LMS Route: Nuneaton to Leamington

Old Milverton Lineside Views: lnwr_oldmil1458

Ex-LNWR 4-4-2T No 6819 on a three-coach Nuneaton to Rugby service via Coventry and Leamington. The 'dip' in the line was to save money by avoiding the necessity of continuing the line at the higher levels on either side of 'Milburn' viaduct. Richard Leach states in his book 'Rails to Kenilworth and Milverton', that originally there was a structure which had a single arch, then a solid 32' length of stonework followed by 15 further arches, the last one being partly buried in the embankment.

This was widened when doubling took place and still followed the contour of the original structure. In 1926 most of the viaduct was buried by the creation of a new embankment whilst in 1984 the remaining arches were encased in concrete and the trackbed raised 18" to reduce the dip's severity. Number 6819 was built at Crewe in September 1907 and withdrawn from Crewe (North) shed in February 1937 being scrapped shortly afterwards.

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