Tamworth High Level Station

LMS Route: Birmingham New Street to Tamworth

General Introduction

Tamworth was a small market town and was historically split between Staffordshire and Warwickshire, with the county boundary running through the town centre although the station was within Warwickshire. Following the county boundary changes in 1887, the station lay just outside Warwickshire with the approaches to the station being within the county. Tamworth's original stations were provided first by the Birmingham & Derby Junction Railway (B&DJR) in 1839 - absorbed in to the Midland Railway (MR) in 1844 - and then shortly afterwards by the Trent Valley Railway (TVR), which was taken over by the LNWR before it opened in 1847. The Midland station was situated on the Birmingham to Derby line whilst the LNWR station was constructed at right angles immediately beneath. Their strategic relationship to each other can be ascertained by the construction of a connecting line joining between the two in June 1847 whereas the TVR was opened in September 1847. Tamworth's importance lay in the development of the Royal Mail services which with the Penny Post saw an immense expansion in this important service.

We apologise for any disruptions and inconvenience caused by engineering work

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

Ref: lnwr_tam1239 Illustrated News View of the original 1847 Livock designed station showing an early LNWR 2-2-0 arriving at Tamworth

Ref: mrthl448 AWV Mace Edwardian view of Tamworth's main station building which served both the LNWR's and MR's platforms

Ref: mrthl448a AWV Mace Close up showing a variety of horse-drawn vehicles and the LNWR and MR signage at the front of the building

Ref: lnwr_tam1255 Lens of Sutton View of the main station building with the connecting corridor to the High Level station seen on the right

Ref: mrthl1106 RS Carpenter Tamworth's replacement station prior to being rebuilt as part of the electrification of the West Coast Main Line

Ref: lnwr_tam2353a DJ Norton Close up showing some of the former MR High Level station's structures as viewed from the ex-LNWR station

Ref: mrthl1100 W Wright Tamworth High Level Station's signal box located on the up platform as seen on 9th August 1969

Ref: lnwr_tam1743 RS Carpenter Station master's house at Tamworth which also included an accommodation annex for other railway staff

Ref: mrthl1108 DJ Norton Looking north towards Derby as the rebuilding of the new station takes place on 2nd June 1962

Ref: mrthl447 Stations UK Looking to Derby as a goods train departs the station as an ex-LMS 5MT 4-6-0 passes through the other way

Ref: mrthl447b Stations UK Close up showing Tamworth High Level signal box which was located at the Derby end of the platform

Ref: mrthl1112 Tamworth Castle Museum An aerial view of Tamworth High Level and Low Level stations and the connecting line between the two

Ref: lnwr_tam1745 Powell-Hendry Layout of Tamworth's High Level Midland station and the LNWR's Low Level stations including connecting spur

Ref: mrthl1115 Midland Railway A Midland Distance Diagram showing the juxtaposition of Tamworth with Wilnecote and Kingsbury stations

Ref: mrthl1115a Midland Railway Midland Distance Diagram showing Tamworth's Midland Goods facilities adjacent to the LNWR Goods facilities

Ref: mrthl447a Stations UK Close up of the unidentified ex-LMS 4-6-0 5MT storming through the station on a down express service

Ref: mrthl1104 W Wright British Railways Type 4 Co-Co D1938 locomotive at the head of an up express service passes through Tamworth

Ref: mrthl127 WL Good MR 1F 0-6-0 No 2846 rests between duties whilst standing in Tamworth's MR Goods Yard shortly before grouping

Ref: mrthl128 WL Good NSR 3P 4-4-2T No 8 stands at Tamworth on a Birmingham New Street to Derby service on 19th April 1923

Ref: mrthl444 WL Good Ex-MR 1P 4-2-2 'Spinner' No 644 and ex-MR 2P 4-4-0 No 440 pass through Tamworth station on an up express

Ref: mrthl1102 W Wright Ex-LMS 5MT 4-6-0 No 45382 at the head of the 2:25am Tees to Severn Beach freight on 17th September 1965

Ref: mrthl1111 Anon Ex-MR 3F 0-6-0 No 43709 is seen at the head of a down Class K freight service for Washwood Heath Sidings

Ref: mrthl1105 N Preedy Ex-LMS 5MT 4-6-0 No 45464 picks up water from Tamworth water troughs whilst at the head of a down parcels train

Ref: mrthl1114 D Hewitt British Railways Standard Class 9F 2-10-0 No 92025 passes through Tamworth on a down freight service

Ref: lnwr_tam1256a RS Carpenter Close up of one of the timber lift shafts built to aid the transfer of mail between the two sets of platforms

Ref: mrthl1113 W Wright BR Type 4 1Co-Co1 D83 passes through Tamworth on the 4:45pm Bradford to New Street express service

Ref: lnwr_tam1747 D Slaney View of an unknown Midland Railway 0-4-0T class 1533 locomotive overwhelmed by its load of coal wagons

Ref: lnwr_tam1746 D Slaney Another view of the unknown Midland Railway 0-4-0T class 1533 locomotive hidden in the debris of the accident