60 Chains (¾ mile) south of the 1842 junction with the line to Lawley Street. As a result, the deviation spur for Lawley Street was removed, and a new, larger station was provided. There is evidence from notes to an 1877 timetable (see image 'mrsbr1867c') that the original station was probably not demolished until 1877 and was at least partly used between 1864 and 1877. The notes state 'The Hampton Engine must take Traffic from the New to the Old Whitacre Station at 10:20 am & 2:30 pm. No 5 Train waits for Burton Goods when required'. The drastically reduced service introduced in the May 1877 timetable was a direct consequence of the 'Long Depression' a worldwide price and economic recession, beginning in 1873 and running either through the spring of 1879, or even 1896, depending on the metrics used.

The incoming line from Hampton was re-laid so as to approach on a curve into the southern end of the platforms. The lines from Derby and Nuneaton converged at the northern end of the station, where lengthy goods lay-by sidings were provided. To the south of the station a cattle and carriage loading dock was built. Interchange sidings for the Hampton line were laid, plus goods sidings for the Derby and Nuneaton lines. The adjacent pumping station of Birmingham Water Corporation was also provided with its own access. The main station building on the island platform was of single storey brick built construction, with a small timber framed waiting room being provided on the single platform opposite. A wrought iron lattice footbridge connected the platforms (at least by the turn of the 20th century), and barrow crossings were laid at the foot of the ramps. Two water tanks were installed - one at the meeting of the Derby and Nuneaton lines, and another at the start of the Hampton branch. Near to the site of the original Birmingham and Derby station a weighbridge and a coal siding were installed. The Hampton branch passenger train used the outer face of the down island platform whereas trains from Tamworth and Nuneaton to Birmingham used the inner face of the island platform and up trains to both places used the single platform.

The Midland Railway continued to provide services to Derby on the line, but at a much reduced frequency. On 1st November 1864 the line from Nuneaton to Birmingham was opened. It met the Birmingham and Derby line at Whitacre 60 Chains (¾ mile) south of the 1842 junction. As a result the deviation spur was removed, although the original station was probably not demolished until 1877. A new, larger station was provided, and the junction took on increasing importance. The incoming line from Hampton was re-laid so as to approach on a curve into the southern end of the platforms. The lines from Derby and Nuneaton converged at the northern end of the station, where lengthy goods lay-by sidings were provided. To the south of the station a cattle and carriage loading dock was built. Interchange sidings for the Hampton line were laid, plus goods sidings for the Derby and Nuneaton lines. The adjacent pumping station of Birmingham Water Corporation was also provided with its own access. The main station building on the island platform was of single storey brick built construction, with a small timber framed waiting room being provided on the single platform opposite. A wrought iron lattice footbridge connected the platforms, and barrow crossings were laid at the foot of the ramps. Two water tanks were installed - one at the meeting of the Derby and Nuneaton lines, and another at the start of the Hampton branch. Near to the site of the original Birmingham and Derby station a weighbridge and a coal siding were installed.

The rather extended layout that resulted eventually demanded two signal boxes; one controlling the station and junctions, built at the north end of the platforms some time before 1877; and another to the north of the site on the Derby line close to the site of the 1842 station. The latter opened on 7th November 1897, and controlled the goods refuge sidings. Whitacre Junction box was replaced on 30th April 1899, and Whitacre North box was re-framed on 27th May 1900. In 1909 a cut-off line was built from Kingsbury to Water Orton via Lea Marston, thus bypassing Whitacre junction, and further reducing the importance of the branch. Goods traffic was diverted on 22nd March 1909, with passenger services following suit on 3rd May 1909. In 1873 the block telegraph system was introduced between Whitacre and Coleshill.

Views of Whitacre's 1864 Station

Ref: mrwj1173 RM Casserley Looking along the Hampton branch platform from the Leicester end of Whitacre Station on 8th March 1956

Ref: mrwj1164 RCHM Looking towards Derby and Leicester from the Birmingham end of Whitacre Station's up platform

Ref: mrwj1163 MJ Lewis View of the partly closed station and building seen from the Leicester end of the Hampton branch platform

Ref: mrwj615 A Muckley A view of Whitacre's second station which replaced the 1842 B&DJR structure, seen one month prior to its closure

Ref: mrwj1172 MJ Lewis Another view from the Water Orton end of the station looking towards Derby with the up platform on the right

Ref: mrwj1169 MJ Lewis View from Whitacre Station's island platform across to the up platform and its small half timber waiting room

Ref: mrwj1170 MJ Lewis Rear view of Whitacre Station's brick and timber passenger waiting room located on the up platform

Ref: mrwj1157 MJ Lewis View of the lamp post sited at the entrance to the access road leading to Whitacre Station from Station Rd

