Railways around Coventry

Ah, I see, I wasn't previously aware of another signal box between Bell Green and Gosford Green. Its chief purpose was to control the sidings leading to Morris Engines and the Ordnance Works. Any idea what it was called?

Hi Dutchman. Hi all I remember the box which indeed controlled the Morris Exchange Sidings. I think that it was called just that and it was on the south side. I will try & find confirmation.

Unashamedly lifted from the "rmweb" forum : The following is a list of signal boxes and closure dates: Coventry Loop Line Gosford Green 26-02-67 Ordnance Cos Sdg 26-02-67 Bell Green 26-02-67 Coventry-Nuneaton line Coventry No.4 16-04-62 Coundon Rd Station 23-05-09 Webster's Siding 24-06-73 Foleshill Station 26-04-66 Three Spires Jn 09-98 * Bedlam Gates Crossing 13-11-88 Foleshill Gas Works Sdg 02-08-70 Longford & Exhall Stn 09-06-65 Hawkesbury Lane 23-05-09 Newdigates Siding 04-05-83 Bedworth Station 09-67 Griff Junction 03-02-85 *New box opened 25-02-03. Closed 23-05-09

Hi Midland Red Ordnance Cos Sdg 26-02-67 is obviously what it was called. Thank you. That might explain why it was on the south side too. Edit Just found this quote - After approximately six years in service the facility at Gosford Green was taken out of use when Avenger production at Ryton ceased on July 1st 1976. Much of the plant was then shipped to Linwood by rail! With the loss of this traffic the Gosford Green branch was worked on an 'as required' basis twice weekly using a Class 25 stabled at Coventry. This was the T41 working on Tues & Thurs only calling at the Morris Siding and Gosford Green

Thanks MR I hope to see a picture of it some day.

Hi all The comments on my post which opened this thread where I expressed my fears for the outcome for Coventry, in the proposed HS2 project are also in the minds of some of our civic leaders. [Mods note : unfortunately the link to the article is no longer available] An issue like this where material is hidden at this early point in time, usually means that the whole scenario is like a colander being used as a bucket. It is to be hoped that our civic leaders are alert & awake to the facts of the issue & not just any fictitious notions that may be used as sweeteners being given by people who are here today & gone by tomorrow, & often have minds that resemble a colander. That is what usually happens with any half-baked scheme. Please don't misunderstand me on this, I love the idea of a good communication project like a high speed railway, but what I have seen so far on this reminds me of a bunch of wires coming out of a junction box & nobody knows how to connect them up. History is repeating itself, I honestly believe.

Does anyone know what happened to the little shunter train that was used at Websters Siding? When Jackson Dunn owned the scrapyard they had it sandblasted and re-painted green and put it on 2 rails by the main gate on Stoney Stanton road. I suppose in its day it shunted between the Ordnance and Courtaulds, it was not broken up and it must have been taken away somewhere it had a name I think it was Henry....

Morning Norman I think this will give you a clue Hawthorn Leslie 0-4-0ST Henry

Thanks for that Cliff, forgive the pun but I am chuffed that little engine is still about. I have known it for many years because I lived in Leicester Causeway and passed the siding/scrapyard on my way to school (Red Lane). Cheers.

I was totally oblivious to Coventry's industrial railways until very recently although I do remember the level crossing on the Stoney Stanton Road.

Hi Cliff & my compliments to you. You & Dutchman always know where to drop on to info on a variety of subjects & your railways knowledge is just bril'. Thank you both so much.

Hi all Looking through some YouTube videos, I have come across this, where there is a sequence at Coventry, towards the end. Tornado in Coventry

I'm beginning to wonder if the 'back-pedalling' is starting with HS2 - what with reports coming out about how it's risky and how it's estimated value for money is quite low, not high... Governments/councils do this. They announce big plans, then when they realise they're unviable try to find excuses to cancel it!

Let's hope that this is the case. HS2 has zero value for Coventry and will totally destroy some beautiful countryside in the process. I can't see how the cost would ever justify saving a few minutes on a journey to/from London to Birmingham.

Hi all Whenever a communication project is developed, there will always be winners & losers. The losers in the case of HS2, are those who are out of viable & convenient reach of the nearest boarding or loading point, which under the plans which are currently shelved, would have been Coventry. Coventry would be relegated to the existing line which would be reduced to a side line. Our city would suffer all of the disruption without any of the benefit.