Rugby Station

LMS Route: Rugby to Wolverhampton
LMS Route: Rugby to Leamington
LMS Route: Trent Valley Line

The first railway station to be built in Rugby was a wooden temporary structure located around half a mile to the west of the present station. It opened in 1838 when the London and Birmingham Railway was constructed. This station lasted only a few years. When a junction was made with the Midland Counties Railway in 1840 a new station was built nearer the present station site although still slightly to the west.

This second station was effectively managed by two companies - the London and North Western Railway and the Midland Railway - and for this reason grew up in a haphazard fashion. It was at first no more than a temporary wooden structure, but was rebuilt in brick in 1850. This station consisted of platforms at each side of the track with one bay platform. The platforms were rather low and passengers complained of having to perform an "acrobatic feat" to board trains.

The station was at the centre of a busy junction and often saw chaotic scenes. It featured, only lightly disguised, in Charles Dickens's story Mugby Junction.

The second station lasted until the 1880s, when a new line from Rugby to Northampton was built, and it was replaced by the current structure which opened in 1885. This station, which exists today, albeit modified, consists of one large island platform with tracks on both sides and bay platforms at each end. The platform is accessed from a tunnel at road level and a ramp leading to the platforms.

The station was noted for an unusual feature, the 'scissor junction' which allowed two trains to be in one platform at the same time. The scissor junction was an X shaped junction which allowed one train to pass another one already in the platform, and call into the same platform ahead of it, and allowed the train to the rear to pull out of the station. For this reason the station has one of the longest platforms of any British railway station. The scissor junctions remained in use until the railway was electrified in the 1960s.

At its height, as well as the West Coast Main Line, Rugby station served railway lines to Leicester, Leamington Spa, and Peterborough via Market Harborough. In the 1960s all but the West Coast line were closed as part of the Beeching Axe.

Additional pages divided on different thematic subjects are available by clicking on the links below:

Select an image below to view the larger version with accompanying text:

Ref: lnwrrm866 EHC Shorto View of the northern approach to the station with the gantry controlled by No 7 Signal Box

Ref: lnwrrm852 Weston Collection View of the junction with the Leamington line to the left the Birmingham line in the middle and the Trent Valley line oin the right

Ref: lnwrrm852a Weston Collection Close up of the junction with the three LNWR lines to the north of the station

Ref: lnwrrm848 Weston Collection Looking north towards the wooden footbridge with the main goods yard on the left and the exchange sidings on the right

Ref: lnwrrm848a Weston Collection Close up showing the main yard on the left with a mix of both covered wagons and mineral wagons in the yard

Ref: lnwrrm848b Weston Collection Close up showing No 5 signal box and a Black 5 on an up express whilst an 8F waits on the Midland to Leicester line

Ref: lnwrrm861 AW Flowers View looking south towards the wooden footbridge with the goods yard on the right

Ref: lnwrrm861a AW Flowers Close up view showing the goods yard full of mainly covered vans together with LNWR somersault signals

Ref: lnwrrm861b AW Flowers View of an 8F at the head of a down goods passing under the colour light signals whilst two down expresses draw into the station

Ref: lnwrrm887 WoW A 1930s view looking towards the station from the footbridge with the goods yard on the right

Ref: lnwrrm748a Anon Close up showing the lineside structures at the Birmingham end of the up platform and the footbridge in the distance

Ref: lnwrrm892 Anon Ex-LMS 4-6-0 Black 5 No 45448 heads a north bound freight train out of the exchange sidings

Ref: lnwrrm896 Anon Rugby's brakedown train is seen rerailing mineral wagons alongside Rugby No 5 signal box with the goods yard in the distance

Ref: lnwrrm853 Anon Inside of Rugby No 7 Signal Box with the track diagram controlling the Trent Valley junction with the Birmingham and Leamington lines

Ref: lnwrrm863 Anon Another view of Rugby No 7 Signal Box which in this earlier view shows was manned by two bobbies

Ref: lnwrrm872 Anon View of the exchange sidings taken from the footbridge with No 5 signal box on the right

Ref: lnwrrm872a Anon Close up showing the exchange sidings in front of the BTH works and the factory's overhead crane

Ref: lnwrrm872b Anon Close up showing Rugby No 5 Signal Box in the foreground and the signal works in the background

Ref: lnwrrm872c Anon Close up showing the driver of one of Rugby's 0-6-0 Diesel shunters alighting to visit the signal box whilst the exchange sidings disappear into the distance

Ref: lnwrrm873 Colour Rail LMS 4-6-0 Jubilee class No 5642 passes Rugby No 5 Signal Box on a northbound short train comprising milk van two coaches and a parcel van

