GWR Route: The North Warwickshire Line

GWR Route: Stratford on Avon to Hatton

Stratford on Avon Shed: gwrsa1573

Official Great Western Railway photograph of Stratford-on-Avon engine shed shortly after its completion in 1911. There were two parallel railroads running the full length of this straight shed with smoke troughs over each track and ten pairs of ventilation shafts above. The end of the first pair of smoke troughs can be seen extending just outside the shed above the entrance doorways. At this time, before locomotive smoke had had its affect, the distinctive light and dark tone paintwork is clear to see, both on the doors and internal walls. Just in front of the shed behind the gas lamp post is the sand bin and the associated furnace for drying the sand. Sand was used to help the locomotive's wheels adhere to wet or greasy track, particularly when starting or stopping. All locomotives had sand bunkers and pipes which directed the sand onto the track next to the driving wheels when required. It was important to keep the sand dry or it could stick in these pipes.

Robert Ferris

back