GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Small Heath and Sparkbrook Station: gwrsh3157

Small Heath and Sparkbrook Station looking south from the edge of the down main platform on 18th July 1963. At the end of the platform the up main starter and distant signals are in the ‘All Clear’ position. The cast iron platform lamp columns seen in 'gwrsh1336' have had their ornate lanterns removed and symmetrical pairs of outriggers added, each with an enamel shade fixing for an electric lamp. The columns themselves have been extended upwards and support a steel catenary wire with a suspended electric cable. Notice the white painted platform edges finishing level with the ‘6 car’ sign indicating that only local suburban passenger trains stopped here.

In addition to the main and relief lines, a pair of goods running loop lines ran from Tyseley, through Small Heath, to Bordesley Yard and in this photograph a freight train can be seen waiting on the down goods running loop line. These goods running loop lines were signalled using the Tell Tale Permissive Block System which allowed more than one freight, mineral or empty coaching stock train to operate in the same block section, at the same time and the lines could therefore be used to store multiple trains. This was particularly useful when there was insufficient room to handle all the incoming Bordesley Yard traffic. In addition to normal permissive block working, the Appendix to the Service Time Table (No 14) also advised that it was not necessary for the guard to remain with his train once it had been stopped on this down goods running loop line.

Robert Ferris

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