Wolverton

Wolverton railway and Wolverton works was established in Wolverton, Buckinghamshire, by the London and Birmingham Railway Company in 1838 at the midpoint of the 112 miles (180 km)-long route from London to Birmingham. Four Stations have been established  over many years, 1838-40, 1840-81, 1881-1991 and the fourth Station to open on the 21 June 2012.

The Victorian era new towns of Wolverton and New Bradwell were built to house the workers and service the works. The older towns of Stony Stratford and Newport Pagnell grew substantially too, being joined to it by a tramway and branch line (known as the "Newport Nobby"), respectively.

The trams were also hauled by steam locomotives: the tram cars were certainly the largest ever in the UK and possibly the world. In modern times Wolverton railway works remains notable as the home of the British Royal Train but otherwise is very much reduced from its heyday.

As of 2013, the facility was much reduced: a full-scale train maintenance, repairs and refurbishment works is operated at the western end of the site, the central area is derelict but but eventually used for redevelopment, the eastern end is a Tesco store with canal-side housing development at the extreme eastern end and including a McDonalds on Tesco Land, this open in November 2018..

Wolverton Station 8 July 1972 (David Farron Collection)

         

Wolverton Station the third station to built on this site 1881 to 1991 when the wooden construction was demolished by British Rail.

1975

   

The above are Survey photos from 1975 of the construction and layout of the Station. (David Farron Collection)

Various Views of the 3rd Station before Demolition

Luggage Labels

The Army Manoeuvres of 1913 was a large exercise held by the British Army in the Midlands in September 1913. 

Troops arrived at Wolverton in preparation for the manoeuvres.    (David Farron Collection)

Daily Mirror Image of the Map Carraige where Earl Haig planned a part of his campaign. The train is at Wolverton and is up for sale by the Surplus Disposable Board c.1921.

Carriage No.159 was built by LNWR at Wolverton in 1890 as a corridor restaurant and went on to be used as an ambulance car in Earl Haig's First World War train. The body was sold as a holiday home and rescued in 1978 to be restored. The above picture was taken on the 26 July 2003.

(Preserved Pre-1948 Railway Carriages by Royston Morris)

Not much is known about this Special (GRS) Tour other than this is a Class 2P-AC No 40540 Loco at Wolverton could be 1957

c.1950 Commercial and Traffic advertising board locations

LMS Ivatt Class 2 2-6-2T at Wolverton 7 July 1962. 41222 Pull-Push fitted for the Newport Pagnell Railway.      (David Farron Collection)

1959

LMS Ivatt Class 2 2-6-2T at Wolverton 23 October 1962.  No.41222 (Fred Bateman)

The Bath House c.1985

(COLOUR RAIL) LCGB Rail-tour 28 June 1958-2p 4-4-0 40421(see LCGB Page)

LCGB Rail-tour 28 June 1958-2p 4-4-0 40421 (see LCGB Page)(David Farron Collection)

LCGB Rail-tour 28 June 1958-2p 4-4-0 40421 (see LCGB Page) (Author Unknown)

Post Card un-posted Station Staff posing for a group photo c.1900

Colour Rail Photo CD7 and CD8. CD7 used on the special to Newport Pagnell 28-06-1958

Chief Inspector small arms 1919 Luggage label.

Wolverton Station Platform c.1991. This image taken after the demolishon of the wooden station c.1990

Wolverton Works Open day 1988

LMR - 2P  41222 At Wolverton Branch Line Platform Picture taken  August 1962.
(David Farron Collection)

"Carriage Dept Wolverton" CD8  23.7.38 Post Card (David Farron Collection)

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What was the old main line is now used for the workshop and sidings.

                                  

Wolverton-Carriage-Works-August 1962

                               

                              

Wolverton-Carriage-Works year unknown

41222 @ Wolverton Station 31-07-1964 (© K.C.Fairey) (David Farron Collection)

Child Return Ticket Wolverton - Newport Pagnell 16 August 1958 (David Farron Collection)

LCGB Tour 17-10-64 4MT 2-6-4T 42105 at Wolverton Triangle (David Farron Collection)

370005 being prepped for Wolverton Works Open Day 17-08-1985 and APT unit 370003 on

the rear of test train moving north passing Wolverton c.1980 (David Farron Collection)

2/10/1984 the train is the 16:30 Bletchley to Birmingham (Ian Spires Photo)

Wolverton station foot bridge before demolition (Jackie Nott)

Wolverton station foot bridge all timber construction in poor state of repair.(Media Photo)

The start of the station demolition c.1990 (Reg Tite) (Jackie Nott)

 Wolverton Centre Sidings (Media Photo)

Newport Triangle. Only the down line to Wolverton can be seen August 1930

Wolverton Centre Sidings and the Newport Pagnell Triangle (Media Photo)

 

BR Class 310 310061 and  BR Loco Class 86 86220 common sight at Wolverton June 1983 (David Farron Collection)

Shunter 08629 - Wolverton works and BR 'Tichie' c.1993 - Chimney tower no longer exist (David Farron Collection)

The 150ft. 120.000 brick Chimney Built in 1901 at the BRML's Wolverton Railway Depot built by the LNWR for the coal fired boiler house to produce steam for heating and  production process. It was used upto April 1992 and demolition began in late 1993 with the main Chimney demolished in 1994 (Brian Bailey Photo's)

Video Collage of the Chimney Demolition

       
Platform Ticket these had to be handed back when leaving platform, however some did get through.

