GWR Route: Stratford on Avon to Honeybourne

Long Marston Station: gwrlm2427a

Close up of image 'gwrlm2427' showing some of the goods yard including the fixed yard crane mounted on the landing dock which has a grounded coach body in lieu of a goods shed. The corrugated steel shed appears to be used as secure storage facilities for the Permanent Way gang. The mess facilities for the staff based at the station, built of timber sleepers with a brick chimney stack, is just beyond the bracket signal as seen in image 'gwrlm2428'. The photographer is standing at the end of the down platform and looking south towards Honeybourne. Access to the ordnance depot's sidings commenced at this point and consequently, though unusual on a mainline, a facing slip has been provided allowing trains to run directly into the sidings. The bracket signal contains two starter arms, the one on the left controlling access into the sidings the one on the right controlling the mainline to Honeybourne. The signal arm on the left is shorter in order to help drivers differentiate between being given the right of way for the sidings and the mainline. This, or a variation, was a safety practice adopted by many of Britain's railways.

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