LMS Route: Stratford Midland Junction - The Shakespeare Route

Stratford on Avon Station: smjsa118

Looking East showing the sole remaining water crane complete with enclosed brazier to ward off frost on 18th August 1962. The extended arm at the top of the water column instead of a flexible bag (as seen in image 'smjsa44a') is why this watering equipment were described as 'cranes' They could be rotated 90° across either track and required much less effort by the fireman to place the 'bag' into the tender. With the larger than normal distance between the two sets of tracks at Stratford they were ideal but they were still found at many other locations, particularly on the Midland Railway. They were however more expensive to produce and during winter they could freeze up stopping their rotation. The bridge at the end of the platforms carried the two sets of tracks of the railway over the River Avon for a little distance before the line reverted to single line working.

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