GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Leamington Shed

Leamington provided accommodation locomotives from the opening of the Oxford to Birmingham line in 1852 until the shed was closed in June 1965. The code for locomotives allocated to Leamington was 'LMTN' during the shed's ownership by the Great Western Railway and after nationalisation '84D' from January 1948 to August 1963 and '2L' from September 1963 to June 1965. The first shed was located a little to the north of the station and was single road in construction measuring 237 ft long by 20 ft wide. It was built using timber for the framing as well as for the side sheeting and it is recorded as being covered by a gable style slate roof. A messroom, measuring 16 ft 0 ins by 12 ft 3 ins located to the right of the entrance, was provided for the workforce. In 1898 two additional rooms were built; one, measuring 13 ft 3 ins by 13 ft 8 ins, being used for stores whilst the other, measuring 13 ft 3 ins by 6 ft 8 ins, was used as an office for the shed foreman. Part of the shed's facilities was a coaling platform, measuring 40 ft 0 ins by 12 ft 10 ins, which was formed with stone walls and timber deck. In 1881 a 41 ft 10 ins turntable was removed from Stafford Road shed and installed at Leamington. On 10th March 1902 the shed burnt down which compelled the authorities to keep the locomotives out in the open. Temporary accommodation for the messroom, office and stores was provided by the erection of corrugated iron huts.

This arrangement lasted until September 1906 when the new shed, situated south of the station, was opened. The shed was located between the former LNWR's Leamington to Rugby branch line and the GWR's main line to Banbury. Between the shed and the GWR mainline were five carriage sidings although in reality one had to be kept free to allow the locomotive to be released. The second shed was built to Churchward's new standard straight road shed design and it was 180 ft long by 66 ft wide accommodating four roads. Offices, messroom and stores were located along the northern wall for some 166 ft of its length. A separate building measuring 12 ft by 10 ft housing the sand furnace was located on the north-west corner of the shed and was accessed via a short siding which radiated off the turntable. In all probability the short siding was used by wagons transporting the sand to the furnace. The western side wall was built to allow future extension although this facility was never required. The 30 ft by 32 ft coaling stage was also of a new design being a brick-built copy of the stone coal stage at Truro and included a 45,000 gallon tank on top of the coal stage. There was a pit between the rails of all four roads immediately in front of the shed's doors as well as one beneath the road adjacent to the coaling stage. A turntable was provided which allowed locomotives to be turned either after being coaled or by accessing the turntable from one of the straight roads which lay in front of the shed.

Robert Ferris writes 'The new Leamington shed commenced construction during 1905 and was completed before December 1906, when an article in the in-house magazine appeared. According to the magazine the shed was equipped with a 65 ft 'under-girder' type turntable which came into use in July 1906. However the photographs show an 'over-girder' turntable and 65 ft 'over-girder' turntables appears to be the standard size installed from 1904 onwards (GA Drwg 16789). The 65 ft 'under-girder' types were more normal inside round house engine sheds (e.g. Tyseley) as the 'over-girder' type were apparently considered a hinderance to workings, but there were also external 'under-girder' types around. An 'under-girder' type required constructing of a deeper pit, so it was more expensive. Where they were installed, the pit was also normally 'tabled' (i.e. boarded over). In 1903 the 2-8-0 28xx class freight locomotive had been introduced and I suspect that these as well as the larger 4-6-0 passenger locomotives will have dictated the turntable size chosen by Churchward for his engine shed rebuilding programme (which lasted until 1920 when Stourbridge Shed was built)'.

Use the links below to access the images and text on this page:

• Leamington's 1852 Shed
• Leamington's 1906 Engine Shed
• The shed at work
• Staff of Leamington Engine Shed
• Locomotives on Shed
• Leamington East Junction Signal Box
• Maps and notices
• Leamington Carriage Sidings
• Shed Allocations

Leamington's 1852 Shed

Ref: gwrls237 Anon View of the northern approach to Leamington station looking south with the site of the first engine shed on the left

Ref: gwrls237a Anon Close up showing the approach road to the original locomotive shed and the standard GWR water tank

Ref: gwrls2141 Ordnance Survey Part of the 1886 OS map showing the location and layout of the original Leamington Engine Shed

Ref: gwrls2164 J Copsey Schematic drawing showing the layout of the 1852 engine shed including turntable, water tower and coal plant