Ref: mrwj1165 RM Casserley End elevation view of Whitacre Station's 1939 LMS signal box which was responsible for all main line workings

Ref: mrwj1068 W Wright Looking eastwards with the line to Kingsbury curving away to the left and the line to Nuneaton on the right

Ref: mrwj1069 W Wright View looking towards Kingsbury with the line to Nuneaton curving away to the right behind the signal box

Ref: mrwj1065 W Wright View of the LMS built Whitacre Junction Signal Box on 3rd August 1969 one month prior to its closure

Ref: mrwj1161 RS Carpenter Looking north-west with the lines to Derby on the left and the lines to Leicester on the right circa 1949

Ref: mrwj1162 RS Carpenter Ex-MR 3F 0-6-0 No 43246 is seen shunting open wagons in Whitacre Station's goods yard circa 1949

Ref: mrwj1155 J Griffiths Looking towards Water Orton with the lines to Leicester on the left with the siding goods yard on the right

Ref: mrwj1167 MJ Lewis Looking south-east with the line to Water Orton on the right and the old track to Hampton on the left

Ref: mrwj1174 DJ Norton Looking towards Whitacre Junction station from the Hampton branch line on 30th June 1959

Ref: mrwj1857 RS Carpenter Looking southwest from the passenger footbridge with the down platform on the left and the up platform on the right

Ref: mrwj1166 MJ Lewis Looking towards Whitacre Station in 1956 with the original B&DJR track bed to be seen on the right

Ref: mrwj1171 R Waring A plate layer's small hand truck is seen standing on one of the sidings at the north east end of Whitacre Station

Trains seen at or near Whitacre Station

Ref: mrwj123 Postcard MR 0-6-0 No 2641, a member of the 1874 class, on the Hampton to Whitacre one-coach train

Ref: mrwj123a Postcard Close up of MR 0-6-0 No 2641 at the head of the single-coach Whitacre to Hampton Parliamentary train

Ref: mrwj123b Postcard Close up showing the rear two carriages of an express train to either Tamworth or to Leicester via Nuneaton

Ref: mrwj126 WL Good Ex-MR 1P 2-4-0 No 19 heads a westward bound local out of Whitacre Station, just after the grouping of 1923

Ref: mrwj126a WL Good Close up showing the station building with signalbox on the platform and the footbridge to the opposite platform

Ref: mrwj125 Anon Ex-LMS 2-8-0 8F No 48135 heads a mineral train through the station having just come off the line from Nuneaton

Ref: mrwj1159 RJ Buckley Ex-LMS 8F 2-8-0 No 48619 weaves its way through Whitacre Junction on a coal train for Hams Hall

Ref: mrwj1160 RS Carpenter BR built 4MT 2-6-0 No 43017 at the head of a local stopping train to New Street station circa 1949

Ref: mrwj1168 Warwick Records Office Ex-MR 3F 0-6-0 No 3627 trundles through Whitacre Junction at the head of a Derby to Birmingham freight

Ref: mrwj125a Warwick Records Office Close up showing some of Whitacre station's facilities in the main building on the island platform

Ref: mrwj616 M Mensing Looking towards Whitacre station with the original line to Derby on the left and the line to Nuneaton to the right

Ref: mrwj1066 M Mensing D381 approaches Whitacre Station from Coleshill at the head of the up Ulster Express on Sunday 3rd May 1964

Ref: mrwj1066a M Mensing Close up of the lines leading to Ham Hall's own sidings which were only accessed from the original B&DJR line

Ref: mrwj1070 M Mensing Two sets of DMUs comprise the 09:35am Leicester to Birmingham service on Sunday 5th May 1963

Ref: mrwj1858 Birmingham Post Ex-MR 2P 4-4-0 No 40452 passes through Whitacre Station with a Nuneaton to New Street service

Ref: mrwj1859 DJ Norton Ex-LMS 4P 4-4-0 No 40907 approaches Whitacre with an Ordinary passenger service on 1st September 1952

B&DJR and Midland Railway Timetables

Ref: mrsbr1179 R Waring An 1840 B&DJR timetable of trains from Derby to Birmingham and London via Hampton

Ref: mrsbr1867a R Waring An 1853 Timetable showing five passenger trains plus one goods each way between Hampton and Whitacre

Ref: mrsbr1867b R Waring An 1856 Timetable showing four down and three up passenger trains between Hampton and Whitacre

Ref: mrsbr1867c R Waring An 1877 Timetable showing four mixed trains plus one passenger service between Hampton and Whitacre

Ref: mrsbr1867d R Waring An 1877 Timetable showing the reduced service of one mixed train between Hampton and Whitacre each day

