Railways around Coventry

Hi all Coventry station at 8.45am today.

Nice photos Philip. Looks like some freight heading for the Spon End arches, those class 66 loco's have the same hp (or near) as the old Deltics at 3300hp but not the character, I think they were made abroad - Canada? their still impressive though. It's nice to see the trackbed clean and tidy, also the welcome sign, it makes the station a bit more human like the old stations were.

Hi Catshed Surprise, surprise, this one went straight on, probably turning right at Stechford. I travelled on the 9.30am stopper to B'ham. Another surprise was to see a passenger train coming off the Stechford branch as I travelled past. I know that the 'Clansman' express to Scotland used this line years ago so as to avoid New Street, but that did not last long. Whilst I was sat waiting for the free travel time to click in (9.30am for our free travel pass), I was letting my mind go back to when in 1962 I was sat in about the same spot on platform 3, waiting for the first of several football specials from Southampton to arrive. It is the only time that I ever saw 'Bulleid' steam locos in Coventry. So this evening, I have re-enacted that date by putting one of my West Country locos on HallBrooks. It gets even worse, because when I visited my model shop in Sutton Coldfield to pick up my locos which Pete had installed new 'chips' on, I could not resist buying yet another new Bulleid loco (Wadebridge) along with three 'Pullman' coaches, all of which have lighting inside. How on earth I can ever justify Southern Region stock in Coventry I will never know. The furthest north that Southern stock worked regularly was Cheltenham Saint James. The odd bit did migrate up from Oxford but that was very rare.

Really Philip? My understanding was that the Midland Pullman ran between St Pancras and Manchester Central and the Birmingham Pullman ran between Wolverhampton Low Level and Paddington so would have avoided Coventry completely? It did visit Coventry at least once for a football excursion but I never managed to see it here.

Hi Dutchman, & thank you. It might be my age, as I think that you are correct. Anyway, what should we call our Pullman?

Hi all, "One man went to mow!"

Rob's photo from this site - probably been posted before but I had to show my two train-mad lads this: They cannot believe Central 6 was once like that. My grandfather lived in Newcombe Road and every Sunday we would walk into Spencer Park to see the trains shunting.

Hi again, NeilsYard, What a fabulous picture! I can just hear the 08 diesel shunter rumbling by, dragging vans around the sharp curves. Over the years it has been the scene of mishaps too. I have never enjoyed seeing majestic locomotives in serious trouble, but I watched a Stanier 8F being jacked back on to the rails from near to our school playing fields, having split pointwork & also into the eighties, a huge class 50 diesel which had come off completely. I enjoyed watching the lorry contractors exchanging stuff on the flat sidings. I can still see in my mind, the lorries of A.J.Owen of Harnall Lane with Ron, managing things whilst his huge dog, sat in the passenger seat. ps. Just shown the picture to Pam & she can't believe it either!

IIRC at that time there was no public access across the bridge. I think the other end stopped at some iron steps down. I do remember when they flattened the area before the shops were built there was car-parking across the site and it was always a job dodging the huge water-filled pot-holes and remaining numerous rail arches that were left standing - cheers, Neil

I remember the 'Pink Panther' paw prints along 'Anarchy Bridge' they ended up going over the roof of an old BR shed at the Grosvenor Road end, they always made me smile Does anyone know why its called Central 6? What does it relate to? Also didn't they just ruin the view of the Three Spires from Spencer Park when they built those shops

From CWN: 'The line shown here had only recently been opened, in 1914, as a loop line between the main Coventry-London line and the Coventry-Nuneaton line. This was the perfect servant of the Ordnance Works that was located lower down the Stoney Stanton Road. The view shows an engine moving backwards towards the Nuneaton line with a cargo of gun barrels for naval warships. As the caption ["Off to the fray!"] suggests the enthusiasm for the early stages of the First World War was still being proclaimed. The photographer has his back to the city looking towards the village of Bell Green where the trams travelling up the Stoney Stanton Road from Coventry ended their journey.' And some terrific info and photos of Canley Halt here

Hi Neil, Pictures of Coventry has this as being Narrow Lane, which I understand was behind Courtaulds.

Hi Adrian From memory, the over-bridges in the area were, Kingfield Rd, Stoney Stanton Rd, Walsgrave Rd, Binley Rd & Terry Rd. I cannot think of any others. Looking at the picture I think that it is either Kingfield Rd or Stoney Stanton Rd. Can anyone help, please.

Hi Philip, yes, I think Narrow lane later became Kingfield Road. Looking at other photos of the Ordinance Works, the line from Priestleys Bridge was the one they used, rather than the Red lane end. The Red Lane bridge crossed the canal and joined the main loop line alongside the Morris engines factory. British History Online shows that this section of the Coventry loop line was opened in 1914, and this bridge certainly looks old in this picture.

Hi & Thank you Adrian, That over-bridge connected the Nuneaton-Coventry line with the Ordnance loop, which included the Foleshill Railway which was owned by Ctlds. After crossing Stoney Stanton Rd & then Red Lane (both on the level) near to the canal, it joined the Coventry voiding line near to the Morris sidings. On the days when I came home from school on the bus, I would sometimes travel aboard the 22 to Purcell Rd, getting off at Red Lane just to trainspot. Super D locos were common along there. I learned the value of a school bus pass as the No 22 carried on to Sewall Highway where I lived. There was no restriction on a break of journey. Anyway, it's Saturday, the sun is shining so I will say bye for now. It's good on here! Thank you again.