Ref: lnwrrm874 Anon A damaged negative with an early 20th century view of the northern aspects of the station and the goods yard

Ref: lnwrrm874a Anon Close up showing the goods yard containing a range of covered wagons and vans

Ref: lnwrrm879 Postcard Looking across the northern approach of the station towards the BTH works showing the footbridge and goods trains

Ref: lnwrrm880 Postcard View of the BTH electrical engineering factory as seen from the footbridge with a Mazda Lamps advert on the roof

Ref: lnwrrm881 Postcard Magnificent view of the northern approach to Rugby station from the North West was taken just after grouping

Ref: lnwrrm881alternative Postcard Magnificent view of the northern approach to Rugby station from the North West was taken just after grouping

Ref: lnwrrm881a Postcard Close up showing the exchange sidings in front of the BTH works occupied with a range of covered wagons and Vans

Ref: lnwrrm881b Postcard Close up showing the selection of wagons on view which is of great interest as many of them are quite freshly painted

Ref: lnwrrm848c Weston Collection Close up showing the British Thompson Houston works and the exchange sidings which were sited on the up side of the main line

Ref: lnwrrm877 WoW Preparing for War as a horse used to haul a Howitzer Battery gun is being loaded on to a railway wagon in Rugby goods yard

Ref: lnwrrm909 WoW View of the northern approaches to the station taken along the River Avon during the first year of the Second World War

Ref: lnwrrm908 WoW A shunting horse being used to rotate the wagon on a wagon turntable in Hunters Wagon Works

Ref: lnwrrm848c Weston Collection Close up showing the British Thompson Houston works and the exchange sidings that were sited on the up side of the main line

Ref: lnwrrm1058 S Gwinnett View taken from Rugby No 7 Signal Box with the lines to Leamington and Coventry on the left and the line to the Trent Valley straight ahead

Ref: lnwrrm897 WoW View of Rugby's 1860 station main entrance with three bay canopy and station building alongside

Ref: lnwrrm1535 WoW View of the entrance to Rugby's third station just a few years after opening and which utilised three of the original canopies

Ref: lnwrrm889 Postcard Early 1900s view of the down platform as a LNWR train arrives opposite the news kiosk

Ref: lnwrrm894 Postcard A First World War view of the up platform as a LNWR train arrives in the station

Ref: lnwrrm1533 Postcard View of the up platform which had been designed to accommodate two trains at each platform simultaneously

Ref: lnwrrm1533a Postcard A train indicator which showed the time of the nest two trains ans with the finger boards which section of platform

Ref: lnwrrm862 Real Photographs Looking towards London along the down platform as a train leaves the south section of the platform

Ref: lnwrrm862a Real Photographs Close up of the down platform and the ramp providing access to the station

Ref: lnwrrm862b Real Photographs Close up showing a LNWR 4-4-0 at the head of an express using the scissor crossing to exit the down platform

Ref: lnwrrm864 BR View of the station looking southwards from the main entrance to the station

Ref: lnwrrm855 BR Another view of Rugby's frontage and canopy with a mixture of vehicles in LMS and BR's new corporate livery

Ref: lnwrrm849 Coventry Evening Telegraph View of the scissors crossing taken from Rugby No 3 Signal Box and looking towards Stafford

Ref: lnwrrm858 BR View of one of the two ramps that provided access to the underpass which ran from the main entrance to the otherside of the station

Ref: lnwrrm859 BR View of the entrance to the refreshment room from platform with parcel trolleys loaded

Ref: lnwrrm854 BR View of Rugby No 3 Signal Box which controls the scissor crossover and the section of track on the down side of the station

Ref: lnwrrm856 BR View of the middle section of platform 2's main building which has a water fountain marked 1864

Ref: lnwrrm857 BR Another view of platform 2's main building at the northern end of the station

Ref: lnwrrm888 Anon View of the up platform showing the train shed covering both the platform line and the avoiding line

Ref: lnwrrm742 Weston Collection View from the GC bridge towards the southern end of Rugby station

Ref: lnwrrm742a Weston Collection Close up showing the southern aspect of the approach to the station

Ref: lnwrrm742b Weston Collection Close up showing the lines either side of Rugby No1 Signal Box

Ref: lnwrrm1067 Weston Collection Vista of the southern end of the station and shed with the shed and coaling tower on the right

Ref:lnwrrm1067a Weston Collection Close up showing the configuration of the train shed which had two ridged roofs at either end and two bow roofs in the centre

