RAILSCOT | London and Birmingham Railway

London and Birmingham Railway

Introduction

This line is open. It received its act in 1833, was opened in 1838 and it now forms part of the West Coast Main Line.

The company merged on 1 Jan 1846 with the Grand Junction Railway (opened 1837) and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway to form the London and North Western Railway.

Dates

/ /1833	London and Birmingham Railway Line authorised.
09/04/1838	London and Birmingham Railway Line opened.
/ /1840	Midland Counties Railway Opened from Rugby (London and Birmingham Railway) to triangular junction at Long Eaton.
/ /1842	Warwick and Leamington Spa Railway Bought by London and Birmingham Railway.
/12/1844	London and Birmingham Railway Leamington Branch opened from Coventry to Milverton (for Leamington Spa).
/ /1846	London and Birmingham Railway Authorisation for an extension from Milverton to Leamington Spa.
01/01/1846	London and North Western Railway London and Birmingham Railway, Grand Junction Railway and Manchester and Birmingham Railway merge to form the London and North Western Railway.

Locations along the line

These locations are along the line.

London Euston

This is a principal London terminus for services to the North West of England and beyond.
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Statue of Robert Stephenson, by Carlo Marochetti, dating from 1870, outside Euston Station. ...
Bill Roberton 23/06/2016

Freightliner 90045 at the front of the Lowland Sleeper at Euston on 9th February 2018. It only made it as far as Tring where it was declared a ...
Colin McDonald 09/02/2018

92044 Couperin with the recently arrived Lowland Sleeper in April 2017. This locomotive still has the two tone grey livery and 'tunnel rings' ...
Colin McDonald 04/04/2017

86101 Sir William Stanier on arrival at Euston with the up Lowland Sleeper on 6th December 2017.
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John Yellowlees 06/12/2017

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Willesden Traincare Centre

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GBRf 08451 at Willesden depot in July 2005. ...
John Furnevel 20/07/2005

London Overground Class 378s stabled alongside Willesden depot on 10 May 2014 seen from a passing train. The locomotive standing beyond the EMUs ...
John McIntyre 10/05/2014

Virgin 'Thunderbird' no 57311 Parker at Willesden in July 2005. ...
John Furnevel 20/07/2005

View south east over Willesden depot from the platform at Willesden Junction High Level station in July 2005 as a northbound Voyager passes on the ...
John Furnevel 20/07/2005

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Willesden Shed

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The busy shed yard at 1A Willesden, thought to have been taken in 1960. Locomotives present include 3F 0-6-0T 47304 and G2 0-8-0 49070. ...
K A Gray //1960

Fowler 3P 2-6-2T no 40010 in the sidings alongside Willesden shed in the summer of 1961. ...
K A Gray 21/08/1961

Bletchley based G2 0-8-0 no 48898 stands in the sidings alongside Willesden shed in the summer of 1961. ...
K A Gray 21/08/1961

45552 Silver Jubilee alongside the coaling plant at Willesden in August 1964. ...
John Robin 25/08/1964

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Harlesden

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The London Overground Euston to Watford Junction service is now operated mostly by the new 710 EMUs but some of the 378 units can still be seen and, ...
David Bosher 04/01/2020

378 225, working third rail, heading away from the camera as it departs north from Harlesden station with a London Overground service from Euston to ...
David Bosher 04/01/2020

Harlesden station, north-west London, served by London Overground services from Watford Junction to Euston and London Underground Bakerloo Line ...
David Bosher 04/01/2020

3 of 3 images.

Harrow and Wealdstone

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See also
Harrow and Stanmore Railway
New Lines (London and North Western Railway)

Looking across the platforms at Harrow & Wealdstone station on 18 December 2019. View from 710257 calling with a London Overground Watford Junction to ...
David Bosher 18/12/2019

Freightliner 66534 'OOCL Express' powers north through platform 5 at Harrow & Wealdstone Station with a near full consist of containers in the ...
David Pesterfield 16/05/2011

London Overground 378229 calls at Harrow and Wealdstone (shared with the Bakerloo line) on 28 July with a service for Watford Junction. ...
Bill Roberton 28/07/2014

Having run light from Doncaster to Crewe the previous day, 86101 heads south through Harrow & Wealdstone on 20 October with the Crewe to Euston leg of ...
Michael Gibb 20/10/2007

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Bushey

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New Lines (London and North Western Railway)

Morning rush hour at Bushey station on 17th September 1975. The train arriving is a Watford Junction to Euston stopping service, formed from Class 501 ...
Mark Dufton 17/09/1975

1 of 1 images.

