LMS Route: Rugby to Wolverhampton

Beechwood Tunnel: lnwrbeech3021

An 1838 drawing of Beechwood Tunnel's south portal with Nailcote Lane overbridge in the foreground. Whilst the cutting, bridge and tunnel are passable representations of the structures, the depiction of the locomotive and railway policeman with signal flag, is believed to be contrived to make the drawing more interesting. The locomotive is not attached to any coaching stock and is 'wrong road' as its facing the artist whereas the line it is standing is the down line to Birmingham and therefore it should be facing the other direction. Whilst from a safety point of view the policeman is standing in an acceptable position, the location did not warrant his services. Early signalling was undertaken by railway policemen (hence the nickname 'bobbies' for signalmen on some railways). Trains would depart stations or specific locations on a 'time interval' basis which meant that after a given amount of time following trains would be dispatched. Safety therefore relied on the trains arriving within their scheduled journey time and on drivers of following trains keeping a lookout for broken down trains etc.

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