Tamworth Low Level Station

LMS Route: Trent Valley Line

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.

Being government traffic, the railways were obliged to provide services for the transportation of mail throughout the country which was also a lucrative commercial business. The layout of John William Livock's designed station building was from the outset meant to facilitate the transfer of mail and passengers between the two important routes with part of the TVR station providing a direct connection to the B&DJR station. This was later superceded by the LNWR mail lifts sited on either side of the TVR station which led up to the down Midland Railway platform. It should be noted that whereas the LNWR's up and down lines centered on London - with up traffic heading to the metropolis, the MR's focus was towards Derby, therefore the down line was Derby to Birmingham. Tamworth's importance as an exchange station saw some 2000 bags of mail being handled each night during the 1950s which necessitated many trains stopping at both stations with Powell Hendry et al reporting some 18 being provided by the LMS in each direction alone on the Midland line.

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: 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: lnwr_tam1744 Preston-Hendry Looking towards Stafford from the High Level station with Tamworth's replacement up platform on the right

Ref: lnwr_tam1744a Preston-Hendry Close up showing a goods train at exchange sidings after traversing the connecting line from Tamworth High level

Ref: lnwr_tam1744b Preston-Hendry Close up showing Tamworth's buildings on up platform which was well equipped with passenger facilities

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

Ref: lnwr_tam1257 Anon View of Tamworth Low Level station during the early demolition work with the High Level station seen on the left

Ref: lnwr_tam1257a Anon Close up showing the platform side of Livock's building and an assortment of trollies with both parcels and mail bags

Ref: lnwr_tam1257b Anon Close up of the extension on the down platform which was built in a much more simple architectural style

Ref: lnwr_tam2362 DJ Norton Looking to Nuneaton and the disused Tamworth No 1 signal box from above the down slow line on 2nd June 1962

Ref: lnwr_tam2346a RS Carpenter Close up showing Tamworth No 2 signal box and the rail entrance leading to the goods yard and shed

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: 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: lnwr_tam1241 RS Carpenter LNWR 5XP 4-6-0 No 2305 'Private E Sykes VC' stands at the head of a semi-fast express to Euston

Ref: lnwr_tam1244 RS Carpenter LNWR 4-6-0 Experiment Class No 2627 'President Lincoln' approaches Tamworth on the 10:05 am express to Perth

Ref: lnwr_tam1250 HL Salmon LNWR 2F 0-6-0 'Cauliflower' class No 1235 passing Tamworth's Pump House on a down local passenger train

Ref: lnwr_tam1256 RS Carpenter LNWR 3P 4-4-0 George Fifth class No 82 'Charles Dickens' stands at the up platform at the head of an express

Ref: lnwr_tam1251 CB Harley GNR 4-4-2 No 1449 passes Tamworth's Pump House at the head of the 10 am Euston to Glasgow express service

Ref: lnwr_tam1245 RS Carpenter LNWR 1P 2-4-0 No 1672 'Talavera' stands at the up platform on a Stafford to Rugby local passenger service

Ref: lnwr_tam1246 RS Carpenter LNWR 1P 2-4-0 Precedent class No 1519 'Duchess' is seen standing light engine near Tamworth good's yard

Ref: lnwr_tam1261 LGRP LNWR 2-4-0 No 1676 'The Nile' is seen standing at the up platform on a up semi-fast express service circa 1901

Ref: lnwr_tam1248 RS Carpenter LNWR 2F 0-6-0 No 143 is seen standing in the yard in Tamworth's goods yard as the fireman opens the tool box

Ref: lnwr_tam1249 RS Carpenter LNWR 1P 2-4-0 Precedent class No 381 'Patterdale' at the head of a Stafford to Rugby local passenger service

Ref: lnwr_tam1243 RS Carpenter LNWR 4-4-0 Benbow class No 1956 'Illustrious' on a down through goods train with cattle trucks behind the tender

Ref: lnwr_tam1237 RS Carpenter LNWR 2P 4-6-0 Experiment class No 1455 'Herefordshire' double-heads LNWR 4-6-0 Prince of Wales class No 268

Ref: lnwr_tam1252 WL Good Ex-LNWR 7F 0-8-0 G2a class No 9278 is seen on the fast line at the head of an express mixed goods train

Ref: lnwr_tam1253 RS Carpenter LNWR 7F 0-8-0 No 2034 is seen on the fast line at the head of a train of empty wagons near Tamworth

Ref: lnwr_tam1258 RS Carpenter A pair of unidentified LNWR 2-2-2-0 Webb Compound locomotives are seen at the head of an up express service

Ref: lnwr_tam1259 Anon LNWR 2P 4-4-0 Renown class No 1946 'Diadem' approaches Tamworth station at the head of a local service Stafford

Ref: lnwr_tam1254 WL Good Ex-LNWR 7F 0-8-0 G2a class No 9276 on an unfitted express goods approaching Tamworth circa 1929

