LMS Route: Birmingham New Street to Tamworth

LMS Route: Nuneaton to Birmingham New Street

Washwood Heath Sidings: mrwhg354a

Close up of image 'mrwhg354' showing Washwood Heath Sidings and the mystery three sectioned signal box surrounded by locomotives and wagons. The photographer, WL 'Leslie' Good, was normally meticulous in his recording of the date and location of his many thousands of photographs. However research as to the name of the signal box has yet to identify its true identity. There are three distinctive features of the design to note when comparing this image with the photographs taken by MA King in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The above signal box has three section, its base is constructed out of timber and there are two windows in the base's end panel.

Three of Washwood Heath Sidings signal boxes, Washwood Heath Sidings No 5, Washwood Heath Sidings No 6 and Washwood Heath Junction Signal Box had brick built bases, whilst of the remaining four only Washwood Heath Sidings No 3 and Washwood Heath Sidings No 1 had windows in the base end panel. However as can be seen Washwood Heath No 3 Signal Box was a two panel design and whilst Washwood Heath Siding No 1 had three panels with a timber based complete with two end windows, its surroundings were not at all like the photograph above. The other signal box, Washwood Heath Sidings No 2 which was located near to the carriage and wagon works and of a similar outline to the building seen above, had two panels and no end windows. According to Bob Essery in Midland Record No 26 all of the seven signal boxes found at Washwood Heath were built before 1930 the year the Geyer Peacock 'Garratt' was built. The question therefore needs to be asked is the location actually Washwood Heath Sidings? Postcards please to.....

Tony of rail-online wrote 'Mike, Just had a look at 'mrwhg354' and 'mrwhg345a' and I am afraid I am pretty sure it is Toton Up yard (South end). I am sure I have seen it before but cannot recall where. There are 3 wagons used for the Stonebridge Coal trains in the wagon repair works on the right which would be consistant. I remember a footbridge spanning the yard at this point which would match with the angle of the shot. There is an LMS official film out on video which shows the area, called "LMS Freight" or similar (which as usual I can't find)!'

back