LMS Route: Nuneaton to Birmingham New Street

LMS Route: Birmingham New Street to Tamworth

Saltley Shed: mrsalt657

View of Saltley shed in 1961 with the mechanical coaling plant and ash plant on the left and No 3 shed on the right. The LMS installed mechanical coaling plants and ash plants under their 1933 scheme to improve the time wasted on various shed operations. Hawkins & Reeves state in their first volume on LMS Engine Sheds - The LNWR that the LMS found 'coaling was found to be one of the most serious offenders, and the company perceived that this was one area where considerable economies could be effected'.

As part of the 1933 scheme the LMS introduced the practice of supplying coal to the depots by the just-in-time method of working. Whereas coal was previously stockpiled for long periods (to the point that a ruling existed whereby stockpiles of coal had to be denoted by age and their use rotated to ensure the coal was used within a given period) coaling plants were designed to hold stocks for only 24 hours with the bunkers to be replenished at the end of the busiest periods. This practice substantially reduced the operating costs and helped to defray the capital cost of building the coaling plants.

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