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On the subject of Whitacre, I couldn’t understand, how in the short period it hosted two main lines how the then express from Derby ( to the left ) negotiated the junction to take the Hampton line to the right, there being no obvious connection as per the photo previously. On reading more about the line, the answer is obvious. The station pictured, was the second station at Whitacre, the first was a little way up the Derby line towards Kingsbury. It then beggars the question why the Midland decided to build such a station in the middle of an island platform, the Hampton line then reduced to a single line branch. It’s train a solitary Midland 060 and one coach. It took fifteen minutes to traverse the branch. Here it is in all its glory. The other picture of the wooden bridge over the river Blythe. The failure of which caused the cessation of services on the branch

I have just been looking at some if my photograph collection. I mentioned Whitacre. It was the next station up the line from Coleshill towards Leicester. That line is behind the main station building, shown here running towards the right. The line in the far left is the line towards Kingsbury jct and Derby. This was the original main line which ran to the right of the island platform and down to the original Coleshill station named Maxstoke from 1923 onwards to closure This line continued to Hampton in Arden and the jct with the London and Birmingham Railway. You can see the line go off to the right. The siding in the foreground went to a waterworks. You can see what a substantial building was built on the island platform. The photo by the late great Michael Mensing, class 103 leading towards Coleshill, Water Orton and Birmingham New Street.

There is nothing like actually working on a model of a building, to get to know and understand it’s construction. This is definitely the case, with the humble waiting room. The model seen in my first picture has been superseded. I hasn’t got the dimensions right of the central section. A further frontage created, now dimensionally correct. Then confronted with trying to produce these brick arches in the bricked in central openings. I tried by removing a cutout above the bricked in aperture. Then applying individual brick courses into the opening. The problem , plastic weld even sparingly applied melted the courses losing the bricks definition. I have a set of Ratio industrial arches on order, which I am hoping will be used for the larger openings. The use of these might also allow, an inward curve to be filed, in to match the profile. In respect of the smaller bricked up arches, further attempts will be made, using alternative glue. I’ve been studying the Jeyes photo…in glorious colour. The roof is definitely a later addition. The 1955 photo by HC Casserley shows the flat roof, whether the shelter was built with this feature back in the 1840s? and replaced like for like?

Thanks Nick. My version of the waiting room is throwing up some interesting challenges. The bricked windows in the central section. The sides…how to make a simple building architecturally complicated. I do appear though to have some time to work on it, all my soldering kit and loads of bits and pieces are now in storage.

I know Mark it was a blow to lose the layout…the combination of both my wife and youngest son though, made it impossible not to move house.

Working on the waiting room. My loft is now empty, new ladder just fitted and the inside looking pristine after a coat of paint. I have now been banned from there. I am therefore working on the kitchen table as you can see. Coleshill waiting room taking shape, will be located in the platform, when they are constructed hence its height. Plasticard resting on top to represent the roof for now

I have a book The Stonebridge Railway which documents the line the author is a Roger Waring . It has pictures of the other Coleshill station, renamed Maxstoke just prior to closure. I have read that reinstating the route has been considered.

My line drawing, not to scale of the long lost garden side of the station

A last photograph for now, showing the desolate scene in the 70s . The station has been demolished. It is of interest to me though, not least this is a scene I knew well, but from a modelling perspective, how high the bank was where, the waiting room was situated.

I found the shots of the ex great central birdcage bridge particularly poignant

There was a great article in British railway bylines about the Hams Hall system and some great photos by a R Cooke which I have included on my thread in earlier posts when I recreated Hams Hall 13 and no 4, both of whom are in my retained list

In response to your request for books covering this area. The ex Midland line from New Street to Whitacre, on the slow lines, and Kingsbury on the fast was in Comparison to other areas quite poorly covered in the transition from steam. I know Water Orton is now a magnet for modern traction/ freight enthusiasts. I have a number of books collected over the years, which can often contain a number of repeat photos. The Warwickshire railways site is an excellent source of material, some of which has been contributed by my friends and I. I’ve just found the Jeyes collection on Flikr. Brian Jeyes photoed the line just prior to closure in March 68. Stunning views in colour, not least the three car Cravens, by then in blue and not long in service either.

Thank you Rugd 1022. The response from professional rail persons is always a pleasure. The other great anomaly in this area of North Warwickshire was Whitacre. It’s initial importance as a junction on what we’re originally two main lines was reflected by the grand building on the platform.The fact, it was in a sparsely populated area , and little used by the public made it even more quirky. It was though by early sixties the hq of the local platelayers. My mates dad used to be a supervisor of the team based there. I’ve just studied your pictures more closely. The tree growing out of the Minworth Road bridge. A sad sight

On studying the track layout, certainly as shown on the signal box diagram, and reinforced by John Swifts book on signalling for the area. There appears to have been a change from that shown in early 1950 s photos and 1924 os map. The double slip removed from near the Leicester end and a crossover added by the then new access to the gas Lurgi plant

In respect of the roof, I believe it was a latter addition. The signal box is apparently a LMS type 11, an amalgam of LNWR and Midland designs. It was added, it would appear in the 1930s when the sidings were added to the then new Hams Hall power station. The roof to the waiting room, may have been altered then. It may have been later than that, as it reminds me of the roofs added to the BR signal boxes such as the replacement Water Orton East jct and sidings. ( These have been saved from my layout together with the earlier Midland design station jct box. ) I think these will displayed, with the other buildings rescued, in my new railway room. This area is currently being mistakenly called a garage, by my wife and son. Sincere thank you for the interest shown and replies…RM web at its best!

