LMS Route: Nuneaton to Birmingham New Street
LMS Route: Birmingham New Street to Tamworth

Washwood Heath Sidings

Washwood Heath Sidings were to be found between Bromford Bridge station and Saltley station on the Birmingham to Derby line. The sidings were located at Washwood Heath because the site offered a number of considerable advantages to the Midland Railway who required a facility near Birmingham on the main Derby to Bristol line. It was very near to the centre of Birmingham, it was a level and greenfield site (in today's parlance) and was also close to LNWR and GWR routes to facilitate easy exchanges of traffic to other major conurbations in the country. The layout to the Sidings were complex and therefore I have provided below a description of the location of the different types of sidings and their respective signal boxes.

Washwood Heath Sidings was first opened by the Midland Railway to serve their needs in the Birmingham area in October 1877. Initially the MR provided the sidings on the down Derby to Birmingham line because the traffic was predominantly inward bound to the immediate area. With the ever increasing volume of traffic, the MR enlarged the down sidings fourteen years later in 1891. Further expansion of traffic, outward bound from Birmingham and the immediate locality, caused the MR to establish sidings on the up Birmingham to Derby line in January 1918. The growth of light engineering saw the region escape the worse excesses of the 1930s slump and further traffic was still being generated. This increase required the up sidings to be enlarged in 1930 followed by further enlargement to the down sidings in 1935.

Washwood Heath was in fact a marshalling yard and not a goods yard. The difference between the two was that the former was a hub with traffic arriving from many locations to be marshalled in to trains for onward traffic to other locations whilst a goods yard generally received traffic which was then unloaded for delivery to the local area. Coal in particular is a good example of the type of traffic that would originate at one location and would be moved by train to many different locations. From the coal mines they would be moved to the nearest set of sorting sidings such as Washwood Heath where they would be formed into trains or in railway parlance 'trips', either for a specific location or to another sorting siding elsewhere in the country for further sorting. Washwood Heath had a number of sidings where wagons would be marshalled in to trains for one specific location. Sidings dedicated for Lawley Street, Camp Hill, Cheltenham, Lifford, Worcester, Exchange Sidings are just a few of the names written on one of the many plans accompanying the article by Bob Essery in Midland Record Issue 26 Page 21.

Starting from Bromford Bridge, the Sidings were initially controlled by two signal boxes at Bromford Bridge, Bromford Bridge South Signal Box and Bromford Bridge North Signal Box both located on the up line although both were replaced by a signal box located on Bromford Bridge station's down platform. Between Bromford Bridge and the next signal box, Washwood Heath Junction Signal Box, on the down line was Junction sidings with five roads. Opposite these sidings off the up line were the 'Dugout Sidings with five roads, the 'Upsidings' with twenty-five roads and the 'Carriage and Wagons Sidings' with tow roads, the latter being accessed by reversing from the exit roads of the Upsidings.

For a comprehensive review of Washwood Heath Sidings complete with detailed maps and signal diagrams, readers are directed to Midland Record No 26, written and edited by Bob Essery and published by Wild Swan, ISBN 978-1-905184-39-2. In addition, Bob has written other articles on freight traffic in the Birmingham area in Midland Record, in editions, Nos 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 16, 17 and 20.

Accident at Washwood Heath on 29th January 1912

The report on the collision between two passenger trains at Washwood Heath in 1912. This document was published on 10th February 1912 by Board of Trade. It was written by Major J. W. Pringle.

"In this case, the 6.27 a.m. train from Walsall to Birmingham was standing at the down home signal for Washwood Heath No. 1 signal-box, when a following train, the 6.15 am. express from Derby to Bristol, struck it. The guard of the first train was injured, and twenty one passengers are reported t6 have complained of the effects of cuts and shock."

Schematic of the layout of Washwood Heath Sidings

The above diagram provides a understanding of the layout of Washwood Heath Marshalling yard and its different sidings with the location of the signal boxes. Whilst some attempt has been made to indicate the size of each section this has been severely restricted by the need to make it legible hence the disparity of size between the signal boxes and the rest of the sidings. The symbols for the signal boxes are as follows:
WHJ SB is Washwood Heath Junction Signal Box
WHS Nos 1 to 5 are Washwood Heath Sidings Signal Boxes Nos 1 to 5

Ref: mrwhg348 NRM Looking North to Derby showing the down sidings with the Birmingham to Derby line on the extreme left

Ref: mrwhg348b NRM Close up of the arrival end of of the down sidings with the majority of wagons being used to transport coal

Ref: mrwhg348c NRM Close up of the front arrival roads with Washwood Heath Sidings No 3 Signal Box in the middle of the photograph

Ref: mrwhg348d NRM Close up of the rear seven sidings behind the Back Fan and the bridge that crossed the adjacent cutting

Ref: mrwhg348e NRM Close up view of the front section of the seven sidings located behind Washwood Heath Siding's Back Fan

Ref: mrwhg449 DJ Norton Looking towards Bromford Bridge with the upsidings on the very left and on the right Junction Road sidings

Ref: mrwhg449a DJ Norton Close up looking towards Stewarts and Lloyds factory from Washwood Heath Junction Signal Box

