History
Wolverton railway 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. The line was developed by Robert Stephenson following the great success of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway line.
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 is 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 slated for redevelopment, the eastern end is a Tesco store with canal-side housing development at the extreme eastern end.
Knorr-Bremse is the current owner of the site (German don't you know and the biggest manufacturer of train braking systems in the world), having taken it over (with Glasgow Works), following the collapse of former owners Railcare in September 2013.
The explore
I have had a life long obsession with railways only equaled by all things derelict, so when the two come together it can only mean a perfect mooch!
As has been widely reported on here the floors (as is the roof) are in a very poor state and despite treading gingerly, i still managed to submerge my leg through the floor (only the floor suffered
).
Explored in the excellent company of Hamtagger and a non member.
After a considerable fit of hysterics at our access we managed to calm down sufficiently to operate our machines for a few snaps:
Smithy Shop
Built in 1860 and extended in 1900, this shop is now home to a good selection of well established foliage covering an area of 350 feet long by 90 feet wide. I remember "wandering" into the Smithy during the 1988 open day, three years after the shop was relocated into the Old Iron Stores; finally moving to the Top Shed in 1987. Sadly, my pictures are not worth reproducing here.
1. At one time 400 men alone worked in the Smithy, including Boilermakers, Forgemen and Springmakers. Today, less than 300 are employed at Wolverton.
2. A glimpse of the cellars under the Smithy.
Carpenters/Joiners Shop and Sawmill
Opened between 1860 and 1865 the shop included a narrow gauge railway for transporting logs on wagons for processing. The shop would have been responsible for all wooden parts on carriages together with the manufacture of all furniture, cabinets and office fittings for the London and North Western Railway. The last notices posted are for 1989, so it can be assumed the shop moved to its new home in the West Repair Shop at this time.
The late eighties witnessed great changes at Wolverton; many older carriages with wooden fittings were being withdrawn at this time and therefore the maintenance capacity was no longer required and the works had been demoted into a repair only facility in 1987, as apposed to having the facilities to build new trains. The works concentrated on the western end of the site and much workshop space was closed, with new homes and a supermarket built on vacant land.
3. The narrow gauge tracks are visible (complete with cross overs, not shown here).
4. Looking the other way.
5. MK3 seats. Note the ashtrays!
6. The outer suburban "slammers", built for the London Midland and Eastern Region. I remember them well...
7.
8. Who remembers a stray spring making life uncomfortable on a crowded train?
9. YOU WILL take your holidays at this time.
10.
11.
12. The tool sharpening room.
13.
Carpenters/Joiners Shop and Sawmill - basement
14.
15.
16.
17. MK1 Sleeper doors. These are very heavy doors with a steel constructed frame. Considering the MK1 Sleeper carriages were all withdrawn by the mid 1980's with classified overhauls finishing much earlier, they have been here for some time. The protruding cylindrical metal is a door stop.
18. A selection of MK1 and MK2 carriage tables.
19.
Thanks for looking folks!
Wolverton railway 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. The line was developed by Robert Stephenson following the great success of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway line.
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 is 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 slated for redevelopment, the eastern end is a Tesco store with canal-side housing development at the extreme eastern end.
Knorr-Bremse is the current owner of the site (German don't you know and the biggest manufacturer of train braking systems in the world), having taken it over (with Glasgow Works), following the collapse of former owners Railcare in September 2013.
The explore
I have had a life long obsession with railways only equaled by all things derelict, so when the two come together it can only mean a perfect mooch!
As has been widely reported on here the floors (as is the roof) are in a very poor state and despite treading gingerly, i still managed to submerge my leg through the floor (only the floor suffered
).Explored in the excellent company of Hamtagger and a non member.
After a considerable fit of hysterics at our access we managed to calm down sufficiently to operate our machines for a few snaps:
Smithy Shop
Built in 1860 and extended in 1900, this shop is now home to a good selection of well established foliage covering an area of 350 feet long by 90 feet wide. I remember "wandering" into the Smithy during the 1988 open day, three years after the shop was relocated into the Old Iron Stores; finally moving to the Top Shed in 1987. Sadly, my pictures are not worth reproducing here.
1. At one time 400 men alone worked in the Smithy, including Boilermakers, Forgemen and Springmakers. Today, less than 300 are employed at Wolverton.
2. A glimpse of the cellars under the Smithy.
Carpenters/Joiners Shop and Sawmill
Opened between 1860 and 1865 the shop included a narrow gauge railway for transporting logs on wagons for processing. The shop would have been responsible for all wooden parts on carriages together with the manufacture of all furniture, cabinets and office fittings for the London and North Western Railway. The last notices posted are for 1989, so it can be assumed the shop moved to its new home in the West Repair Shop at this time.
The late eighties witnessed great changes at Wolverton; many older carriages with wooden fittings were being withdrawn at this time and therefore the maintenance capacity was no longer required and the works had been demoted into a repair only facility in 1987, as apposed to having the facilities to build new trains. The works concentrated on the western end of the site and much workshop space was closed, with new homes and a supermarket built on vacant land.
3. The narrow gauge tracks are visible (complete with cross overs, not shown here).
4. Looking the other way.
5. MK3 seats. Note the ashtrays!
6. The outer suburban "slammers", built for the London Midland and Eastern Region. I remember them well...
7.
8. Who remembers a stray spring making life uncomfortable on a crowded train?
9. YOU WILL take your holidays at this time.
10.
11.
12. The tool sharpening room.
13.
Carpenters/Joiners Shop and Sawmill - basement
14.
15.
16.
17. MK1 Sleeper doors. These are very heavy doors with a steel constructed frame. Considering the MK1 Sleeper carriages were all withdrawn by the mid 1980's with classified overhauls finishing much earlier, they have been here for some time. The protruding cylindrical metal is a door stop.
18. A selection of MK1 and MK2 carriage tables.
19.
Thanks for looking folks!
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