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Leamington's 1906 Engine Shed

Views of the shed and its infrastructure

Ref: gwrls2165 GWR Photographer The three main components of the 1906 engine shed, the coal stage, the turntable and the four-road shed

Ref: gwrls2165a GWR Photographer Close up of the standard designed coal stage and water tank as viewed from the western side of the shed

Ref: gwrls2165b GWR Photographer Close up of the 65 ft over-girder turntable with 3 buffer stops including on the right the siding to the sand furnace

Ref: gwrls2165c GWR Photographer Close up showing the sixty-six feet wide four-road engine shed with lean-to offices built on the left hand side

Ref: gwrls2200 D Cooknell A general aerial view showing the coaling stage, ash roads, turntable and shed in May 1965

Ref: gwrls2200a D Cooknell Close up of the coaling stage showing wagons stabled at the top of the ramp despite the track being overgrown

Ref: gwrls2200b D Cooknell Close up of the shed showing two ex-LMS 2-6-0 and one BR Standard 2-6-4T locomotives stabled outside the shed

Ref: gwrls2066 RS Carpenter Panoramic view of Leamington shed and carriage sidings circa 1963 showing two locomotives being prepared

Ref: gwrls2090 Great Western Railway An internal view of Leamington station's new shed opened by the Great Western in 1906

Ref: gwrls2066a RS Carpenter Close up showing the fan of tracks leading to the coaling stage, the turntable and the four road shed

Ref: gwrls808 Anon A general view of the shed in GWR days with a pair of GWR 2-6-2T Prairie tank engines standing in the yard

Ref: gwrls3015 B Morrison Ex-Great Western Railway motive power seen inside Leamington Spa Shed on Sunday 17th June 1951

Leamington Shed after Closure

Ref: gwrls3977 G Burrows The Great Western Railway Locomotive Depot at Leamington had a standard medium sized coaling stage

Ref: gwrls3978 G Burrows Two views from the coaling stage platform showing the short length of railtrack for the tip-wagons

Ref: gwrls3979 G Burrows Leamington's locomotive shed was one hundred and eighty feet long with four roads for stabling twelve engines

Ref: gwrls3980 G Burrows View of Leamington locomotive shed showing the composite roof construction and glazing

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The shed at work

Ref: gwrls807 Anon Ex-GWR 2-6-2T Prairie No 4112 stands under the coaling stage with its enlarged coal tipping mechanism

Ref: gwrls2068 AWV Mace Leamington shed's coaling stage viewed from the eastern end of the former LNWR Leamington to Rugby branch

Ref: gwrls818 RS Carpenter An unidentified GWR 2301 Class 0-6-0 locomotive is seen being turned on Leamington shed's turntable

Ref: gwrls229a RS Carpenter Close up showing the the timber steps used by staff to reach the coaling platform from rail level

Ref: gwrls817 HJ Stretton-Ward Ex-GWR 2301 Class 0-6-0 No 2328 is seen standing beneath the coaling stage in September 1911

Ref: gwrls230a L Hanson Close up showing the coal tipping mechanism which projected outwards from the coaling stage

Ref: gwrls230b L Hanson Close up showing one of the GWR's steel 'loco' wagons standing empty with the doors in the open position

Ref: gwrls236 Anon View of the shed showing a number of locomotives standing on storage road adjacent to the coaling stage

Ref: gwrls236a Anon Close up showing locomotives and loco coal wagons standing on the siding adjacent to the road leading to the turntable

Ref: gwrls236b Anon Close up showing enthusiasts standing next to the locomotives stabled in front of the four road shed

Ref: gwrls808a Anon Close up showing the door to the office located on the ground floor of the three-storey coaling stage

Ref: gwrls808b Anon Close up which provides a nice three-quarter perspective of Leamington Shed showing its overall length

Ref: gwrls805 WoW Leamington shed on the 12th June 1965, the very last day of operation, with at least one ex-LMS interloper in view

Ref: gwrls230 L Hanson GWR Prairie 2-6-2T No 5134 is seen stabled on the siding used to store empty loco coal wagons on 22nd March 1936

Ref: gwrls231a RS Carpenter Close up showing the two standard GWR water columns and the 'fire-devils' used to protect them from freezing

