Leamington Avenue Station (LNWR)

LMS Route: Nuneaton to Leamington

LMS Route: Rugby to Leamington

LMS Route: Leamington to Weedon

The town of Leamington initially was served by Warwick Milverton station which was at the end of the Coventry to Leamington line which opened in 1844. The location of this station was at a mid-point between the two towns of Warwick and Leamington and in many ways could be considered a compromise that satisfied neither of the two town's citizens. The Rugby to Leamington single branch line which opened in 1851 in fact commenced at Warwick Milverton and according to Preston Hendry & Powell Hendry in their book 'LMS Stations' it was February 1854 before the first station opened in the town of Leamington. This was a small timber framed and clad structure and was located adjacent to the 1852 GWR station. The second station was a more substantial and grand affair and built of brick in, according to Colin Maggs in his book 'Branch Lines of Warwickshire', the 'Italian' style and opened in March 1860. In 1864 a connection was made with the GWR at the western end of the LNWR station over which a considerable amount of goods traffic was exchanged.

A new bay siding was laid at the back of the down (the line nearest to the GWR) platform in 1884 but was not used as a passenger line until eight years later in 1892. Additional connections were laid in 1884 on the down side and the up exchange yard and landing were modified in 1888. The station had no goods yard as this was located at the Warwick (Milverton) site. A running connection, Leamington GWR Junction, was laid at the eastern end of the station opening on July 1908 and was controlled by a new box. The curvature of this connecting line was so severe that it required a speed limit of 5 m.p.h. According to Preston Hendry & Powell Hendry, Leamington (Avenue) was the terminus for the Coventry to Leamington services whilst Warwick (Milverton) was the terminus for the Rugby to Warwick services, the two routes being overlapping services. Therefore, according to the two authors, the services were effectively treated as separate branches rather than as a through route.

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Ref: lnwrlave1397 WoW Edwardian view of Leamington Avenue station looking in the direction of Rugby as a train arrives from Rugby

Ref: lnwrlave1375 G Coltas The approach and exterior of the station looking towards 'The Parade' with the former GWR station being to the right

Ref: lnwrlave1751 Preston-Hendry Looking towards the ex-LNWR station from the former GWR station showing the boundary wall separating the two

Ref: lnwrlave1751a Preston-Hendry Close up of the ex-LNWR station's footbridge showing it was initially fully enclosed and with an apex roof

Ref: lnwrlave1399 Anon Looking towards Coventry with the carriage sidings on right and the exchange sidings to the GWR on the left

Ref: lnwrlave1385 LGRP Looking towards Rugby and Weedon showing the up platform being significantly longer than the down platform

Ref: lnwrlave1383 LGRP Facing towards Rugby and Weeden showing the barrow crossing and the fenced walkway to platform two

Ref: lnwrlave1381 LGRP Signal & Telegraph workmen replacing the LNWR lower quadrant signal with an LMS upper quadrant version

Ref: lnwrlave1381 LGRP Close up showing the difference in height between the ex-LNWR trackbed and ex-GWR formation behind

Ref: lnwrlave1366 G Coltas Looking from the passenger footbridge showing the down line to the exchange sidings passing on the right

Ref: lnwrlave1377 Anon View showing the station has been renovated with the footbridge having the upper side sheeting removed

Ref: lnwrlave1384 Anon Looking towards Rugby as a Coventry bound autotrain stands at the down platform which was numbered No 2

Ref: lnwrlave1384a Anon Close up of the station's up platform showing the large amount of parcel traffic standing on the platform

Ref: lnwrlave1377a Anon Close up showing the loaded porters trolleys the LNWR signs, and the ornate castings incorporated into the canopy

Ref: lnwrlave1377b Anon Close up of the station's down platform, only accessible via the footbridge, and the cream painted waiting rooms

Ref: lnwrlave1382 Anon Facing Rugby from the end of the up platform with the replacement LMS upper quadrant signals now in place

Ref: lnwrlave1348 G Coltas LMS 2-6-0 'Crab' No 2781 stands at platform 2 at the head of a local passenger train to Coventry in 1938

Ref: lnwrlave1350 G Coltas LMS 3P 2-6-2T No 17 is stands at platform one at the head of a local Coventry to Leamington passenger train

Ref: lnwrlave1351 G Coltas Ex-MR 2F 0-6-0 No 3084 stands at platform 2 on a local Leamington to Coventry passenger service

Ref: lnwrlave1352 G Coltas LMS 3P 2-6-2T No 3 stands at platform 2 at the head of a local Leamington to Coventry passenger service

Ref: lnwrlave1353 G Coltas Ex-LNWR 4P 4-6-0 No 25673 'Lusitania' is being admired by school children whilst at the head of a local to Coventry

