Rugby test house

During the late seventies early eighties I remember going on the train to London and seeing the rugby steam test building did I imagine it or was it still in existence at that time?

 

I remember it too. Basically it was abandonned, like many railway buildings, until eventuallythe land was needed and the building knocked down

 

It was there in June 75, because I walked in and had a look around. The test bed machinery was missing, leaving what looked like an empty swimming pool. Most interesting.

 

It was there well in the late 1980's. As a child living in Rugby my dad would take me to the far end of platform 1, point it out to me and tell me what it used to be.

 

Closed 1970, demolished 1984.
http://www.traintesting.com/rugby_locomotive_testing_station.htm

http://www.warwickshirerailways.com/lms/rugby_testingstation.htm

 

I visited Rugby test plant one Saturday morning in 1953 when they were testing MN 35022 on the rollers .The noise was terrific ,no ear defenders were given out ,shout as lowed as you like ,but the lad standing next to me couldn't hear a word.
This was a chance visit, a small group of us were en route to Crewe works, with permits for 2A Rugby,5A Crewe North ,and Crewe works. (It wasn't possible to obtain permits 5B Crewe South due to main running lines both sides of the shed.) Whilst at Rugby shed we saw steam coming out the test station roof ,so the lad in charge with the permits ,chanced his arm and went to the test station office and surprisingly obtained permission. Apart from our small group ,I've never heard of anyone else visiting the plant when a loco' was being tested.

 

I visited Rugby test plant one Saturday morning in 1953 when they were testing MN 35022 on the rollers .The noise was terrific ,no ear defenders were given out ,shout as lowed as you like ,but the lad standing next to me couldn't hear a word.
This was a chance visit, a small group of us were en route to Crewe works, with permits for 2A Rugby,5A Crewe North ,and Crewe works. (It wasn't possible to obtain permits 5B Crewe South due to main running lines both sides of the shed.) Whilst at Rugby shed we saw steam coming out the test station roof ,so the lad in charge with the permits ,chanced his arm and went to the test station office and surprisingly obtained permission. Apart from our small group ,I've never heard of anyone else visiting the plant when a loco' was being tested.

 

I visited Rugby test plant one Saturday morning in 1953 when they were testing MN 35022 on the rollers .The noise was terrific ,no ear defenders were given out ,shout as lowed as you like ,but the lad standing next to me couldn't hear a word.
This was a chance visit, a small group of us were en route to Crewe works, with permits for 2A Rugby,5A Crewe North ,and Crewe works. (It wasn't possible to obtain permits 5B Crewe South due to main running lines both sides of the shed.) Whilst at Rugby shed we saw steam coming out the test station roof ,so the lad in charge with the permits ,chanced his arm and went to the test station office and surprisingly obtained permission. Apart from our small group ,I've never heard of anyone else visiting the plant when a loco' was being tested.

 

I visited Rugby test plant one Saturday morning in 1953 when they were testing MN 35022 on the rollers .The noise was terrific ,no ear defenders were given out ,shout as lowed as you like ,but the lad standing next to me couldn't hear a word.
This was a chance visit, a small group of us were en route to Crewe works, with permits for 2A Rugby,5A Crewe North ,and Crewe works. (It wasn't possible to obtain permits 5B Crewe South due to main running lines both sides of the shed.) Whilst at Rugby shed we saw steam coming out the test station roof ,so the lad in charge with the permits ,chanced his arm and went to the test station office and surprisingly obtained permission. Apart from our small group ,I've never heard of anyone else visiting the plant when a loco' was being tested.

 

I visited Rugby test plant one Saturday morning in 1953 when they were testing MN 35022 on the rollers .The noise was terrific ,no ear defenders were given out ,shout as lowed as you like ,but the lad standing next to me couldn't hear a word.
This was a chance visit, a small group of us were en route to Crewe works, with permits for 2A Rugby,5A Crewe North ,and Crewe works. (It wasn't possible to obtain permits 5B Crewe South due to main running lines both sides of the shed.) Whilst at Rugby shed we saw steam coming out the test station roof ,so the lad in charge with the permits ,chanced his arm and went to the test station office and surprisingly obtained permission. Apart from our small group ,I've never heard of anyone else visiting the plant when a loco' was being tested.

 

Did you ever get a chance to visit Rugby test plant?

 

Not me, no, but I heard on a forum that a chap went there in 1953. Apparently they were testing a Merchant Navy at the time...

 

Sorry about the repeats but at approx. 11.30 yesterday only the message timed at 11.16 had been posted ,that one was done via "more options" .The arrows at the top were spinning for some time after my first attempt to post by" post reply" .Problem posting this as well

 

You can delete the extra ones, click edit.

 

Must have been an amazing sight and sound.