the Railways of Warwickshire
Wednesday 5th April 2023
Our speaker tonight Anthony Hicks travelled over the border from Leeds to give us a presentation on Warwickshire’s railways. Anthony focussed on his home town Leamington and outlined many forms of traction from this town which was a major hub at one time with lines to Rugby, Coventry, Banbury, and Birmingham.
His father Bryan had introduced him to railways at a very early age, in fact he claimed to have learnt to read from Western nameplates!!!
Unfortunately, his father passed away recently so Anthony used many of his father’s excellent photos in his talk. It is always interesting to hear about other people’s photographic techniques and sure enough Anthony explained he mounted his camera on a 30 feet pole which was operated by an I pad!!
Initially he looked at the line to Birmingham particularly the 5-mile Hatton Bank with grades of up to 1 in 110. One shot of a 9F labouring its way up the bank was particularly impressive. Further shots of a Brush 4 in the snow were quickly followed by D1000 Western Enterprise piloting an 8F. Nearer Birmingham we visited Stratford upon Avon with a Grange on a special to Birmingham. Of interest was a steam special from Marylebone to Stratford where the engine had to be turned on the Hatton triangle.
Moving south we saw some shots of Milverton station which was really a district of Leamington. Racing through Kenilworth and Coventry took us south on the line to Rugby often used for diversions. An example of old files causing problems was Anthony’s explanation about some colour slides had faded and which had to be reset to black and white.
At Banbury we were treated to pair of 37s on a rail tour to Southampton matched by another pair of 37s on a stone train. The locations kept coming thick and fast, Aynho junction was illustrated with 7029 Clun Castle on a special and 70024 Apollo in 1963 on a Rugby to Birmingham train.
Towards the end we were taken north of Rugby on the WCML with a pair of 86s resplendent in a superb blue and white livery. Very finally we travelled the Nuneaton to Birmingham line which was never electrified and diesels had to be used to haul the electric stock, on diversion days.
A splendid session from Anthony covering an area not well known to many of our audience with superb photography and excellent commentary.
Alan Sattenstall
12th apr 2023