Most if not all stations do not issue platform tickets now. This practice stopped in c.2014 (from media)

Wolverton War Weapons Week  1941

Platform Tickets

A post card (un-posted) date unknown showing train on up slow running out of  Wolverton. Note the carriage sidings in distance on right (David Farron Collection)

Wolverton Bridge Plate 22 June 1966 (David Farron Collection)

Wolverton Works and centre sidings showing the Newport Pagnell branch line triangle in the top photo. 2 November 1971 A Then and Now Publication. (David Farron Collection)

1939-45 Luftwaffe high altitude aerial photo of Wolverton

Wolverton Station  c.1960 with Hilman Minx 1961-1963 -  960 BXX

C.1980

They were originally wholesale and retail newsagents but later diversified into printing. This occurred after they purchased one large Golding Jobber Press and one small plate press in the late 1930s at the business premises Number 5 & 9 Stratford Road. It was the railways that made the growth of national newspapers possible. Papers printed in London at night and bundled to Euston in the early hours of the morning and loaded onto the train for delivery at each station. Early morning the papers were picked up at the station and taken to their premises, Muscutt and Tompkins. The Evening papers from London would also be picked up from the station in the same way. Bill Tompkins married Ida Muscutt, one of Harry Muscutt's daughters and thus the business became Muscutt and Tompkins. It certainly grew as a family business during the 20th century, holding at least three shops on the Stratford Road - a tobacconists at number 3, the newsagents at Number 5 and at Number 9 a stationery shop and printing business. In 1946 a young Reg Tomalin started work for the firm where he gained his printing skills. The Company carried out a range of general printing including headed notepaper, Christmas cards and notepads. Printing continued through the 1950s and 60s until Reg Tomalin died in 1967.

Company info

Company category: Private Limited Company

Company number: 00445603

Company status: Dissolved 

country of origin: United Kingdom

incorporation date: 1947.11.24

dissolution date: 2000.05.09

last member list: 1997.09.01

has UK establishment: No

has appointments: Yes

in liquidation: No 

This lamp, which advertises Swan Pens, came from Muscutt & Tompkins of  5 & 9 Stratford Road. 

picture from   https://www.livingarchive.org.uk

Shop front on Stratford Road. (David Farron Collection)

Open day 1974

BR 42233 Fairburn Scraped in 1967 shunting at Wolverton 17 August 1963

Wolverton-Carriage-Works-1954-line-up-of-the-Works-shunting-engines and LNWR 0-6-0ST 'Special Tank' CD3 'Earlstown' seen at Wolverton Works. The colour image is with 2 class mates 29th July 1956 (David Farron Collection & Ben Brooksbank)

Earlstown at Wolverton c.1960  .(Neville Stead Collection)

Wolverton Dept.CD No.7 @ Wolverton 

LMS Ex Coal Tank Loco No.58887 Wolverton Works

Post Cards Un-dated

Wolverton workforce outside Wolverton Market after the fire on the 21 September 1906

Post Card, Coronation parade outside the "works" along Stratford Road, Wolverton 1937


'Foster Brothers' Advertising post card and same image for 'Dinner Time' at Wolverton

 Wolverton goods yard views photo taken on the 5th January 1957 by H.C.Casserley (David Farron Collection)

25 years span between photo's. BR British Rail Coach M1800 @ Wolverton, 12th June 1982 (David Farron Collection)

Engine Shed 1986 and with CD3 at rest next to Engine Shed (H.C.Casserley) 

Some rare visits from engines were put to Post Cards as this Class 0-6-0PT 2069 @ Wolverton c.1939

Loco 0-4-0DM in a Scrap yard Old Wolverton 1982 with The Works and Chimney in the Distance.  Precise location not known, photo could have been taken from the railway bank on Wolverton sidings.                      (David Farron Collection)

Shunter "Wolverton" 08629 at Wolverton 1993

Top: Wolverton Shunters, 08011. It became the oldest working diesel on British Rail and was repainted near its original green livery and named HAVERSHAM by the staff of Bletchley. Now resides at the Chinnor and Princess Risborough Railway.

25th January 1964. 41222 leaving for Newport Pagnell from Wolverton approaching the "Triangle" (David Farron Collection)

Wolverton Works Fire Brigade Haversham Road (John Sprittles)

Excerpt form a British Rail Track Plan 

Wolverton Station and Park Entrance c.1910

Class 105 DMU at Wolverton open day 1988

Wolverton Signal Box No.1 with the "Gables" in the background

Wolverton Signal Box No. 2

Wolverton Works Signal Box 1975 and then decommissioned in the c.1980s

1983

A Sans Pareil passing under Stratford Road Wolverton on the 17 August 1985

Stratford Road Wolverton Bridge 1975

Open day 1974

Earlestown stationary at Wolverton Works Centre sidings 1957 

Locomotive And Train At Wolverton Works 1893

Earlestown Wolverton (colour rail image)

(Media Image) Not sure if this image is taken from the Blue Bridge. On the left is now McConnell Drive and the Gables tower the sky line.

