GWR Route: North Warwickshire Line

Henley in Arden - Original Station: gwrha2767

British Railways built 0-6-0PT 94xx class No 9973 is at the rear of a short goods train as it runs from the branch to the main North Warwickshire line circa 1950. Richard Coy writes, 'trains were propelled in and out of Henley Goods Branch. So in the photo the train is coming out onto the North Warwickshire line. This explains the guard looking towards us, and the signal permitting this move. GW Journal 11, Summer 1994, and the photos explain the setup. The loco got around the train by a nifty fly-shunt outside the goods shed'.

The locomotive is working the branch with the 9:25am Bordesley pick up freight calling at Shirley at 10:20 am, then onwards to Earlswood before arriving at Henley-in-Arden. In this view the locomotive is reversing back along the branch having shunted the yard and dropped off and collected wagons. The guard is looking out towards the main line to check that they have the right of way to cross the main line in order to access the loop line on the up side ready for the return trip. The signal arm on the right had a circle placed on the arm denoting that it controls the goods line. In the 1950s the return trip would occur after 2:30pm following the stopping passenger train to Moor Street stopping off at Danzey where full and empty wagons would be exchanged. Earlswood's, Shirley's and Hall Green's empty wagons would be collected on the way to Bordesley Junction.

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