The Works were originally used for the maintenance and repairs of locomotives purchased from outside firms. Two locomotives were built there between 1845 and 1846 and one more in 1848, however following the extension of the buildings and an improvement in the facilities, they were turned out in quantity. When production finally ceased 1863 they had produced over 166 loco's.
In 1901, Wolverton was the first railway works to use electricity for lighting and driving machinery throughout. All coaches for principal services now included corridor connections and were mounted on bogies instead of radial trucks. A new royal train was built in 1903.
In 1923, when the LNWR merged into the LMS, wagon building was introduced. Such work continued after nationalisation but, in 1962, Wolverton ceased production of new stock. From 1926 the works was supplied with electricity from Northampton Power station.
The works is divided from Wolverton itself by a wall that extended almost completely along the front of the town and which still bears visible traces of the paint that was used to camouflage it during the Second World War. (During the war, two bombs and an incendiary fell on Wolverton town and another on New Bradwell village, on the other side of the track).
During the war, Wolverton joined in a joint venture with other workshops, railway and private, to produce Horsa gliders for the D-Day airborne assault. It also repaired Whitley bombers, Hawker Typhoon wings and converted some seven hundred commercial motor vans into armoured vehicles.
Although no new general service carriages were built, twenty four vehicles were built in 1977 for the Royal Mail, and twenty one diesel multiple units for the Northern Ireland Railways.
Today, part of the original works site has become a Tesco supermarket.
Explored in the good company of kingrat, lilli and Section8 many thanks guys for showing me around and on a final note I can say from experience that the floors in this place are a deathtrap you can't relax for 1 second.
In 1901, Wolverton was the first railway works to use electricity for lighting and driving machinery throughout. All coaches for principal services now included corridor connections and were mounted on bogies instead of radial trucks. A new royal train was built in 1903.
In 1923, when the LNWR merged into the LMS, wagon building was introduced. Such work continued after nationalisation but, in 1962, Wolverton ceased production of new stock. From 1926 the works was supplied with electricity from Northampton Power station.
The works is divided from Wolverton itself by a wall that extended almost completely along the front of the town and which still bears visible traces of the paint that was used to camouflage it during the Second World War. (During the war, two bombs and an incendiary fell on Wolverton town and another on New Bradwell village, on the other side of the track).
During the war, Wolverton joined in a joint venture with other workshops, railway and private, to produce Horsa gliders for the D-Day airborne assault. It also repaired Whitley bombers, Hawker Typhoon wings and converted some seven hundred commercial motor vans into armoured vehicles.
Although no new general service carriages were built, twenty four vehicles were built in 1977 for the Royal Mail, and twenty one diesel multiple units for the Northern Ireland Railways.
Today, part of the original works site has become a Tesco supermarket.
Explored in the good company of kingrat, lilli and Section8 many thanks guys for showing me around and on a final note I can say from experience that the floors in this place are a deathtrap you can't relax for 1 second.
