GWR Route: Hatton to Bearley and Alcester Branch

Bearley Station: gwrb442

Looking towards Hatton from the Stratford end of the down platform with the main station goods and passenger facilities on the left. Bearley Station's signal box is behind the camera and on the right. The control rods running from the signal box to the far end of the station can be seen next to the rails. In the six foot, the space between the two sets of rails, a small ground signal can be seen. The pointwork to the sidings and goods shed are known as 'trailing, in that to enter the sidings the train had to reverse. Facing pointwork, whereby the train travelled forward to a new line, were considered to be potentially dangerous as it was possible for the leading wheels to split the rails where they met, particular at speed. Trailing points would be forced together by the forward momentum thereby minimising the risk of derailment.

Robert Ferris

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