Ref: gwrls2535 J Fenshaw BR Class 08 0-6-0 D3974 stands alongside BR built 2-6-2T No 41272 and ex-GWR 5101 Class 2-6-2T No 4151

Ref: gwrls816 HJ Stretton-Ward An early panoramic view of Leamington shed showing only two locomotives on shed, both by the coaling stage

Ref: gwrls816a HJ Stretton-Ward Close up of an unidentified GWR 0-6-0ST locomotive and an unidentified Dean 0-6-0 Class 2301 locomotive

Ref: gwrls816b HJ Stretton-Ward Close up showing the shed is completely empty of any of the dozen or so locomotives allocated

Ref: gwrls229 RS Carpenter Former Cambrian 4-4-0 No 1100 stands next to the water hydrant awaiting its turn to be coaled circa 1929

Ref: gwrls3003 Milepost 92½ Ex-GWR Breakdown Gang's Mess Van No W41 at Leamington Shed on 7th August 1953

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Staff of Leamington Engine Shed

Ref: gwrls1605 A Holden GWR 33xx Class 4-4-0 No 3443 'Birkenhead' is posed in front of the coaling stage with shed staff

Ref: gwrls1606 LA Holden GWR 2-6-2T No 3115 stands with members of the shed's staff posed on the running and footplate

Ref: gwrls2620 K Rose Fitter John Thomas Kendrick is seen working on BR built Class 2MT 2-6-2T No 41285 at Leamington Shed

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Locomotives on Shed

Ref: gwrls233 L Hanson GWR 2251 Class 0-6-0 No 2281 is seen coupled with a ROD tender at Leamington shed on 22nd March 1936

Ref: gwrls2161 P Myhill Ex-GWR 2251 Class 0-6-0 No 2291 is seen standing outside Leamington shed in bright sunlight

Ref: gwrls2162 P Myhill Ex-GWR 61xx Class 2-6-2T No 6169 stands outside Leamington shed with other ex-GWR locomotives

Ref: gwrls2163 P Myhill Ex-LMS 8F 2-8-0 No 48035 is seen out of commission with damaged cylinders at Leamington shed

Ref: gwrls2059 R Postill Ex-GWR 56xx Class 0-6-2T No 6644 is seen blowing off steam by Leamington coaling stage on 13th March 1965

Ref: gwrls2051 R Postill British Railways Standard Class 4MT 2-6-4T No 80072 stands outside the shed on 13th March 1965

Ref: gwrls2052 K Parker Ex-GWR 5101 Class 2-6-2T No 5184 is stabled on the short siding adjacent to the coaling road one Sunday

Ref: gwrls232 L Hanson GWR 2-8-2T No 7226 is seen stabled on the siding adjacent to the coaling stage road on 4th December 1938

Ref: gwrls234 L Hanson GWR 4-4-0 No 3218 is seen prepared for its next trip whilst on the left is an unknown 0-6-0PT locomotive

Ref: gwrls2088 R Postill Ex-GWR 56xx Class 0-6-2T No 6671 and BR 4MT 2-6-4T No 80072 stand outside the shed on 13th Match 1965

Ref: gwrls235 RS Carpenter A rear ¾ view of GWR 2-6-2T Prairie No 8100 showing the nearly new condition of the locomotive

Ref: gwrls231 RS Carpenter GWR 28xx Class 2-8-0 No 2838 plus two other locomotives stand outside the shed on 12th February 1939

Ref: gwrls2042 PJ Kelly A solitary 0-6-0 Diesel shunter stands on the right hand road alongside a number of ex-GWR locomotives

Ref: gwrls2042a PJ Kelly Close up showing ex-GWR 2-6-2T No 8100 and 2-6-2T No 4118 in steam outside Leamington shed

Ref: gwrls2058 R Postill Ex-GWR 56xx Class 0-6-2T No 6639 stands on one of the roads in front of the shed on 5th October 1963

Ref: gwrls2087 J Aviator Ex-GWR 68xx Class 4-6-0 No 6823 'Oakley Grange' stands in front of Leamington Shed in August 1962

Ref: gwrls228 L Hanson GWR 2-6-2T No 8100, the first of a class of ten locomotives, is seen at Leamington on 12th February 1939

Ref: gwrls2055 R Postill British Railways built 2-6-2T No 4176 stands on the road outside Leamington shed on 5th October 1963