Ref: lnwr_tam1260 RS Carpenter Ex-LNWR 4P 4-6-0 Prince of Wales class No 25627 'Lewis Carrol' approaches Tamworth at the head of a parcels train

Ref: lnwr_tam1242 RS Carpenter LNWR 4-6-0 Claughton class No 163 'Holland Hibbert' standing at Tamworth at the head of a down express train

Ref: lnwr_tam1262 Anon LNWR 4-6-0 Compound No 170, a member of the 1400 class is seen standing along side Tamworth's Pump House

Ref: lnwr_tam1264 Real Photos Ex-LNWR 4-6-0 Prince of Wales class No 5859 double-heads an unidentified classmate on a down express

Ref: lnwr_tam1748 M Bentley Ex-LNWR 4-4-0 Precursor class No 5308 'Simmon' waits for the off at Tamworth on an up express service to Euston

Ref: lnwr_tam1270 Real Photos An unidentified LNWR 4-6-0 Claughton class locomotive is seen travelling at speed through Tamworth station

Ref: lnwr_tam1238 WL Good LNWR 2-8-0 Class E No 2558 is seen running tender first near Tamworth on a long train of coal wagons

Ref: lnwr_tam1247 RS Carpenter LNWR 2P 4-6-0 Experiment class No 1991 'Palmerston' approaching Tamworth with a local Rugby to Stafford service

Ref: lnwr_tam2360 LGRP LNWR 4P Prince of Wales Class 4-6-0 No 145 passes through Tamworth on a down Euston to Carlisle express

Ref: lnwr_tam1741 B Bill Ex-LMS 5XP 4-6-0 No 45533 'Lord Rathmore' is ready for the off with steam blowing hard from its safety valves

Ref: lnwr_tam2103 CA Clayson Ex-LMS 2-8-0 8F No 48134 passes under the former MR Derby to Birmingham line on 8th September 1960

Ref: lnwr_tam2345 RS Carpenter An unidentified LMS Class 5 4-6-0 locomotive leaving Tamworth on an up express service on 11th June 1935

Ref: lnwr_tam1740 B Bill Ex-LMS 5XP 4-6-0 No 45638 'Zanzibar' stands at Tamworth Low Level's up platform with an express service for Euston

Ref: lnwr_tam2106 CA Clayson Ex-LMS 8P 4-6-2 No 46234 'Duchess of Abercorn' passes the water tower at the head of 'The Caledonian'

Ref: lnwr_tam2354 DJ Norton Ex-LMS 5MT 4-6-0 No 44910 passes Tamworth's Pump House on an up express freight on 16th April 1949

Ref: lnwr_tam1742 B Bill Ex-LMS 5MT 4-6-0 No 45032 stands at Tamworth Low Level station waiting to take forward an express service to Euston

Ref: lnwr_tam2361 W Wright Ex-LMS 8F 2-8-0 No 48681 at the head of a down coal train approaching Tamworth station on 22nd August 1965

Ref: lnwr_tam2346 RS Carpenter Ex-LMS 2P 4-4-0 No 40552 passes Tamworth No 2 signal box on a down train during the mid-1950s

Ref: lnwr_tam2347 HC Casserley Ex-WD 2-8-0 No 90512 is seen being re-railed adjacent to Tamworth No 2 signal box on 28th April 1951

Ref: lnwr_tam2348 RS Carpenter Ex-LMS 5XP 4-6-0 No 45510 pilots ex-LMS 7P 4-6-0 No 46100 'Royal Scot' on an up express near Tamworth

Ref: lnwr_tam2349 RS Carpenter Ex-LMS 6P 4-6-0 No 45523 'Bangor' storms through Tamworth station on an up express service

Ref: lnwr_tam2364 DJ Norton Ex-LMS 7P 4-6-0 No 46135 'The East Lancashire Regiment' thunders through Tamworth on a down express

Ref: lnwr_tam2351 J Neave An unknown Class 24 Diesel locomotive pilots ex-LMS 5XP 4-6-0 No 45689 'Ajax' during the early 1960s

Ref: lnwr_tam2352 R Conway Ex-LMS 8P 4-6-2 No 46249 'City of Sheffield' storms past on the fast down line at the head of the Mid-day Scot

Ref: lnwr_tam2353 DJ Norton Ex-LMS 7P 4-6-2 No 46203 'Princess Margaret Rose' passes on the up fast line at the head an Euston express

Ref: lnwr_tam2359 W Wright Ex-LMS 5MT 4-6-0 No 45380 on a down Trent Valley local service passeing Tamworth Pumping station

Ref: lnwr_tam2356 W Wright British Railways built Ivatt Class 4MT 2-6-0 No 43003 runs tender first on a Trent Valley local passenger service

Ref: lnwr_tam2357 W Wright Ex-LMS 2P 4-4-0 No 40659 passes Tamworth No 1 signal box on the 4:39pm Nuneaton to Lichfield local service

Ref: lnwr_tam2363 J Payne Ex-LMS rebuilt Patriot Class 4-6-0 No 45521 'Rhyl' leaves Tamworth on an up express on 12th February 1957