I have been studying the waiting shelter. One dilemma is it English or Flemish bond? The respective plasticard sheets are quite distinctive. It’s less obvious studying the actual building. The second, just like the main station building, I havnt seen a photo of the rear Side (facing the trees in this shot} In the absence of proof I might just model it as a plain back wall, or with the centre recess mirroring the front. I don’t think the railway would have mirrored the curved arches, albeit without doors at the rear. Of further interest and just put of shot on the photo to the left. The platform is higher, lowering just before the shelter then the ramp. The Warwickshire Railways site records that a riser was required to help, passengers alight, as the platforms were built to accommodate lower coaching stock. I also think I shall invest in working station lamps and possibly fit leds in the station building. I always regretted not doing so on Water Orton. When Andy York recorded Water Orton nearly ten Years ago, for BRM, he took a shot of the Bachmann blue Pullman going through on the up lines. The train had its lights on…really effective.

Will attempt this waiting shelter first, stationmasters house later

Title changed to reflect the new layout which hopefully will rise phoenix like from the house move. The loft in what is still my current home is now bare, painted and crying out for a layout to fill it. I am visiting my intended home tomorrow. My wife and daughter in law, will be discussing kitchen units and the like. I will be in the garage with measuring tape and camera. I’ve just been looking at the new Peco bullhead track. I’ve checked ,and it can be joined with the previous code 75 track. Coleshill had an interesting track layout including a single slip…this has been retained from old layout, and double slip. The latter will be an early acquisition. The station I am modelling, was originally known as Forge Mills. Two of those types of buildings were nearby. The original Coleshill was on the Stonebridge line that connected Whitacre to Hampton in Arden. It was originally a main line from Derby to London. It quickly became demoted and ended up as a single track branch line. The line was dismantled in 1951. The station formerly known as Coleshill had been renamed Maxstoke, by then, and Forge Mills adopted the former name. Coleshill Parkway now occupies part of my intended models former site. I’ve been sketching out the station buildings, and the signal box shown here

Just had a reply from my boyhood mate, Eddie Ravenhall. He is now resident in Scotland. He confirmed that public access to the ticket office, parcels and waiting room at Coleshill was from the platform. Now I intend to model the station, with the rear side facing a wall. I could of course cheat, and not even attempt to show this side of the building. I won’t though, as my interpretation is unlikely to be challenged…..cue a slew of previously unpublished photos, on completion of my model, showing any number of errors in my work

Gday Manna I’ve been following your move on your thread. It puts the stresses and strains, of my own impending move into context. I don’t think white ants are a problem in Worcestershire, or are they? best wishes Brian

I’ve just been corresponding with Eric (Signal engineer) hoping he would remember any details of Coleshill station, during his time working the line. Like most of us at that time, he saw a redundant large building, without noting much detail. It wasovershadowed by the nearby lurgi gasworks, an ever growing industrial estate, and Hams Hall power station nearby. I will be modelling it , as shown here a photo by HC Casserley taken in the mid fifties. There is a lovely colour photo on the Flickr album, which sadly unable to show here. A sign on a platform lamp standard , indicates that you can catch a Midland red bus by walking a mile down station road. A Midland red bus timetable is affixed to the outside gents wall. Integrated transport indeed.

Thank you to all who are messaging their support. It has been an opportunity to release , underused stock, and now to concentrate on a new challenge. I’m really enjoying poring over photographs of Coleshill. The pages on the Warwickshire Railways website are invaluable. Flikr has a collection under The Jeyes banner. A number of photographs were taken on the ex Midland lines out of Birmingham a week before closure in March 1968. Some great photos of Saltley, Castle Bromwich ( what a magnificent station…built to reflect its role as the station for the nearby British Industries exhibition site) My beloved Water Orton, then Coleshill, and finishing at Shustoke. The last two stations were very similar. They are of the combined house/ station type favoured by the early Midland Railway. Whilst there some fine photos of the platform side of the building, including great shots of the waiting shelter on the opposite platform, I can’t find any of the station from the road/ pub side. The Warwickshire site has a handrawn lower, and upper floor plan of the station. I’ve used that to try and deduce what the opposite side of the building looked like. I’ve used the method previously perfected, on the Water Orton build, of counting bricks to determine height and width, also window locations. Of note from the floor plan, the family living in the station had to go across a yard to an outside privy. This was behind the public gents one. I’m pleased to say that later a separate house, was built for the stationmaster and his family on the opposite side of the track.

John as ever sincere thanks for your kind message, indeed to to all who have commented on this news. A new modelling challenge, but first house move, then something called decorating…

Since my last post, life has changed dramatically. My wife and I, prompted by our son, are selling our home and moving. This has sadly meant dismantling, not only the layout but much of my little empire In my loft. I had built the buildings / structures so they could be removed. They have been, and are safe. The baseboards and scenery have gone. My new home has a garage which will house a new layout. It won’t accommodate Water Orton though, not nearly big enough. I have also downsized my amount of stock. Many locomotives had not turned a wheel in years. Lessons learnt. I found when checking, it wasn’t my kit built or comet chassis that needed attention, but RTR left idle on my stock shelves. The sale of a large proportion of my stock, has contributed much needed funds, to little expenses, such as stamp duty..solicitors, estate agent, etc fees. On a positive note I have been designing a new layout Coleshill (Forge Mills) This station was closed in March 1968. It was situated a few miles up the line from Water Orton on the Leicester route. This will also allow those trains, I have retained to run on this new layout. I am currently looking to build the distinctive station building. I will rename this thread in due course and outline the build. The two photos…Water Orton layout just prior to demolition…appropriate the last train was a pair of class 20s and brake van…quite poignant as they went past the empty sidings. The second photo Coleshill..lurgi gas works will not be appearing on my new layout. You will note I have totems for both

possibly 247 developments ?