Ref: lnwrrm878 WoW The Lord Mayor of London arriving at Rugby for the laying of the foundation stone of the St Cross Hospital's nursing home

Ref: lnwrrm884 WoW The departure of King Edward VII on the Royal Train after his visit to Rugby shortly before his death

Ref: lnwrrm885 WoW Photograph of LNWR staff at Rugby station at the turn of the century

Ref: lnwrrm886 WoW A photograph of the full compliment of staff of the LNWR at Rugby's second station

Ref: lnwrrm895 WoW Guardians and representatives of the town awaiting the arrival of King Edward VII for the opening of the Temple Speech room

Ref: lnwrrm898 WoW The Mayor Alderman RH Myers accompanied by Miss D Myers serves the 100,000th cup of tea from Rugby's wartime station canteen

Ref: lnwrrm902 WoW Ex-LMS 4-6-2 Coronation class 4-6-0 No 46253 'City of Albans' at the head of the Mid-Day Scot as it passes through the station

Ref: lnwrrm904 WoW Railway Terrace Rugby which was laid out as a private road for private Villas was fenced using old railway sleepers.

Ref: lnwrrm899 WoW The last passenger train for Leamington about to leave Rugby Midland station

Ref: lnwrrm882 Postcard View of the cattle market which was extremely large and which required many to be transported to Rugby by rail

Ref: lnwrrm869 HW Robinson ©Steam Archive View of Rugby No 1 Signal Box which was located between the London end of the station and the GC bridge

Ref: lnwrrm906 Postcard The interior of Rugby's No 1 Signal Box with two signalmen in attendance - each being responsible for a section of levers etc

Ref: lnwrrm901 LNWR Postcard The LNWR Signal Gantry prior to the construction of the GC bridge carrying the new Great Central Railway London Extension

Ref: lnwrrm907 WoW View of Rugby's famous double signal gantry with the GC bridge being built in the background

Ref: lnwrrm1491 Anon A publicity photograph by the LNWR of their staff and men standing on the LNWR Signal Gantry prior to the GC bridge being erected

Ref: lnwrrm1490 Newton View of a LNWR 2-4-0 'Big Jumbo' class held by the signals under the GC bridge whilst at the head of a down train

Ref: lnwrrm867 Rugby Library Ex-LNWR 4-6-0 Prince of Wales class No 25673 'Lusitania' waits for a clear road under Rugby Signal Gantry

Ref: lnwrrm762 AW Flowers Ex-LNWR 4-6-0 Prince of Wales class No 5831 passes under the GC bridge at the head of a short passenger train

Ref: lnwrrm814 AW Flowers Unidentified ex-LNWR 4-6-0 Claughton class locomotive is seen at the head of a down express as it passes under the GC bridge

Ref: lnwrrm817 AW Flowers An unidentified ex-LNWR 4-4-0 is seen at the head of a train made up of mixed stock as it arrives from Northampton

Ref: lnwrrm817a AW Flowers Close up showing Clifton Road signal box which was sited above the Northampton line

Ref: lnwrrm818 LGRP LNWR 4-6-0 Claughton class No 1096 built at crewe in April 1920 is seen on a down Liverpool express

Ref: lnwrrm891 WoW LNWR 4-6-0 19 inch goods class No 1977 is seen at the head of an engineer's train

Ref: lnwrrm883 Postcard Postcard view of Clifton Road signal box from another angle as a LNWR 4-4-0 storms underneath on an up express

Ref: lnwrrm730 WoW Ex-LMS 4-6-0 rebuilt Royal Scot No 46149 'The Middlesex Regimant' approached Rugby on a down express

Ref: lnwrrm850 Anon Southern approaches to the station showing from left to right Northampton, Market Harborough and Euston lines

Ref: lnwrrm850a Anon Close up of the lines approaching from the south with Clifton Road Junction seen in the distance under the centre bridge

Ref: lnwrrm851 Anon An unidentified locomotive is seen coming out of the 'Rathole' at the head of a Euston express

Ref: lnwrrm851a Anon This close up shows the unidentified locomotive passing under the bridge carrying the down line from Northampton which passes outside of the station

Ref: lnwrrm1304 WoW Remodelling work requires a new railway bridge for the Northampton branch over the Oxford Canal

Ref: lnwrrm708 Weston Collection LMS 4-6-0 6P Rebuilt Patriot No 5526 'Morecambe and Heysham' at the head of an up express entering Kilsby Tunnel in LMS days

Ref: lnwrrm1069 Bourne A Bourne painting showing the construction of Kilsby Tunnel at one of the large diameter air shafts