GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Solihull Station: gwrs2620a

Close up of image 'gwrs2620' showing Solihull station's 1934 cattle dock, twin double sidings and coal stacks. Beyond the goods shed a head shunt gave access to one short siding with an end loading ramp and two pairs of mileage sidings with road access. These can be seen filled with wagons behind the goods shed and cattle dock. The switches for these sidings were hand points controlled by ground levers, which were required to be kept padlocked when not in use. The wagons in these sidings are predominately private owner (PO) open wagons with a few railway company covered wagons. At the back of the site piles of coal are visible, which was common practice at this period, as coal staithes were generally a post nationalisation feature. Fixed spaces in the mileage yard were let to tenants for the storage of coal and other goods. On receipt of goods the consignee would be advised and allowed three days to unload their goods, after which they were charged a daily demurrage (if the goods were loaded in a railway owned wagon) or daily siding rent (if in a PO wagon). Leaving the wagon's doors open would indicate to the railway goods clerk that the wagon was empty and was thus not subject to any charge as the wagon could be returned.

Robert Ferris

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