LMS Route: Birmingham New Street to Tamworth

LMS Route: Nuneaton to Birmingham New Street

Washwood Heath Sidings: mrwhg449a

Close up looking towards Stewarts and Lloyds factory and its exchange sidings from Washwood Heath Junction Signal Box. Stephen Hodge writes "there was an exchange siding for the old 'Stewart and Lloyds' steel works (which became British Steel - Bromford Tube Works) at some time around the time of my visits in the 1960s. Stewart and Lloyds also possibly made lampposts at a site just the other side of Bromford Lane on the map as I recall seeing lampposts on wagons in the exchange sidings. I recalled seeing the Rolls Royce diesel 'Barabel' which arrived at Bromford 17th July 1967 from Corby (for more information see http://www.nvr.org.uk/istg/d10202.php). There was at least one 0-4-0 saddle tank on the site, the name of which I cannot recall, and this was replaced or supplemented by WELLINGBORO’ No 3. Being too small for any other work other than permanent way work at Corby it was eventually transferred to the Bromford Bridge Tube Works in January 1967, see http://www.irsociety.co.uk/Archives/37/Corby.htm . Stewart and Lloyds is long gone, but the isolated sidings were still in place until 2005-6 when they were lifted. The drivers of the saddle tank used to give trainspotters on the station platform rides in the cab up and down in the sidings".

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