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

06/05/1833	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.
02/01/1842	Railway Clearing House The Railway Clearing House is established. Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway, Great North of England Railway, Hull and Selby Railway, Leeds and Selby Railway, London and Birmingham Railway, Manchester and Leeds Railway, Midland Counties Railway, North Midland Railway and York and North Midland Railway join.
/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.
08/10/1952	London and Birmingham Railway 112 are killed when a Perth to London Euston express passes a signal and crashes into a local Tring to London Euston service at Harrow and Wealdstone. The crashed trains are then run into by a London Euston to Liverpool service.
16/02/1980	London and Birmingham Railway Derailment of a London to Manchester train at Bushey travelling at 96mph. No casualties.

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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An aerial of the London Euston station construction site in September 2021. ...
HS2 /09/2021

92010 has brought the stock for the Highlander Sleeper into platform 1 at Euston - it will later haul the Lowland Sleeper. ...
Caleb Abbott 16/10/2023

Avanti West Coast transports wreaths from across the UK to London Euston for Routes of Remembrance. ...
Avanti West Coast 11/11/2021

HS2 enabling works at Euston in July 2021 - a fine view for crane enthusiasts. ...
Ken Strachan 08/07/2021

4 of 30 images. more

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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1930 Fowler, LMS design, parallel boilered and Walschaerts Valve Gear fitted, 3P 2-6-2T no. 40006 is seen on the stored loco line at 1A Willesden Shed ...
David Pesterfield 08/09/1962

E3167, believed to have been photographed at Willesden in the mid-1960s. Later it ran as 86228 'Vulcan Heritage' and was subsequently exported for ...
Peter Johnson //

LNWR 0-8-0 at Willesden on 14th July 1958. These old locos were never fitted with smokebox number plates for some reason. ...
David Murray-Smith 14/07/1958

A nearly new D8019 at Willesden shed on 11th July 1958. This last of the twenty pilot scheme EE Type 1s was quickly followed by a large batch of ...
David Murray-Smith 11/07/1958

4 of 11 images. more

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

4 of 5 images. more

Bushey

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New Lines (London and North Western Railway)

710 258, running third rail, with a London Overground service from Euston to Watford Junction, arriving at Bushey on 18th December 2019. Most people ...
David Bosher 18/12/2019

710263, with a Watford Junction to Euston Overground service, calling at the ex-LNWR 'New Lines' station at Bushey on 18th December 2019. To enable ...
David Bosher 18/12/2019

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

3 of 3 images.

Watford Junction

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See also
Watford and Rickmansworth Railway

25213 stabled at Watford Junction 23 3 1984. The St Albans branch platform can be seen in the distance. ...
Roger Geach 23/03/1984

A Euston bound service hauled by a Class 86 loco approaches Watford Junction at speed on 20 March 1976. ...
John McIntyre 20/03/1976

Watford Junction at dawn on Friday 23rd December 1977. The Class 501 EMU at platform 2 is the rush hours only Croxley Green shuttle service awaiting ...
Mark Dufton 23/12/1977

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

4 of 19 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

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Berkhamsted

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Under way on The Cumbrian Coast Express, organised by The Railway Touring Company, that departed London Euston behind E3137 (86 259) at 07.10 and a ...
David Bosher 18/09/2021

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

4 of 4 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

A northbound steam service at Cheddington. The photograph is thought to be circa 1962. ...
Doug Nicholls //1962

Cheddington station in 1967 with just two cars in the car park as an unknown class 86 is passing with 1A31, whatever that was. The fence looks quite ...
Doug Nicholls /03/1967

2 of 2 images.

Leighton Buzzard

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See also
Dunstable Branch (London and North Western Railway)

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

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 //

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

Several new sections have been fitted to the Bletchley Flyover as part of its refurbishment for East West Rail duties. This view looks south from ...
Mark Bartlett 25/07/2022

LNR Vivarail DEMU 230003 in Platform 5 at Bletchley, ready to make another run to Bedford on the Marston Vale service. There are three of these units ...
Mark Bartlett 25/07/2022

350243, in the previous London Midland livery, leaves Platform 4 at Bletchley heading for Euston on 25th July 2022. In the background, the additional ...
Mark Bartlett 25/07/2022

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

4 of 11 images. more

Milton Keynes Central

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It was a truth universally acknowledged, that Bed-Pan 319s did not run North of Bedford. Except now they go to Northampton, Blackpool North and other ...
Ken Strachan 07/09/2022

Here is The Bluebell Railway in Milton Keynes. Before you reach for your Rail Atlas in high dudgeon, I declare that TBR is the name of 66739, which ...
Ken Strachan 22/09/2021

Like a Bat out of Bletchley - there were not many passengers on the station on 7th July 2022, but there was evidently plenty of urgent mail. I ...
Ken Strachan 07/07/2022

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

4 of 44 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

A blanket of freezing fog covers much of the West Midlands on the morning of 11 February 1979, together with the remains of the previous days ...
John Furnevel 11/02/1979

66536 pierces the dawn as it heads for the Northampton Loop with 4L52 from Garston to London Gateway on 13th October 2022. Another Freightliner with ...
Ken Strachan 13/10/2022

The lights are on, and someone is home - 57308 'Jamie Ferguson' didn't seem to be going anywhere, but its engine was running for some 15 minutes - ...
Ken Strachan 13/10/2022

When I first visited Rugby station, this platform did not exist. Down slow trains are not as glamorous as fast, so I have neglected photographing it ...
Ken Strachan 28/10/2011

4 of 44 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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The modern image - Pendolino and multi-storey car park at Coventry in 2011. ...
Ken Strachan 28/10/2011

The Warwick Road entrance to Coventry station used to be a footpath just wide enough for two people. Its capacity has recently been considerably ...
Ken Strachan 02/06/2022

Coventry has a brand spanking new forecourt, and its multi-storey car park is all lit up. Unfortunately it is closed off behind steel mesh fencing. To ...
Ken Strachan 27/02/2022

A Voyager from the South looks for shelter from the rain as it approaches Coventry from the Leamington Spa direction. See image 74046 for the ...
Ken Strachan 08/04/2016

4 of 25 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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Local resident: Oh I say, a freight train in Hampton. How awfully infradig.
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Ken Strachan 09/05/2023

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

4 of 7 images. more

Birmingham International

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See also
Birmingham Airport Link

A Euston to Wolverhampton Pendolino calls at Birmingham International in November 2006. To the left of the station is the airport and on the right the ...
John McIntyre 29/11/2006

This pensive Pendolino was stationary in platform 4 at Birmingham International. According to realtime trains, that platform would offer me a stopping ...
Ken Strachan 09/05/2023

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

4 of 35 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 Â£1.65 compared very favourably to the Â£12 parking ...
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

3 of 3 images.

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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See also
Grand Junction Railway

Progress on Birmingham's HS2 station, seen from a passing HST in July 2023. ...
Ken Strachan 28/07/2023

The vast site in the centre of Birmingham at Curzon Street, being prepared for the now truncated HS2, seen from a Railway Touring Company steam ...
David Bosher 11/12/2021

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

4 of 7 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

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