Ref: gwrls2067 G Coltas GWR 36xx Class 2-4-2T No 3610 stands 'cold' on the shed road one Sunday afternoon circa 1932

Ref: gwrls2630 HMRS ABS214 Ex-GWR 5101 class 2-6-2T large prairie No 4118 in steam outside Leamington shed on Sunday 27th July 1958

Ref: gwrls3831 T Bennett British Railways built 2MT 2-6-2T No 41231, standing in front of Leamington shed in March 1962

Ref: gwrls3832 T Bennett Ex-LMS 2-6-4T No 42566, is standing in front of Leamington shed's coaling stage in March 1962

Ref: gwrls3833 T Bennett Ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 6855 'Saighton Grange' is standing below the coal stage at Leamington shed

Ref: gwrls3834 T Bennett Ex-GWR 2-6-2T No 5192 stands in the late afternoon sun in front of Leamington shed in December 1961

Ref: gwrls3835 T Bennett Ex-GWR 0-6-0 No 2201 is shunting wagons on the coal stage roads at Leamington shed in December 1961

Ref: gwrls3836 T Bennett Another view of ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 6855 'Saighton Grange' standing below the coal stage at Leamington shed

Ref: gwrls3842 T Bennett Ex-LMS 2-8-0 'Stanier' 8F No 48751 is seen standing in front of Leamington Shed in March 1962

Ref: gwrls3843 P Leonard Ex-GWR 5101 class 2-6-2T No 4149 stands at Leamington station working its way home in the early 1960s

Ref: gwrls3844 P Leonard Ex-GWR 60xx Class No 6029 'King Edward VIII' stands at Leamington with the up Cambrian Coast Express

Ref: gwrls3891 N Simms A line of ex-Great Western Railway locomotives outside Leamington shed on Tuesday 16th April 1963

Ref: gwrls3902 D Forester Great Western Railway 0-6-2T 56xx class No 6671 in Leamington Spa Engine Shed on Saturday 3rd April 1965

Ref: gwrls3904 D Forester BR built 2-6-2T No 4176 quietly simmering outside Leamington's Engine Shed on 3rd April 1965

Ref: gwrls3904 D Forester Leamington Shed from the boundary by the canal taken in May 1965, shortly before the shed closed

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Leamington East Junction Signal Box

Robert Ferris writes, 'In researching this Signal Box I noted that the Signalling Record Sociiety (SRS) stated that this was originally called Leamington East Junction Signal Box. My information from the GWR's name plate ordering records is that the Signal Box did change name in circa 1913, but the name change was from Leamington South to Leamington Spa South (see information in 'gwrls3905'). I can find no evidence that the name 'East' was ever used'.

Ref: gwrls2053 R Postill Ex-GWR 68xx Class 4-6-0 No 6879 'Overton Grange' runs light engine to Leamington shed on 13th March 1965

Ref: gwrls806 Anon Ex-GWR 2-6-2T Prairie No 5170 runs light engine past Leamington East Junction Signal Box

Ref: gwrls3905 SRS A low resolution version of the Signalling Diagram for Leamington Spa South Junction Signal Box

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Maps and notices

Ref: gwrls2166 J Copsey A schematic plan showing the layout of Leamington shed, coaling stage, turntable and carriage sidings

Ref: gwrls2044 Ordnance Survey Map showing Leamington shed and the carriage sidings which were adjacent to the main line to Paddington

Ref: gwrls2125 Ordnance Survey Part of the 1939 OS map showing Leamington's second engine shed located between the LNWR's and GWR lines

Ref: gwrls2054 Birmingham Library (LS7-683) Drawing of the constructional details of the centre girder of a bowed balloon-topped wrought iron bridge

Ref: gwrls320 GWR Official Documentation The GWR Rule Book, produced in January 1933, requiring staff to take proper care of themselves and others

Ref: gwrls3955 British Railways A BR 1:1250 Scale Map of the GWR Shed located in the 'V' of the L&NWR and the GWR main line in 1952

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Leamington Carriage Sidings

On 29th July 1909, the Great Western Railway Board of Directors voted to authorise £2,715 for the laying down of new siding accommodation for local coaching stock at Leamington, plus £300 for the additional land required. Five carriage sidings were to be located on land adjacent to the Locomotive Shed. Previously the local coaching stock had been stabled in the middle station roads, but with the impending opening of the direct route between London and Birmingham, it was proposed that these two lines should be converted into through running lines.