Ref: mrsbr1867e R Waring The 1916, and very last timetable, still shows just one service per day between Hampton and Whitacre

Miscellaneous Documentation and Information

Ref: mrsbr1183 R Waring B&DJR Announcement of the opening of the railway between Birmingham and Derby via Hampton

Ref: mrsbr1868 R Waring Fares from Hampton to Coleshill, Whitacre, Kingsbury, Tamworth, Burton and Derby in November 1840

Ref: mrsbr1176 R Waring A Midland Railway Notice dated April 26th 1855 barring the keeping of Poultry, Pigs and other animals at Stations

Ref: mrsbr1177 R Waring A MR Order stating that an Exhibition of Fare Tables for Passengers must now be displayed at stations

Ref: mrsbr1175 Birmingham Reference Library A table of revenue from 1872 to 1922 for the Midland Railway stations at Whitacre, Coleshill and Hampton

Ref: mrsbr1869 R Waring Schematic drawings of B&DJR 1839 First and Second Class carriages and a Midland Railway Third Class Carriage

Ref: mrwj1158 Warwick County Records General view of the accident between a passenger train and derailed wagons which occurred on 18th August 1903

Ref: mr-misc001 J Griffiths Illustration of the variety of the oil lamps employed along the route between Castle Bromwich and Stockingford

Ordnance Survey Maps and Schematic Drawings

Ref: mrwj1860 RS Carpenter An 1886 25 inch to the mile Ordnance Survey map showing the four routes running into Whitacre Station

Ref: mrwj1861 RS Carpenter An 1886 25 inch to the mile Ordnance Survey Map showing Whitacre Station's three platforms

Ref: mrwj1862 RS Carpenter A 1902 25 inch to the mile Ordnance Survey map showing the four routes running into Whitacre Station

Ref: mrwj1863 RS Carpenter A 1902 25 inch to the mile Ordnance Survey Map showing Whitacre Station's three platforms

Ref: mrwj1864 RS Carpenter A 1923 25 inch to the mile Ordnance Survey map showing the four routes running into Whitacre Station

Ref: mrwj1865 RS Carpenter A 1923 25 inch to the mile Ordnance Survey Map showing Whitacre Station's three platforms

Ref: mrwj1866 J Brown A schematic drawing showing the juxtaposition of Whitacre's two stations some sixty chains from each other

Extract for the Accident at Whitacre on 18th August 1903

The report on the collision of a goods train with buffer stops, and the subsequent collision of a passenger train with wreckage, at Whitacre in 1903. This document was published on 14th September 1903 by Board of Trade. It was written by Lieut. Col. E. Druitt.

"In this case the driver of a goods train from Birmingham to Ancoats, travelling on the up goods line between Whitacre Junction and Whitacre North Signal Boxes, ran past the outlet signal for the goods line at Whitacre North Signal Box which was at danger, and collided with the stopblock at the end of the neck, with the result that some waggons of the train were derailed and fouled the up passenger line just as a special passenger train from Bristol to Hellifield was passing on that line. The engine of the passenger train was partially derailed, and all the carriages dama ed by contact with the derailed waggons. Nine passengers complained of injuries."

An extract from a long letter to the Editor of the Railway Times appearing in Volume 6,

From: VERITAS VINCIT. Birmingham, November 27, 1843

In my last I promised to refer also to some important occurrences on the Birmingham and Derby line; but as I know that the Directory are interfering with some of them, I shall at present desist — for 1 would rather look at the bright side of the picture, than dwell on locomotive mismanagement, which gives so indifferent a prospect for the future. There was, however, a serious affair befel the 6:00 p.m. passenger train out of Derby last Saturday, within a few miles of Whitacre, on the Birmingham side, which must be now alluded to. The train was running above 40 miles an hour, when the engine came in contact with two horses, knocked them down, and cut them in pieces, but fortunately no other damage was done than throwing three passenger carriages off the line, and alarming the passengers to a great degree. It is not for me to say who were the parties to blame for allowing the horses to get on the line. The proprietor of the horses, and the officials of the line, are very opposite in their allegations upon this point, but the fact of numerous instances of sheep and cattle straying upon this railway is notorious. Not long since I noticed several sheep having been killed by one of the trains. If Mr Joseph Peyton would mind his own business, instead of writing letters to you, perhaps these 'accidents' would be less frequent. You will recollect that some few weeks ago I was very boldly told that there was not an engine-driver of the name of Hulse on the North Midland line, whom I took notice of as having broken down with two engines. This individual was continued on that line, but as he got his discharge last week, it would be useless to enter further into the matter. I only mention it for the purpose of re-assuring you and your readers that I am always very guarded as to the correctness of my statements. I am, Sir, your most obedient servant, VERITAS VINCIT (translated as 'truth prevails').