LMS Route: Grand Junction Railway
LMS Route: Birmingham New Street to Lichfield
LMS Route: Birmingham-Soho-Perry Barr-Birmingham

Aston Shed: lnwra3276

Aston shed complete with its new louvre roof built in 1944 together with a mix of pre-grouping and grouping locomotives on 4th May 1958. The modernisation programme carried out in the 1930s was initiated because studies commissioned by EJH Lemon, Operating Vice President, found that 'in any 24 hour period, the average time occupied in revenue earning service by each locomotive was 4 hours 23 minutes! Disposal time varied greatly from 1½ hours at Aston to an incredible 6 hours at Farnley! The problem identified the continued use of old sheds and layouts originally designed for smaller locomotives but lesser numbers than were being catered for in 1931, the year of the study. To make matters worse, it was further noted that most facilities and machinery were worn out, inefficient or simply non-existent, compounded by sites somewhat cramped and restricted.

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