LMS Route: Birmingham New Street to Lichfield

LMS Route: Birmingham New Street to Soho and Perry Barr

Curzon Street: lnwrcs1498

Looking towards the main line with the main shed being located out of sight on the right. The problem of accessing a wagon from the middle of a long line of wagons was in part solved by the use of wagon turntables located at several poits along the sidings. These made it possible to move wagons from a mid-point within a train to a nearby line kept clear for the purpose. The movement of the wagons were powered either by horse or frequently, as seen in the posed photograph above, by manpower.

The turning of the wagon turntable and initial movement would be undertaken by the use of a powered capstan. The operator would turn the capstan by pressing down on a treadle and spin the rope around the capstan to get it to 'bite' where upon the rope being tied to a wagon would intially rotate the wagon 90° and then pull the wagon towards the capstan. If necessary, the wagon could be pulled from one capstan to another although significant distances were covered by using a horse.

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