Webb LNWR 0-6-0ST C.D.7. at Wolverton Works 1956 Wolverton centre sidings with CD7 stationary what is now McConnell Drive behind tree line.

ex LNWR Wolverton Works Saddle Tank LMS No7 (David Farron Collection)

No.8 Earlestown January 1957

Transport Railway Colour Slide Carriage Dept Wolverton Loco

Media picture from an Auction

The last passenger service was the 5:34 pm train from Newport Pagnell on 5 September 1964

Stationary Boiler at Wolverton 1 October 1966 (H.C Casserley)

Before the final run Bill Faulkner 'Driver' waiting for green flag to turn engine for departure to Newport Pagnell. (L.Hanson)

Ivatt 2-6-2T 41222 Wolverton before leaving on its final Journey 5 September 1964

Last Train from Newport Pagnell 5th September 1964 at Wolverton

Bill Faulkner 'Driver' hands a floral wreath to Guard' Sam Wallis on the completion of the final Journey (KCH Fairey)

42105 Class 4P 1964 on the Wolverton Triangle

Another day travel to the office c.1950

Rebuilt to G1 Dec 1926. Rebuilt to G2A Dec 1939. @ Wolverton 1955.

What the papers say;  Saturday 24 September 1955

Dwight D.Eisenhower President of the United States suffers a coronary thrombosis while on vacation in Denver, Colorado Vice President Richard Nixon serves as Acting President while Eisenhower recovers.

North British Diesel Shunter D2903 at Wolverton sidings 1966. (H.C.Casserley)

Behind the fence is the now McConnell Drive and in the distance the "Gables" tower flats can be seen.

A Sister engine North British Diesel Shunter D2905 at Wolverton Works  September 1967.

Freight running through Wolverton towards Northampton 1983 with a class 25

(GT Robinson) 

Wolverton LMS Post Card Collage

28 June 1958 - 40421 at Wolverton CD3 and CD6 in the branch line bay

When trespassing on railways was never an issue.Wolverton Centre Sidings. 10 October 1954

Dog Rail Ticket 8th January to February 1961

Wolverton open day photo's 17-08-85 and 90 90007 wolverton 1990.

Wolverton Works Drawing of an Ambulance Stretcher

84002 in Wolverton sidings waiting to be pathed to Newport Pagnell 27-6-59 (©James Harrold)

Class BR Std 2MT 2-6-2 84002 on the Branch line at Wolverton 3-3-1962 (©Leslie Sandler)

BR Standard 2.6.2 84002 Stationed on the Branch line 17 June 1962. 11/08/1956 Reallocated to Bletchley (1E). 17/04/1965 Withdrawn & Condemned as 84002. 04/1966 Scrapped & Broken up by Buttigiegs: Newport.

(David Farron Collection)

CD3 on the Newport Pagnell branch line at Wolverton 28-06-58 (©Neville Stead)

Wolverton Sidings with the Viaduct in view (H.C.Casserley)

 

Wolverton Works open Day 1957     

      

Loco No.7 1959

      

Wolverton Works open Day 7.4.1957

Open Day 1979

41222 at branch line Platform on the last day of service-5-09-1964 K.C.H Fairey(David Farron Collection)

41222 at Wolverton branch line sidings on the 1 June 1963

An unusual view looking towards Wolverton Station. Signal box No.2 and the Gables tower block from Stratford Road New Bradwell

LNWR 58887 WEB 0-6-2 at Wolverton before disposal. This was used on the RCTS Special at Newport Pagnell on the 10 October 1954. A Wolverton works shunter until May 1955 (David Farron Collection) 

41222 on the branch line triangle (©Colour Rail Image) (David Farron Collection)

Every boys dream, climbing on to the 41222 footplate (©Colour Rail Image) (David Farron Collection)

Post Card c.1930

A, very uncluterd Platform. 45525 "Colwyn Bay" at Wolverton 1949 with a train on the Branch line.

Wolverton Rail Station 18 September 1956

45689 Stanier Jubilee class "AJAX" Wolverton Station-1958 to 1963 (David Farron Collection)

Parking ticket for the Station car park. Note, car registration.

LMS CLASS 4P LOCO NO 42189 at the branch line sidings Wolverton. Sept 1962 (© D Lovejoy)

(David Farron Collection)

LNWR Fire Station Wolverton Works February 1982 &  26 February 1983

 (© Alan Jackson Collection) (David Farron Collection)

By the late 1950's / early 1960's the councils run out of  standard registrations (e.g. 237RYU)  as a temporary measure, four number / one or two letter area code registrations were issued (e.g. 2345AA). These did not have a serial letter, the one or two letters being the area codes as originally issued in the reversed format. Only the single letter area codes D,E,F,H,K,N,R,U and W were issued in this reversed format (e.g. 1042D) between 1953 and 1962.