Watford Junction

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See also
Watford and Rickmansworth Railway

A London bound Pendolino rushes through Watford Junction on 16 June 2017. ...
John McIntyre 16/06/2017

Freightliner 66538 passes Watford Junction on 16 June 2017 whilst working an intermodal service between Lawley St (Birmingham) and London Gateway ...
John McIntyre 16/06/2017

On my previous visit to Watford Junction the DC electric service was being provided by Class 501s but that was in 1976. On 16 June 2017 the service is ...
John McIntyre 16/06/2017

321401 at Watford Junction, thought to be in 1989 when the Class 321/4 was introduced. It ran in Network South East colours, although it operated on ...
Graham Morgan //1989

4 of 15 images. more

Hemel Hempstead

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The Nickey Line between Hemel Hempstead and Harpenden carried traffic until 1979 when the Hemelite building block factory at the western end ...
Mark Dufton 26/12/1978

Clayton Class 17 diesels were not a successful design and all but one were scrapped in the 1970s. The escapee was D8568 which was purchased in 1972 by ...
Mark Dufton 07/08/1976

2 of 2 images.

Berkhamsted

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Lower Kings Road entrance to Berkhamsted. ...
Veronica Clibbery 26/03/2017

North side entrance to Berkhamsted. ...
Veronica Clibbery 26/03/2017

Call that a train ... tee, hee ... 350242 at Berkhamsted on 17 September 2010. ...
Veronica Clibbery 17/09/2010

3 of 3 images.

Tring

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A Pendolino speeds through Tring in April 2010. ...
Michael Gibb /04/2010

An up WCML express at speed in Tring cutting in the 1960s. ...
Robin Barbour Collection (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) //

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Cheddington

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See also
Aylesbury Railway

Leighton Buzzard

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See also
Dunstable Branch (London and North Western Railway)

The small locomotive shed at Leighton Buzzard, a sub of 1E Bletchley, thought to have been photographed around 1959/1960. The 2-road shed stood to the ...
K A Gray //

A Friday morning at Leighton Buzzard station in February 2009. View north just after the rush hour. ...
Andrew Wilson 13/02/2009

Jubilee 45641 Sandwich approaching Linslade Tunnel, north of Leighton Buzzard, with an up WCML freight in August 1964. [Ref query 4521] ...
John Robin 23/08/1964

3 of 3 images.

Bletchley

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See also
Buckinghamshire Railway

66.198 hauls an empty car train North at Bletchley on 20th February 2015. Notice the mothballed flyover in the background, and the platform extension ...
Ken Strachan 20/02/2015

66198 heads North through Bletchley on 20 February with a train of enclosed car carrying wagons. ...
Ken Strachan 20/02/2015

A down Pendolino rushes through Bletchley on a hot Monday evening in July 2013. ...
Ken Strachan 15/07/2013

A perfectly functional station on a distinctly more human scale than its near neighbour at Milton Keynes see image 27917. Bletchley, seen here in ...
Ken Strachan 10/06/2011

4 of 8 images. more

Milton Keynes Central

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UK Railtours 'Snowdonian' charter train heading northwards at Milton Keynes, with 67006 on the front followed by a classmate in silver livery. Posted ...
Ken Strachan 25/05/2012

A Southern service to East Croydon waits to start its journey at Milton Keynes Central on 16 June 2017. ...
John McIntyre 16/06/2017

View from the footbridge at Milton Keynes Central on 28 April 2014. The bridge is being refurbished and made slightly narrower internally by wall ...
Ken Strachan 28/04/2014

A Voyager at MK Central heading for London - there seemed to be such a service every two minutes. Something to do with Christmas, perhaps. see image ...
Ken Strachan 23/12/2016

4 of 36 images. more

Hanslope Junction

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See also
Northampton Loop (London and North Western Railway)

Train 384E, topped and tailed by DB 66's, is an RHTT from Bescot TMD to Euston. It was seven minutes early as it sprayed its way towards Hanslope ...
Ken Strachan 13/10/2017

Enter stage left: a double Voyager heads for London - probably from Holyhead - on the Northampton avoiding line. ...
Ken Strachan 13/10/2017

2 of 2 images.

