LMS Route: Nuneaton to Birmingham New Street

LMS Route: Birmingham New Street to Tamworth

Saltley Shed: mrsalt661

A line of British Railways and LMS 0-6-0 Diesel shunters are seen standing adjacent to the entrance of Saltley shed's No 2 roundhouse on 25th April 1948. This was the siding eventually chosen in the 1950s to accommodate the diesel fuel tank. The two Diesels carrying the legend 'British Railways' were the first Diesel shunters to be constructed by British Railways as they were next in sequence of the batch ordered by the LMS. Whilst the LMS numbered their shunters No 7120 to 7129, British Railways continued the numbering sequence but added the letter 'M' standing for the Midland division. Both Diesel shunters were renumbered by British Railways as Nos 12033 and 12034.

Bob Essery states in DJ Norton's pictorial survey of Railways in the West Midlands that 'they were employed at Washwood Heath, Lawley Street and Camp Hill on continuous shunting turns, leaving the shed on a Monday morning and usually returning after 6 am on the following Sunday morning. Apart from refuelling, very little work was entailed in preparing them when compared to a steam locomotive, whilst disposal after a week's work did not involve the best part of an hour's hard work'.

back