In the late 1950s, I used to visit the railway station (Leamington General) just for something to do. There were always other lads there, taking engine numbers and noting them in a book. (Ian Allan’s “ABC” which listed all the engine numbers)
So, I went to WH Smith, purchased a combined volume, and joined all the others competing to take down the numbers as the trains steamed in. (The engines were serviced at the loco shed at the top of Clapham Terrace, which closed in 1965)
When trains stopped to allow passengers to disembark and parcels and mail to be unloaded, it gave us the opportunity to do what we called “cabbing,” or “being cabbed” – boarding the engine if the driver was agreeable. Once diesels took over this was a lot less fun.
Avenue Station was still open at this time, with trains going to Coventry and Rugby, but we only went there if there was a purge on train spotters at Leamington General. (Trains to Rugby stopped in 1959 and those to Coventry in 1965).
Leamington General was a busy station, with trains going to Birmingham, Banbury, & Stratford on Avon, the Inter City Express, and regular goods trains. There were sidings for goods wagons and shunting engines could be heard marshalling the trains to their different destinations. A large staff looked after passengers and took care of the goods traffic. They tended the station gas lighting and the coal fires in each of the waiting rooms.
The station today is a very different place. It is the only station, as Avenue Station was demolished long ago, becoming first The Regent Garage and now the site of a housing development. The goods yards have also been built over. The engine sheds were also demolished, and factory units were built on the site. Passenger trains no longer carry parcels and mail.
Now and again a refurbished steam train passes through the station and its gardens are well cared-for by Friends of Leamington Station. I stopped taking train numbers when I started work, but still have an interest in trains.
By Terry Gardner
Note that trains from Leamington to Kenilworth and Coventry recommenced in 2018.
This article is reproduced from an LHG Newsletter
