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LMS Route: Rugby to Wolverhampton

Marston Green Station: lnwrmg4482

An updated version of an 1841 map of Marston Green Gates and Station showing a 'Police Box' and two railway cottages

An updated version of an 1841 map of Marston Green Gates and Station showing a 'Police Box' and two railway cottages. The staggered platform configuration was to be found at many locations along the line to Coventry. Marston Green, Berkswell and Tile Hill stations being other such stations. The concept was that the short train could pass through the gates and stop clear of the road thereby reducing to a minimum the delay to local road traffic. Before block working protected trains en route it was the practice to work on a time interval basis which meant the crossing could be closed for an indeterminate amount of time if it was running late. There are many instances where such practices caused the local council to protest and sometimes take legal action against the railway. The reference to Police Cottage indicates that this was the accommodation for the signalman and his family. Signalmen are still known as 'Bobbies' reflecting the time when railway police controlled the departure and arrival of trains. The railways were controlled by policemen who were responsible for carrying out the duties that we associate with signalmen today. The above map was provided by Russell Burridge who copied two huge 4ft x 2ft folders showing in detail the route as surveyed in 1841 by Binns & Clifford of Birmingham, and updated by F Wood of Rugby in 1863 and then by others up until circa 1875.

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