I moved to Coventry December 1963,the station was completed in 1962 in time for the consecration of Coventry Cathedral,l worked on the station between 1978 and 1990,a very great workplace.I once had the pleasure and privilege to have a conversations we the BR Architect,the only aspect he would have changed,with hindsight,was the entrance hall, very high and cold.Other than that it has stood the test of time very well.As staff the facilities were excellent.The Signal box was on the site of the former Engine Shed,at the junction of the Leamington line.
Wow.. that brought some memories back living in the city. I was Into motorbikes at this time having outgrow train spotting.. Great to see my local area again. Many thanks Dave in Coventry.
I was based in Coventry in 1990 and 1991 and most of the trains were electric, usually Class 86 hauled Inter City services, ageing Class 304s on local services to Birmingham and 319s on the semi fasts to Euston. The smaller diesel selection was quite good as you had Class 47s hauling the Inter City services to the South Coast, HSTs on the Edinburgh- Poole services, and Sprinters on the Nuneaton services.
That's beautiful. I'm enough of a saddo that I've just gone onto the National Library of Scotland's side-by-side maps (and photos!) to see how Coventry station and its surrounds were laid out back then, so I can put all of this into context. Brilliant. thanks for the upload.
My bottom line question was: "which end of Coventry station is this?" The curve off could have been either the London end, or the Birmingham end (with the branch to Nuneaton). From viewing the photos and maps on line, the factories in the background at 0:28 must mean we're looking at the London/Rugby end, with the line to Oxford branching off. Go on, everyone. Tell me I'm wrong...
@@mesnilman2327you’re right, it is the London end. Cov Box looks new, the DMU at the end is coming in from Leamington. The Birmingham end had a big goods yard.
I was only 3 or 4 at the time and I don't know where we were going to from platform 3 but my mum took me across to see this big (well I thought it was big), black steam engine in P2 (light loco). The driver or fireman opened the drain cocks with a tremendous rush of steam and I ran back crying to my dad. I have a vivid memory of the shape of the loco and in later years saw from pictures that it was an Ivatt. Coventry had 2 on shed so it was probably one of those. (I learnt more from 31 years on the railway and working with the old steam boys). Even though I grew up near the WCML in Canley when we moved there in 1964, that was the only steam loco I remember seeing in BR service apart from a rebuilt and unrebuilt Bulleid on Bournemouth Belles when were down there on holiday. Oh for a time machine. I'd jump on the trolleybuses again and the Royal Blue coaches too 😊
Not a fan of dubbed music and sound on silent footage so it was the mute button for me. Great film, though, showing the very early years of Coventry PSB.
I moved to Coventry December 1963,the station was completed in 1962 in time for the consecration of Coventry Cathedral,l worked on the station between 1978 and 1990,a very great workplace.I once had the pleasure and privilege to have a conversations we the BR Architect,the only aspect he would have changed,with hindsight,was the entrance hall, very high and cold.Other than that it has stood the test of time very well.As staff the facilities were excellent.The Signal box was on the site of the former Engine Shed,at the junction of the Leamington line.
Wow.. that brought some memories back living in the city. I was Into motorbikes at this time having outgrow train spotting.. Great to see my local area again. Many thanks Dave in Coventry.
Glad you enjoyed it
Happy memories of wondering whether our train would have a steam engine or a new-fangled diesel.
I was based in Coventry in 1990 and 1991 and most of the trains were electric, usually Class 86 hauled Inter City services, ageing Class 304s on local services to Birmingham and 319s on the semi fasts to Euston. The smaller diesel selection was quite good as you had Class 47s hauling the Inter City services to the South Coast, HSTs on the Edinburgh- Poole services, and Sprinters on the Nuneaton services.
Great stuff, again!
Thanks Jim.
That's beautiful. I'm enough of a saddo that I've just gone onto the National Library of Scotland's side-by-side maps (and photos!) to see how Coventry station and its surrounds were laid out back then, so I can put all of this into context. Brilliant. thanks for the upload.
My bottom line question was: "which end of Coventry station is this?" The curve off could have been either the London end, or the Birmingham end (with the branch to Nuneaton). From viewing the photos and maps on line, the factories in the background at 0:28 must mean we're looking at the London/Rugby end, with the line to Oxford branching off. Go on, everyone. Tell me I'm wrong...
And the huts at 1:29 are clearly visible here maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=18.8&lat=52.40038&lon=-1.51100&layers=253&right=ESRIWorld
@@mesnilman2327you’re right, it is the London end. Cov Box looks new, the DMU at the end is coming in from Leamington. The Birmingham end had a big goods yard.
I was only 3 or 4 at the time and I don't know where we were going to from platform 3 but my mum took me across to see this big (well I thought it was big), black steam engine in P2 (light loco). The driver or fireman opened the drain cocks with a tremendous rush of steam and I ran back crying to my dad.
I have a vivid memory of the shape of the loco and in later years saw from pictures that it was an Ivatt. Coventry had 2 on shed so it was probably one of those. (I learnt more from 31 years on the railway and working with the old steam boys).
Even though I grew up near the WCML in Canley when we moved there in 1964, that was the only steam loco I remember seeing in BR service apart from a rebuilt and unrebuilt Bulleid on Bournemouth Belles when were down there on holiday.
Oh for a time machine. I'd jump on the trolleybuses again and the Royal Blue coaches too 😊
Great views of a time long ago
Nice footage of the modernist train station
I remember it well! Thank you for making and posting this film.🙃
Our pleasure!
Incredible footage
Doesnt half look strange without all the catenary....
Quality.
The year I was born. Is that the engine shed as you turn on to the Leamington line on the left?
That's the 'new' power signal box. Open in April '62
Not a fan of dubbed music and sound on silent footage so it was the mute button for me. Great film, though, showing the very early years of Coventry PSB.
For great read good,!!oops