GWR Routes: Banbury to Wolverhampton

GWR Routes: North Warwickshire Line

Moor Street Station: gwrms1713a

Close-up of image 'gwrms1713' showing a train of Midland Railway open wagons delivering materials for the contractors. Steam locomotives have passed through the shed leaving tell-tale soot marks above the entrances. The majority of wagons are five plank high sided open wagons with a nine foot wheel base and a single sided brake arrangement, of which the Midland built 62,000 wagons to drawing 402 (diagram D299) between 1882 and 1899. The three plank open wagon at the end appears to be carrying a load of stone – possibly granite sets for the cartway and road areas. Unlike the Great Western Railway, the Midland did not normally paint wagon numbers, loading capacity or tare details on their wagons, this information being carried on cast plates on the sole bar. The bright 'M R' was painted in a self-cleaning white oxalic paint which stood out against the grey wagon sides.

Robert Ferris

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