GWR Route: North Warwickshire Line

Bordesley Shed: gwrbg-shed1950

View of the original sheer legs installed at Bordesley during its the days when the shed still serviced Broad Gauge locomotives. 'It will be readily understood that amongst the most important appurtenances at a locomotive running shed are the lifting appliances. We have pleasure, therefore, in illustrating the old types of sheer legs or hoists, which are used for lifting engines for wheel changing, etc. The sheer legs were made by the Engineering Department about 1852, were erected under the superintendence of the late Sir Daniel Gooch, and have been in use ever since. They were capable of dealing with loads up to 18 tons and are of simple design. It will be seen that the structure is of timber, the four legs being kept in position by two cast-iron angle brackets suitably trussed and riveted. The span at the top is 11 feet 6 inches, with a spread at the bottom of 15 feet 6 inches, the height under the cross girder being 20 feet 9 inches. A pair of quadruple snatch blocks is hung from the cross girder, the chain being led down to an ordinary hand crab, the motion of which is purposely slow to enable the hoisting to be performed by a minimum number of men.'

Robert Ferris

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