Warwickshire Railways: Book Review

The Birmingham to Leicester Line by Chris Banks

Hard Cover, 215mm x 320mm, 224 pages, Black and White Photographs and Illustrations

OPC Publications. ISBN: 0860934659 Cover price £24.99 (Out of Print)

The rail route, from Birmingham New Street to Leicester, via Nuneaton and Hinckley, is described in this book along with every station along the line, together with the motive power used during the past and present; steam, diesel and electric. The reader is taken on a journey along a line that has survived remarkably well over the years, and one which has a secure future as the main link between the West Midlands and the Eastern Counties. The history of the line is covered from the earliest times up to the present day, from the steam era to today's diesel multiple units. All the motive power depots that were once to be found along the line are detailed, together with sample locomotive allocations for various periods, for Nuneaton, Leicester Midland and Saltley sheds. All photographs have captions giving the basic history of the locomotive illustrated with a comprehensive selection of maps showing the track layouts once to be found at each station and other key installations along the route. The various industrial lines that were connected with the main line are illustrated and described.

Contents are:

• Birmingham to Whitacre Junction
• Whitacre Junction to Leicester
• Nuneaton Trent Valley and Nuneaton MPD
• Nuneaton to Leicester
• Leicester Midland Locomotive Depot
• Appendices - Timings and allocations for Nuneaton, Leicester and Saltley Depots

Chris Banks has provided the enthusiast with a well illustrated view of the route supported by Ordnance Survey maps and a short synopsis of each station and location. An excellent starting point for anyone wishing to know more about this cross country route still in operation today.

Mike Musson

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