Rowington Water Troughs

GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

GWR Route: Lapworth to Henley in Arden Branch Line

Rowington water troughs were opened on both the up and down main line on 1st October 1899 to facilitate non-stop running of express trains between London and Birmingham. The first water troughs had been introduced on the Great Western Railway a few years previously. To work they required a specially designed scoop to be fitted under the tender of the locomotive, which could be lowered into the water trough by the fireman and the forward motion of the train would then force water into the scoop and up a pipe into the tender. The end of the pipe is above the maximum water level and just above it is an inverted dish to deflect the water down into the tender tank. Vents allow air to be displaced and an indicator shows the level in the tender tank. The site at Rowington had all the necessary requirements for a water trough; a long level and straight section of track without any obstacles, such as level crossings in the vicinity, an ample supply of good quality water, which did not require continuous pumping and also adequate site drainage, because it was inevitable that quantities of water would be splashed during the operation. The water troughs at Rowington were fairly typical of Great Western Railway arrangements.

They were 560 yards long; constructed in the standard method by the use of ten foot lengths of galvanised steel plate 18 inches wide by 6 inches deep. The troughs were supported 4 inches above the sleepers, which meant that with the standard 5 inch water depth in the trough the water’s surface was 1.5 inches above the rail level. As it was not possible to end the troughs with a stop, as this would present a potential obstruction to the scoop, the track was slightly inclined at each end with a gradient of 1 in 360 over 60 yards. Special free draining ballast was specified to reduce the deterioration of the permanent way. The water was fed from a 40,000 gallon supply tank at the lineside and multiple pipes supplied the water troughs via bottom entry points. The multiple entry points reduced the wave created when an engine was scooping up water and also ensured that the water in the troughs was replenished quickly. A sophisticated float arrangement controlled the flow from the tank to ensure that the water level in the trough was maintained at the correct level.

Robert Ferris

Ref: gwrrj2321 C Gorton An unknown ex-LMS 4-6-0 Class 5 passes Rowington Troughs on a southbound passenger service

Ref: gwrrj2239 M Mensing BR 40xx Class 4-6-0 No 7029 ‘Clun Castle’ with the 1:10 pm Paddington to Wolverhampton Low Level express

Ref: gwrrj2237 R King View looking towards Hatton from the bridge carrying the Rowington to Lowsonford footpath in May 1961

Ref: gwrrj262 P Hopkins GWR 4-6-0 Saint class No 2937 'Clevedon Court' passes the 40,000 gallon supply tank as it picks up water at speed

Ref: gwrrj2240 PM Perkins An unknown Great Western Railway 29xx 'Saint' class 4-6-0 with class A headcode on a down express circa 1910

Ref: gwrrj1776 M Mensing Ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 5099 'Compton Castle' picks up water whilst on the 2:10pm Paddington to Birkenhead

Ref: gwrrj1477 R King The water troughs looking towards Birmingham from the occupation bridge with the junction in the background

Ref: gwrrj1476 GM Perkins A GWR 4-2-2 Dean Single on a Birmingham express service is seen picking up water as it passes a P&W gang

Ref: gwrrj2241 P Hopkins GWR 60xx Class 4-6-0 No 6017 'King Edward VI' with class A headcode on a down express to Snow Hill in 1920s

Ref: gwrrj2242 PB Whitehouse GWR 40xx Class 4-6-0 No4041 'Prince of Wales' with class A headcode on a four coach up express in 1920s

Ref: gwrrj2243 PB Whitehouse GWR 40xx 'Star' Class 4-6-0 No 4043 'Prince Henry' with class A headcode on a down express in 1920s

Ref: gwrrj2246 Anon GWR 4-6-0 29xx 'Saint' class No 2902 'Lady of the Lake' on an up express picking up water from Rowington troughs

Ref: gwrrj263 P Hopkins GWR 4-6-0 No 2928 'Saint Sebastian' at the head of an up express having just taken on water at Rowington troughs

Ref: gwrrj1478 Anon GWR 2-6-0 mogul No 4320, with a class H ‘through freight’ train, drenches the first wagon and the permanent way