Blisworth Junction

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See also
Peterborough Branch (London and Birmingham Railway)
Midland Counties and South Wales Railway

Welton

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Rarely have I seen a brick building survive so well with the roof, awning, doors, and windows in such a state. But it reminds us of this former WCML ...
Ken Strachan 17/09/2010

This former WCML station is just behind Watford Gap services on the M1. The modern, fast, large, and well maintained Pendo contrasts first with the ...
Ken Strachan 17/09/2010

2 of 2 images.

Rugby

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See also
Midland Counties Railway

What a splendid pub sign - appropriately located on Railway Terrace in Rugby. ...
Ken Strachan 25/10/2019

66185 looking rather moody at Rugby in October 2019 - due to being several hours late leaving see image 71000 ...
Ken Strachan 25/10/2019

Rugby is now confirmed as the only station where it is safe to put your head into a gap in a Pendolino. Seriously, I have never thought of Rugby as a ...
Ken Strachan 27/11/2015

66185 'DP World London Gateway' on a Freightliner and 56091 'Driver Wayne Gaskell' (named just a week before) on a pw train await Southward paths at ...
Ken Strachan 25/10/2019

4 of 40 images. more

Rugby [1st]

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See also
Leamington to Rugby (London and North Western Railway)
Trent Valley Railway (London and North Western Railway)

Humber Road Junction

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See also
Humber Commercial Railway and Dock

Coventry

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Coventry station is smaller than Nuneaton station (4 platforms instead of 7), and has shorter sightlines off the platforms; so you have to keep your ...
Ken Strachan 21/02/2020

The 1821hrs to Nuneaton was sorely in need of the second coach which is usually provided at weekends. The 'surplus' passengers were directed to catch ...
Ken Strachan 12/09/2018

Far be it from me to get into an argument as to whether Coventry is classier than Nuneaton; but 67005 'Queen's Messenger' certainly looks more ...
Ken Strachan 12/03/2016

The 19.00 Virgin Trains London Euston - Wolverhampton pulls into Coventry on 6 July 2014. ...
Ken Strachan 06/07/2014

4 of 19 images. more

Coventry North Junction

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See also
Coventry to Nuneaton (London and North Western Railway)

Canley

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An up Pendolino passes through Canley, in the south western suburbs of Coventry, on 21 March 2014 see image [[46744 for the view in the opposite ...
Ken Strachan 21/03/2014

The 0717hrs to Birmingham New Street - or Wolverhampton, according to the destination blind - slows to a halt at Canley on 12th September 2018. The ...
Ken Strachan 12/09/2018

This almost planar sculpture on the booking office wall at Canley depicts a kangaroo and its joey; as you would expect in Coventry. ...
Ken Strachan 21/03/2014

Surrounded by steel: Coventry certainly looks like an industrial city as a Birmingham-bound Voyager passes the location once occupied by the main ...
Ken Strachan 21/03/2014

4 of 4 images.

Tile Hill

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350110 enters Tile Hill station on 24 March 2007 on a stopping
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John McIntyre 24/03/2007

Heading west for Birmingham, 323207 arrives at Tile Hill on 24 March 2007. The new bridge has replaced the level crossing which used to be just in ...
John McIntyre 24/03/2007

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Hampton-in-Arden

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The leafy suburbs of Birmingham on 11 November. London Midland 350110 with a lunchtime working to New Street calls at Hampton-in-Arden. See image ...
Ken Strachan 11/11/2014

This up Pendolino is accelerating away from a stop at Birmingham International on 12 May. It has just passed the original Hampton station see image ...
Ken Strachan 12/05/2015

The original station at Hampton-in-Arden, was opened by the London & Birmingham Railway in 1838 as plain Hampton. It sat well back from the track and ...
Ken Strachan 12/05/2015

323207 calls at Hampton-in-Arden on 24 March 2007 with a service for Birmingham New Street. ...
John McIntyre 24/03/2007

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Birmingham International

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See also
Birmingham Airport Link

London North Western EMU 350104, in the old London Midland livery, departing Birmingham International for New Street on 18th August 2018.
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Peter Todd 18/08/2018