Ref: lnwrlave1354 G Coltas Ex-LNWR 4-6-0 No 25673 'Lusitania' at platform 2 and LMS 4P Compound 4-4-0 No 1116 in the exchange sidings

Ref: lnwrlave1359 G Coltas Ex-LNWR 2F 0-6-0 'Cauliflower' No 8529 is at the head of a local Leamington to Coventry passenger service

Ref: lnwrlave1360 G Coltas Ex-LNWR 2F 0-6-0 No 8529, on another occassion stands at platform 2 on a local passenger service to Coventry

Ref: lnwrlave1361 G Coltas LMS 4P 4-4-0 'Compound' No 1157 stands at platform 2 at the head of a Leamington to Coventry passenger service

Ref: lnwrlave1371 NJ Allcock Ex-LNWR 1P 2-4-2T No 6660 is seen running through the up platform in the wrong direction

Ref: lnwrlave1379 RS Carpenter Ex-LNWR 7F 0-8-0 G2a class No 8922 is seen shunting coaching stock at Leamington Avenue station's platform 1

Ref: lnwrlave1380 G Coltas LMS 5MT 2-6-0 No 2966 is seen running light engine on the up line to work a local passenger service

Ref: lnwrlave1373 PB Whitehouse Ex-LNWR 1P 'Radial Tank' 2-4-2T No 6683 at the head of a push-pull motor train for Daventry and Weeden

Ref: lnwrlave1376 G Coltas Ex-LNWR 2P 'Precursor Tank' No 6826 stands at platform 2 with a cattle wagon behind the bunker on a goods train

Ref: lnwrlave1355 G Coltas British Railways 2P 2-6-2T No 41234 is standing in the down bay along side platform 2 on a local passenger train

Ref: lnwrlave1349 G Coltas Coventry Railcar No 2, built by Armstrong Siddeley, stands at the Coventry end of platform 1 on service to Leamington

Ref: lnwrlave1349a G Coltas Close up showing the raised cockpit of Railcar No 2 and the louvered door for the driver and luggage

Ref: lnwrlave1362 G Coltas The Coventry Railcar from the non-driving end seen as it stands under the footbridge at platform 2 waiting to depart

Ref: lnwrlave1750 Preston-Hendry Ex-LNWR 1P 2-4-2T No 6609 arriving at Leamington Avenue station at the head of a two-coach motor train

Ref: lnwrlave1752 Preston-Hendry Ex-LNWR 3P 4-4-0 No 25393 'Loyalty' at the head of an excursion passing through Leamington Avenue station

Ref: lnwrlave1356 G Coltas Ex-LMS 4P 2-6-4T No 42308 stands at platform 2 at the head of a local Leamington to Coventry passenger train

Ref: lnwrlave1357 G Coltas Ex-LMS 2P 0-4-4T No 41909 approaches Leamington Avenue station on a down local service from Rugby

Ref: lnwrlave1358 G Coltas British Railways built 4MT 2-6-0 'Mogul' No 43034 is seen at the head of a West of England excursion service

Ref: lnwrlave1363 HC Casserley Ex-LMS 2-6-0 'Crab' No 42944 standing at platform 2 at the head of a local Leamington to Coventry service

Ref: lnwrlave1364 RS Carpenter British Railways 2MT 2-6-2T No 41218 is seen on a Coventry to Leamington to Rugby local passenger train

Ref: lnwrlave1368 Anon BR built 2MT 2-6-2T No 41228 standing at platform 1 on a two-coach motor fitted local train to Weeden

Ref: lnwrlave1369 RS Carpenter British Railways 2MT 2-6-2T No 41235 standing at platform one prior to taking the train forward to Weeden

Ref: lnwrlave1372 Anon Ex-LNWR 1P 2-4-2T No 46749 standing at platform 1 on a motor fitted two-coach local passenger train to Weeden

Ref: lnwrlave1387 WoW Ex-LMS 2P 04-4T No 41902 arrives at platform 1 at the rear of a two-coach motor fitted train to Rugby

Ref: lnwrlave1388 WoW Ex-GWR 0-6-0PT No 7702 shunts cattle trucks with an ex-GWR 2-6-2T locomotive standing at the rear

Ref: lnwrlave1367 Anon BRC&W two-coach Diesel Multiple Unit on a Leamington to Nuneaton local service is seen standing at platform 2

Ref: lnwrlave1365 G Coltas Ex-Lancashire & Yorkshire 3rd class coach No 960 is seen standing on the sidings alongside the GWR station

Ref: lnwrlave1348a G Coltas Close up of a fully loaded Arley Colliery coal wagon standing in the sidings ready to be transfered

Ref: lnwrlave1352a G Coltas Close up showing a number of Colthrop Board & Paper Mills wagons in transit to their new home in Thatcham

