Birmingham Snow Hill & Birmingham Moor Street to Stratford upon Avon

The Route of the Shakespeare Express

Birmingham Snow Hill station is the starting point for our journey along the North Warwickshire Line to Stratford upon Avon. This once magnificent Great Western station was closed in March 1972 and lay derelict for many years. Rebuilt on a much less grand scale, it was reopened in 1987 it is now once more a busy station. It lies at the northern end of Birmingham city centre and in its heyday was served by famous expresses such as the Inter-City and the Cambrian Coast Express from London Paddington. Today it is a busy station once more serving local destinations and is the destination of the Birmingham Clubman express trains from London Marylebone. It is also served by the new Midland Metro tram system from Wolverhampton.

Throughout this “Through the Window” guide we describe views as being left or right from the train facing in the direction of travel out of Birmingham.

Birmingham Snow Hill to Tyseley:

On leaving the new Birmingham Snow Hill station, we enter the 580 yards long Snow Hill Tunnel, descending on a gradient as steep as lin-45 to emerge into the daylight once more as we pass Birmingham Moor Street station. On the right you can see the refurbished older part of Moor Street station which is now restored to its GWR condition. GWR 2-8-0 No 2885 is on static display in the platforms. Beyond that is the striking architecture of the new Bullring Birmingham shopping complex in the heart of Birmingham city centre including the unique and distinctive shape of the landmark new Selfridges department store.

After Moor Street the train accelerates gently along the 797 yards long Bordesley Viaduct with extensive views over the City of Birmingham on both sides. Shortly after the end of the viaduct the line passes Bordesley station and then passes beneath the 'Camp Hill' line from Bordesley junction to Kings Norton. This route allows freight trains to bypass the busy Birmingham New Street station. Soon afterwards and trailing in round a sharp curve on the left, is the line which links to the 'Camp Hill' line at Bordesley junction and from there to the main North East/South West route at Landor Street Junction.

The A45 parallels the railway on the left as the line continues towards Small Heath station and the train rattles over the point-work at Small Heath South Junction. On the right can be seen Tyseley train depot and the former Tyseley locomotive sheds which is now home to Tyseley Locomotive Works & Visitor Centre, headquarters of Vintage Trains. Occasionally steam locomotives can be seen running up and down the yard. The next station reached is Tyseley station.

Tyseley to Stratford upon Avon:

On leaving Tyseley station, the train curving sharply right at Tyseley South Junction to take the 'North Warwickshire Line' route while the former GWR main line continues to the left. The train then begins to accelerate round a gentle right hand curve, which carries us on a rising gradient of 1-in-200 to Spring Road station. The climbing continues, though on easier gradients, to Hall Green station but the line levels out as we approach Yardley Wood where the River Cole can be glimpsed on the right hand side and Shirley station is passed. Soon after Shirley, the train slows to negotiate the bridge over the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal, but can then it accelerates as it heads southwards through pleasant countryside. Whitlocks End station has been rebuilt and is in stark contrast to the many stations on the line, which still retain their GWR character.

Another mile takes us to Wythall station where the line begins to turn to run south-westerly. Soon, on the right hand side, can be seen the links of Fulford Heath Golf Course. Shortly after passing through Earlswood station we pass through the nature reserve at Clowes Wood to reach the small station at The Lakes. The lakes, which give the station its name, are to the left of the railway just before the train passes through the station.

The line then crosses the Spring Brook, which accompanies it on the right hand side as it continues under the M42 Motorway and the train accelerates on falling gradients. Wood End station is quickly followed by the 173 yards long Wood End Tunnel and the train soon runs on an embankment with the village of Tanworth-in-Arden away to the right. The gradient continues to fall at 1-in-150 as we pass through Danzey station, skirting Mockley Wood on the right hand side. A little way further on, look out on the right hand side for the Umberslade Stables where there are usually a number of young riders undergoing instruction in the paddock.

Shortly afterwards, also on the right hand side, we can see the golf course attached to the Henley Golf and Country Club and soon the line curves right handed through Henley-in-Arden station with its signalbox on the left. A short run through pleasant countryside brings us to Wootton Wawen station, shortly after which the line passes a camping site at Sillesbourne on the right hand side. Immediately after passing the campsite the line dives under Edstone Aqueduct, a superb example of an early iron aqueduct, which carries the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal for 200 yards over the railway, a river, a road and the remains of the trackbed of the former branch line from Bearley to Alcester.

Now running on a gentle right-handed curve, the signalbox at Bearley West Junction is seen on the left with the line from Hatton and Leamington Spa also joining from the left. A short stretch takes the line to Wilmcote station, shortly before which, on the right hand side, is Mary Arden's House, former home of Shakespeare's mother. Now a countryside museum devoted to showing life in Tudor times, it is owned by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. Leaving Wilmcote behind, the train descends the steepest gradient on the line, a little over a mile of l-in-75 of Bishopton Bank, which carries the line beneath the A46 to the outskirts of Stratford-upon-Avon.

Soon the train is on the final approaches to Stratford-upon-Avon station sweeping round a right-handed curve, crossing the Stratford-upon- Avon Canal for the last time with the ground of Stratford Town FC over on the right.

Stratford upon Avon is famous as the birthplace of William Shakespeare. As a result of its Shakespeare connections it is a very popular tourist destination. The town is located on the River Avon (not to be confused with the River Avon in Bristol) and on its banks is located the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, home of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Nearby there is also a reconstructed Elizabethan theatre called The Swan which is also run by the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Other tourist attractions within the town include the properties of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust including Shakespeare’s Birthplace & Visitor Centre, Hall’s Croft, Harvard House, Nash’s House and New Place. Just outside Stratford upon Avon are located Anne Hathaway’s Cottage at Shottery, and Mary Arden’s House at Snitterfield.  Also within the town is Holy Trinity Church, where Shakespeare was baptised and is buried.