158831 departing Birmingham International on 18th August 2018 with a two car DMU to Holyhead, of all places, running via Shrewsbury and Wrexham. It ...
Peter Todd 18/08/2018

A London Midland service to Birmingham New Street with 350130 arrives at Birmingham International on 28 April 2010. ...
John McIntyre 28/04/2010

158818, leading the service to Aberystwyth and Pwllheli, reversing at Shrewsbury and dividing at Machynlleth, waiting to depart from Birmingham ...
David Bosher 21/05/2016

4 of 31 images. more

Marston Green

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This train took me to the NEC for the Classic Car Show in November 2019. The return fare of £1.65 compared very favourably to the £12 parking charge ...
Ken Strachan 10/11/2019

1 of 1 images.

Stechford

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It's not every day that you see an Arriva Trains Wales service in Birmingham. 158.834 passes through a wet Stechford non-stop as it works from ...
Ken Strachan 10/05/2014

Looking out from the ticket hall at Stechford down to platform 1, with a 323 about to depart for Birmingham New Street. Comprehensive security ...
Ken Strachan 10/05/2014

2 of 2 images.

Adderley Park

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Thank goodness it's warmed up since March! A wintery view looking East at Adderley Park on 24th March, with the former Morris car factory to the ...
Ken Strachan 24/03/2013

A Pendolino (destination unknown) heading East, about to pass through Adderley Park station at speed on 24 March. Notice the icicles hanging from the ...
Ken Strachan 24/03/2013

The gentleman on the right seems to be quite keen to be somewhere warmer, but the 14.35 to Birmingham New Street will only give him 6 minutes of ...
Ken Strachan 24/03/2013

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This was not one station but two; the parallel termini of the London and Birmingham Railway (from 9 April 1838) and the Grand Junction Railway (from 19 November 1838, replacing the temporary Birmingham [Vauxhall] of 4 July 1837). The stations, originally called simply Birmingham, were built on the then eastern edge of the city. The station was replaced by Birmingham New Street, a ...

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Grand Junction Railway

The signs are good - and there are some mysterious piles of earth. Hopefully, HS2 will call here in a few years. Grab shot from a train coming into ...
Ken Strachan 16/05/2019

Seen from a passing train on 18 June 2009, the remaining building of Birmingham Curzon St station, the first terminus of the line from Euston. This is ...
John McIntyre 18/06/2009

Birmingham Curson Street's remaining building, the terminus of the London and Birmingham Railway, viewed from the lines which replaced it, taking the ...
John Yellowlees 18/09/2016

The 1837 Birmingham station terminus at Curzon Street, built for the London and Birmingham Railway. The London Euston terminus had Doric columns ...
Ewan Crawford 30/06/2004

4 of 5 images. more

Books

Great Railway Journeys: London to Birmingham By Rail (Through Time)

London and Birmingham Railway: 150 Years On

London and Birmingham: A Railway of Consequence

London and Birmingham Railway

Introduction

Dates

Locations along the line

London Euston

Camden [1st]

Camden (Chalk Farm) [1st]

Camden (Chalk Farm) [2nd]

Willesden Traincare Centre

Willesden Junction Low Level

Willesden Shed

Harlesden

Wembley Central

Harrow and Wealdstone

Bushey

Bushey Watertroughs

Watford Junction

Watford [1st]

Kings Langley

Apsley

Hemel Hempstead

Berkhamsted [1st]

Berkhamsted

Tring

Cheddington

Leighton [1st]

Leighton Buzzard

Bletchley

Denbigh Hall

Milton Keynes Central

Wolverton [2nd]

Wolverton [1st]

Castlethorpe Watertroughs

Castlethorpe

Hanslope Junction

Roade [2nd]

Roade [1st]

Blisworth [1st]

Blisworth [2nd]

Blisworth Junction

Weedon [1st]

Weedon [2nd]

Welton

Rugby

Rugby [1st]

Holbrook Park Watertroughs

Brandon and Wolston

Humber Road Junction

Coventry South Junction

Coventry

Coventry North Junction

Canley

Tile Hill

Berkswell

Hampton-in-Arden

Hampton [1st]

Birmingham International

Marston Green

Lea Hall

Stetchford [1st]

Stechford

Adderley Park

Birmingham Curzon Street

Books

Quick links

The Big Five

The Big Four

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