GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Leamington Shed: gwrls231a

Close up of image 'gwrls231' showing the two standard GWR water columns and the 'fire-devils' used to protect them from freezing. Because they were designed to rotate 360° it was necessary that they be secured when not in use. At the end of the 'jib' at the point where the 'bag' is fixed, a steel chain was attached which was fixed at its other end to a vertical post sited parallel to the tracks. Careful observation will show the vertical screw handle used to turn the water on and off (similar to that used on locomotives) as well as the fact that each column had two 'fire-devils', one for the bag and one adjacent to the column.

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