Ref: gwrrj2157 J Alsop GWR 36xx Class 2-4-2T No 3606 is seen passing over Rowington Troughs on an up local passenger service

Ref: gwrrj2160a BPC An unknown GWR 4-4-0 County Class locomotive passes over Rowington troughs on an up service

Ref: gwrjj2220 J Alsop GWR 28xx Class 2-8-0 No 2879 passes by Rowington trough's water tank at the head of an up goods service

Ref: gwrrj1479 BPC GWR 2-6-0 43xx class mogul No 6385 picking up water as it heads north with a rake of ex-SECR stock in 1933

Ref: gwrrj2158 J Alsop GWR 3150 Class 2-6-2T No 3186, with a horsebox behind the bunker, is seen passing over Rowington Troughs

Ref: gwrrj2160 BPC An unknown GWR 4-4-0 County Class locomotive passes over Rowington troughs on an up service

Ref: gwrrj2156 J Alsop GWR 36xx class 2-4-2T No 3627 with a class B headcode denoting an ordinary stopping passenger train

Ref: gwrrj1480 HG Tidy GWR 0-6-0 No 2378 picking up water at Rowington troughs with a down class H 'through freight' train

Ref: gwrrj1773 HG Tidy GWR 0-6-0 322 class locomotive No 354 heads a northbound local freight train over the Rowington troughs

Ref: gwrrj1937 BPC GWR 2-6-0 No No 6385 heads a train of ex-SERC coaching stock on a down service starting from the Kent coast

Ref: gwrrj2155 J Alsop Great Western Railway 43xx class 2-6-0 No 5317 steams over Rowington toughs with a class H headcode

Ref: gwrrj261 P Hopkins GWR 4-6-0 Saint class No 2977 'Robertson' is seen on a Birkenhead to Paddington service as it picks up water

Ref: gwrrj1443 Anon GWR 2-6-0 No 6314 is seen picking up water whilst at the head of an up Snow Hill to Oxford parcels service

Ref: gwrrj2244 PB Whitehouse GWR 51xx Prairie tank 2-6-2T No 5184 on an ordinary train from Leamington Spa to Wolverhampton in 1920s

Ref: gwrrj1774 HG Tidy Great Western Railway 60xx (King) class 4-6-0 No 6000 ‘King George V’ scoops up water from the troughs

Ref: gwrrj1775 HG Tidy An unknown GWR 4-6-0 four cylinder 40xx 'Star' class locomotive with a modest five coach up-express

Ref: gwrrj2770 Anon Ex-LMS 4-6-0 No 44810 is seen on a Class F working whilst picking up water at Rowington Troughs

Ref: gwrrj1471 B Hicks BR 2-10-0 9F No 92007 is on a Wolverhampton to Swindon 'Enparts' train carrying parts for works and shed repairs

Ref: gwrrj2159 R Postill BR Standard Class 9 2-10-0 No 92218 is seen passing over Rowington troughs with an up through freight

Ref: gwrrj2236 Anon BR Standard Class 9F 2-10-0 No 92068 picks up water at the head of a Class F express freight service

Ref: gwrrj2776 Rowington Records An unidentified ex-GWR 4-6-0 King Class locomotive is seen picking up water at Rowington Troughs circa 1960

Ref: gwrrj2778 Rowington Records An unidentified ex-GWR 4-6-0 Hall Class locomotive is seen on a Class B working when picking up water

Ref: gwrrj2779 Rowington Records Ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 6879 'Overton Grange' is seen passing through Rowington on an express service circa 1960

Ref: gwrrj2775 GM Perkins GWR 4-6-0 No 2924 'St Helena' is seen approaching Rowington Junction with an express service circa 1910

Ref: gwrrj2245 PB Whitehouse GWR 29xx 'Saint' Class 4-6-0 No 2936 'Cefntilla Court' with a through Hastings to Birkenhead express

Ref: gwrrj1004 Anon GWR 4-6-0 No 6003 'King George IV' picks up water at the head of a Paddington to Birkenhead service

Ref: gwrrj259 P Hopkins GWR 2-8-0 No 2878 is seen working hard near Rowington Junction as it climbs towards Birmingham Snow Hill