GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Small Heath and Sparkbrook Station: gwrsh1335a

Close up of image 'gwrsh1335' showing the down platform, the booking office erected on the overbridge and on the left the down platform's brick built passenger facilities. The two chimneys provide evidence that the building was larger than the opposite building on the up platform. This was because more passengers travelled towards Snow Hill than in the opposite direction. Railway companies up to the 20th century provided separate ladies waiting rooms as well as waiting rooms divided by class of travel. The white sign reads 'Gentlemen' and the slatted or louvered windows show the location of the urinals. In the centre of the track adjacent to the overbridge are some signals which are made more visible by the white painted background on the bridge. On the platform can be seen conical shaped milk churns that were delivered via the railway from farms in outlying areas to local grocers. The lamps illuminating the station are gas lit with the mantles clearly evident through the glass sides. The gas would either be supplied from town gas in suburban areas or in more rural areas oil gas provided by the railway's own tank wagons.

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