LMS Route: LMS Route: Nuneaton to Leamington

Hawkesbury Lane Station: lnwhl149

Looking towards Coventry from the Nuneaton end of the station's short up platform with the sidings on the left opposite the signal box. The signals are fitted with upper quadrant arms, meaning that they move in an upwards arc from the horizontal when in the 'off' position, compared to lower quadrant signals that move in a downwards arc. The reason for this change of design on the LMS was due to a fatal accident some years earlier when a signal having given the right of way could not be raised back to the horizontal 'danger' position to due to snow blocking the travel of the arms. The station signage was installed in 1954 as was the case with most stations in the area. The British Railway corporate livery for the Midland Region reflected the most widely used LMS colours, red and cream. The cream was the standard British Railway shade used on all regions (except the North Eastern), and the red was a dark shade similar to the LMS colour. Cream was used on planking and canopy valencing, with the red on ironwork, framing, doors etc. as usual. The official British Railway specification from 1960 gives the colours as BS 381C 'Gulf Red' and 'Light Biscuit' in which case the red is brighter than the LMS shade. The paints dried very matt, though, which lessened the impact of this attractive livery. Poster boards & station signs were red with white lettering, including enamelled station signs on which the red was a darker shade.

back