GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

GWR Route: North Warwickshire Line

Birmingham Snow Hill - Pre-grouping locomotives: gwrbsh1195

GWR 0-6-0 No 351, a class 322 design, is seen standing at the up platform at the South end of Snow Hill station with the steps to the hotel in the background. Built by Beyer Peacock in 1866 the outside framed locomotive would have been regarded with great interest at the time the photograph was taken because it was older than the station building shortly to be demolished. The horse just coming in to view on the left was one of many thousands employed by all railway companies. Employed from the very beginning of railway history the shunting horse was essential for working both stations and goods yards.

They were employed by the GWR to move the rolling stock within the station and via the wagon turntables which were provided at the South end of Snow Hill station. Horses were also used to deliver the parcels and other goods arriving at stations and goods yards for onward delivery by road. In 1867 over 130 horses were recorded being employed at the station and whilst most were stabled at Hockley some were stabled at Snow Hill in stalls located within the tunnel mouth. It was said that that they were so well trained that they would not pass a signal at danger.

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