Building the last Main Line Railway

Rugby to Barby: gcrcs1b

This close up of image 'gcrcs1' shows the vertical boiler and the machinery that operated the steam shovel. The man on the right is in fact the stoker and to his right can be seen the coal and shovel as well as a piece of metal sheeting fixed upright and bent at 90 degrees.

This is thought to have been used by the stoker as a back stop to assist in loading his shoevel. The navvies' head wear might well be an indicator as to the ranking of the men in view. The Bowler hat was often considered to be a sign of authority in the 19th century.

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