GWR Route: North Warwickshire Line

GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Bordesley Station: gwrbg2277

Looking north from Bordesley South Signal Box as a class 9F 2-10-0 crosses the ex Midland Railway viaduct with a freight on 31st  August 1957. Bordesley South Signal Box controlled the five block sections for the down goods, relief and main lines, the junction with the interchange line from the ex Midland Railway, plus the extensive yard and warehouse sidings. The Signal Box had a 176 lever frame and two small 2 lever frames for detonator placement. The switch rodding and signal wires on the north side can be seen between the down goods line and down relief line tracks in centre foreground.

The British Railways Class 08 diesel locomotive with a GWR shunting truck, open wagon, brake van and two covered vans is on the down sidings line. From a position under the viaduct on the adjacent down goods line a through connection with trailing single compound slips crossed the relief and main running lines to the up pilot and up sidings lines.

The four storey warehouse on the left was built in 1931. The Government had introduced the Development (Loan Guarantees and Gants) Act (1929) in an attempt to stimulate the economy and create employment during the depression. Targeted at national infrastructure regeneration, the Great Western Railway carried out several major civil schemes, which included improvements to Goods facilities. In addition to the Bordesley Warehouse another was built at Soho (see image 'gwrswg1572').

Robert Ferris

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