The original five sidings could hold about twelve coaches each and were all connected to a head-shunt at the far end. This head-shunt was designed to accommodate a locomotive and one coach, so that individual coaches could be removed from a rake if required. Carriage siding No.5 was required to be kept clear to allow locomotives to run-round. In the late 1920’s, a sixth dead-end siding was installed on the engine shed side of the carriage sidings for use by Bursills. This siding was accessed from carriage siding No.5. Details about the operational procedures for the Carriage Siding can be found in the Appendix to the Service Timetable No.13 (dated March 1929) gwrls3960.

In November 1942, two diesel railcars (Nos.26 & 29) were transferred to Leamington Shed to operate the Stratford branch services. Both moved away to Stourbridge Shed in September 1944, but returned again in August and December 1946 respectively, with a third diesel railcar (No.33) arriving in January 1947. About the same time the use of the sixth short dead-end siding changed. The Appendices to the service timetable (dated April 1953 and October 1960) both state that ‘No.6 Siding is a dead-end siding for the stabling of spare coaching stock.’ In July 1959 the carriage sidings were altered to provide diesel fuelling facilities for the local DMU sets, which were being allocated there, but on 19th July 1966 the sidings were closed.

Robert Ferris

Ref: gwrls2368 Anon Ex-Great Western Railcar No 14 is seen standing on the diesel refueling line stopped hard up to the buffers

Ref: gwrls2066b RS Carpenter Close up showing all of the five roads which made up the carriage sidings at Leamington shed

Ref: gwrls3960 GWR Appendix to STT An extract from the Great Western Railway Appendix to the Service Timetable (STT) No 13 dated March 1929

Ref: gwrls3963 GWR Internal Letters Two GWR internal letters to Mr SF Johnson about the proposed carriage sidings at Leamington

Ref: gwrls3958 GWR Internal Letters Two Great Western Railway internal letters about the proposed carriage sidings at Leamington

Ref: gwrls3964 GWR Internal Letters Letter confirming that the Mechanical Engineering Department were happy to release the land

Ref: gwrls3957 GWR Internal Letters Two GWR internal letters about the provision of water in the carriage sidings at Leamington

Ref: gwrls3961 GWR Appendix to STT Letter to Mr SF Johnson confirming the Directors had voted for the accommadation for carriage stock

Ref: gwrls3965 GWR Internal Letters Letters from Mr Lionel R Wood based at Stafford Road, to Mr SF Johnson at Snow Hill Station

Ref: gwrls3959 GWR Internal Letters Two GWR internal letters from the Superintendent of the Line to Birmingham Division Superintendent

Ref: gwrls3966 GWR Internal Letters Two GWR internal letters sent in August 1911 to Mr SF Johnson Birmingham Divisional Superintendant

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Locomotive Allocation for original Leamington Shed in 1901 (12 locomotives)

Locomotive Allocation for Leamington Shed (LMTN) in 1906 (13 locomotives)

Locomotive Allocation for Leamington Shed (LMTN) in 1920 (25 locomotives)

Locomotive Allocation for Leamington Shed (LMTN) in 1930 (26 locomotives)

Locomotive Allocation for Leamington Shed (LMTN) in 1938 (31 locomotives)

Locomotive Allocation for Leamington Shed (84D) in 1948 (30 locomotives + 2 Railcars)

Locomotive Allocation for Leamington Shed (84D) in 1959 (20 locomotives)

Locomotive Allocation for Leamington Shed (84D) in 1965 (13 locomotives)

Recording Locomotive Sightings 1943 - 1968

The following information is provided courtesy of Shed Bash UK (http://shedbashuk.blogspot.co.uk/)

A generation of enthusiasts recorded the movements of locomotives around the railway system. These records of visits to locomotive depots have been collected and carefully analysed to provide an overall portrait for the period 1943 to 1968. During that period of steam's final years, there was a marked change from the pre-grouping types that still found work at a few depots, to the modern BR designs that worked until the end in 1968. The handling of freight and passenger services was a major undertaking from town and cities, ports, coal mines and factories. All of it traversed the labyrinth of lines that criss-crossed the country. There were numerous 'sheds' spread throughout the length and breadth of the land that provided and serviced the vast army of steam locomotives (20,000 in 1948). Here is just a taste of that history.