Ref: lnwrlave1353a G Coltas Close up showing a GWR bogie wagon for carrying steel car pressings en-route from Oxford to Coventry

Ref: lnwrlave1354a G Coltas Close up of a GWR bogie wagon carrying glass from Pilkington Glass to one of Coventry's many car plants

Ref: lnwrlave1355a G Coltas Close up showing post-Second World War wagons and vans in transit between the former LNWR and the GWR routes

Ref: lnwrlave1376a - G Coltas Close up of a Private Owner wagon carrying the name 'STEVCO' of Oxford alongside a LMS four-plank wagon

Ref: lnwrlave1380a - G Coltas Close up showing two Private Owner wagons in the sidings, A Baker and S & E Collier, both of Reading

Ref: lnwrlave1351b - G Coltas Close up of a railway workman inspecting the brake gear on the wagons in the exchange sidings with the GWR

Ref: leamington_layout_a BR The approach to the station from the direction of Warwick Milverton showing the goods yard and exchange sidings

Ref: leamington_layout_b BR Layout showing the main building on the up line with the exchange sidings passing behind the down platform

Ref: lnwrlave1398 WoW Looking north across the partially demolished ex-LNWR bridge which spanned Bath Street and High Street

Ref: lnwrlave1391 WoW Facing Rugby with the ex-LNWR track removed and the demolition of the bridge over High Street well under way

Ref: lnwrlave1392 WoW View from the High Street of the two two main trusses over the junction being demolished by a large mobile crane

Ref: lnwrlave1393 WoW Another view of the mobile crane preparing to remove the second truss whilst the first truss is being moved off site

Ref: lnwrlave1394 WoW Looking towards Rugby with the ex-LNWR track now lifted whilst rubble from the station lies in between the platforms

Ref: lnwrlave1747 WoW View of Bath Street and High Street junction showing the ex-LNWR and GWR bridges prior to any demolition

Ref: lnwrlave1395 WoW Facing Rugby with Leamington Avenue station's demolition well advanced with the canopies half removed

Ref: lnwrlave1396 WoW View of the station's up platform with its canopy being removed prior to the building being demolished

Ref: - lnwrlave2030 D Churchill View of Leamington Avenue station facing in the direction of Coventry from Station Approach

Ref: - lnwrlave2031 D Churchill Close up showing Leamington Avenue station's now closed and redundant main passenger building

Ref: - lnwrlave2032 D Churchill Another view of the main station building seen from Station Approach, but looking towards Rugby

Ref: - lnwrlave2038 D Churchill Close up view of the main entrance, showing the high quality and decorative construction of the building

Ref: - lnwrlave2029 D Churchill One of the many ornate cast iron brackets supporting the entrance canopy at Leamington Avenue station

Ref: - lnwrlave2027 D Churchill View of the litter strewn station along Platform 1 looking towards Rugby after closure

Ref: - lnwrlave2028 D Churchill View of Platform 1 looking towards Coventry along the platform accommodating the main passenger building

Ref: - lnwrlave2026 D Churchill View of one of the ornate cast iron brackets supporting Leamington Avenue station's platform canopy

Ref: - lnwrlave2024 D Churchill The buildings on Platform 2, looking in the direction of Coventry, taken from beneath the footbridge

Ref: - lnwrlave2025 D Churchill Looking towards Rugby with platform 2's buildings on the right with the ex-GWR station just visible in the background

Ref: - lnwrlave2034 D Churchill Facing Coventry and the rear of the ex-LNWR station Platform 2 buildings as seen from the former GWR station

Ref: - lnwrlave2037 D Churchill Facing towards Rugby, an opposite view of the rear of Platform 2 buildings as seen from the former GWR station

Ref: - lnwrlave2035 D Churchill Leamington Avenue station's derelict passenger footbridge seen from the former GWR station

Ref: - lnwrlave2036 D Churchill A side elevation view of the ex-LNWR passenger footbridge showing details of the supporting iron work

Ref: - lnwrlave2033 D Churchill Another view of the footbridge showing the method of construction, the use of iron work, timber and glass

Ref: - lnwrlave2039 D Churchill Leamington Avenue station's weighbridge located at the entry to the coal yard off Station Approach

Ref: - lnwrlave2023 D Churchill A 1973 view of the remains of the cattle dock after removal of the track and demolition of the station buildings

Ref: - lnwrlave2788 J Moss View of the connecting line passing to the left of the GWR P & W brick building and the right of the GWR signal box

Ref: - lnwrlave2789 D Cooknell Ex-LMS Rebuilt Royal Scot Class 4-6-0 No 46143 'The South Staffordshire Regiment' stands at the up platform

Ref: - lnwrlave2790 D Cooknell An unknown ex-LNWR 0-6-0 2F locomotive stands on the avoiding lines with an up mineral train