GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

GWR Route: North Warwickshire Line

Birmingham Snow Hill Station: gwrbsh1744

View of Birmingham Snow Hill station from the rear of a departing up train in the post grouping period. Birmingham South Signal Box is on the left at the end of the main down platform (Nos 5 and 6), while directly behind the departing train is the main up platform (Nos 7 and 8). These platforms each had two platform numbers because they were long enough to accommodate two trains. A centrally placed scissors cross-over switching arrangement allowed following trains to use the central through tracks to depart first if required or a later arriving train to pull in front of another stationary train. These platforms were also both island platforms and each had a second platform face; the down side being numbered Nos 1 and 2 and the up side, visible on the right, numbered No 11 and 12. In all cases the lower (odd) platform number was on the south side nearest the tunnel entrance from where this photograph was taken. As well as allowing better utilisation of the long platforms, the central tracks acted as through lines for freight services and facilitated shunting when it was necessary to attach or detach additional carriages or wagons (eg horse boxes, parcel vans, fish wagons or milk tankers).

Robert Ferris

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