GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Small Heath and Sparkbrook Station: gwrsh4001

Following the fatal accident to track-relayer Mr F McGarry on 20th August 1946 the Great Western Railway prepared a drawing to show where the accident occurred. The drawing (No.10718) used the Company’s current Land Survey Plan as the background. This plan shows the track arrangement between Small Heath Station and Tyseley Locomotive Depot. Adjacent properties such as the main Birmingham Small Arms (BSA) Factory feature prominently. On the other side of the track is Small Heath South Signal Box and behind this the junction constructed to connect to a private branch line to the BSA Sparkbrook Works and Singer Factory. This connection was requested by the Government during the First World War and a note records that a parcel of land adjacent to the junction was sold to the Secretary of State for War on 12th October 1917. Material shortages meant the connection was only completed in 1919, after the war had ended.

Robert Ferris

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