Ref: mrwhg449b DJ Norton Close up of an unidentified ex-LMS 2-8-0 8F locomotive ready to take forward a coal train to Bordesley sidings

Ref: mrwhg626 DJ Norton Looking towards Saltley station and Washwood Heath Junction Signal Box, on the left the Old Coal Bank sidings

Ref: mrwhg626a DJ Norton Close up of Washwood Heath Junction Signal Box with on the right Washwood Heath Sidings No 5 Signal Box

Ref: mrwhg627 DJ Norton Looking to Saltley with the Old Coal Bank sidings on the left and on the right Washwood Heath Siding No 5 Signal Box

Ref: mrwhg627a DJ Norton Close up of the brick hut and behind on a raised bank, the shunting line for the Front Fan or Goods Bank

Ref: mrwhg636 RJ Essery Looking towards the West end of Washwood Heath's down sidings with the gasometers on the other side of the line

Ref: mrwhg629 DJ Norton Looking to Bromford Bridge with the approach roads of the up sidings on the left and to the right the Front Fan

Ref: mrwhg641 RJ Essery The signal gantry controlling No 1 down goods and the down passenger line on the Derby to Birmingham route

Ref: mrwhg622 MA King Looking to Saltley station with the entrance to the West end of Washwood Heath's down sidings on the left

Ref: mrwhg460 DJ Norton Looking to Aston with Aston Church Road on the left and the former LNWR Aston to Stechford line on the right

Ref: mrwhg460a DJ Norton Close up of the former LNWR bridge carrying the Aston to Stechford line over the former MR Derby to Birmingham line

Ref: mrwhg637 RJ Essery An elevated view looking towards the down sidings with the MR Carriage & Wagon Works sidings to the right

Ref: mrwhg458 DJ Norton Looking towards Bromford Bridge with an unidentified ex-LMS 4F 0-6-0 standing on the bank sidings

Ref: mrwhg452 DJ Norton Looking West towards Bromford Bridge with Washwood Heath Sidings No 1 Signal Box in the centre

Ref: mrwhg452a DJ Norton Close up of an unidentified ex-LMS 0-6-0 4F locomotive on banking duties proceeding to assist a train to Camp Hill

Ref: mrwhg346 DJ Norton Aston Church Road bridge in the foreground and the bank sidings to the left and right of the signal

Ref: mrwhg457 DJ Norton View from Washwood Heath Sidings No 1 Signal Box with a locomotive standing at signals on the up Camp Hill line

Ref: mrwhg1007 MA King The approach to Washwood Heath Junction Signal Box viewed from a passing train on 12th April 1969

Signal Boxes

Ref: mrwhg630 MA King Washwood Heath Sidings No 5 Signal Box seen from the line to the Dugout which ran parallel to the main line

Ref: mrwhg631 MA King Washwood Heath Sidings No 5 Signal Box with the 'Running Road to Dug Out' sidings immediately behind the box

Ref: mrwhg632 MA King Washwood Heath Sidings No 6 Signal Box which controlled the access to the majority of the twenty-five up sidings

Ref: mrwhg633 MA King Washwood Heath Sidings No 4 Signal Box which controlled the shunting neck and the 23 sidings of the Back Fan

Ref: mrwhg634 MA King Another view of No 4 Signal Box with the Brake Van road behind the box and the cooling towers in the distance

Ref: mrwhg635 MA King Washwood Heath Sidings No 3 Signal Box with No 4 signal box behind with the parachute water tower between the two

Ref: mrwhg1011 MA King Washwood Heath Sidings No 3 Signal Box which was located adjacent to the arrival sidings on the down lines

Ref: mrwhg639 MA King Another view of No 2 Signal Box with the stowing sidings in the background and the Down Reception lines on the left

Ref: mrwhg638 MA King Another view of No 2 Signal Box sited at the West end of the down sidings between the Front and Back Fans

Ref: mrwhg1012 MA King Washwood Heath Sidings No 2 Signal Box which was located at the end of the arrival sidings for the down lines

Ref: mrwhg640 MA King Washwood Heath Sidings No 1 Signal Box sited on the up line opposite the ex LNWR Aston to Stechford bridge

Ref: mrwhg1008 RJ Essery Washwood Heath Sidings No 1 Signal Box was one of three boxes controlling traffic leaving Birmingham

Ref: mrwhg625 MA King Washwood Heath Junction Signal Box and behind, the shunting neck used to shunt wagons into the Back Fan

Ref: mrwhg627b DJ Norton Close up showing Washwood Heath Sidings No 5 Signal Box which had the first four roads under its direct control

Ref: mrwhg642 DJ Norton A British railwaysview of Washwood Heath Sidings No 1 Signal Box showing the levers at the rear of the signal box

Ref: mrwhg1662 P Whatley A rear view of the former Midland Railway signalbox, reduced to shunting frame status since 1969

Ref: mrwhg1663 Anon Washwood Heath Sidings No 1 Shunting Frame with the main lines to Derby in front of the box circa 1993

Ref: mrwhg1661 P Whatley The Signal Diagram used by Washwood Heath Sidings No 1 Shunting Frame to control trains arriving and departing from the sidings

Transfer connection from the L&NWR to the Midland Railway

Ref: mrwhg456 DJ Norton Looking along the former LNWR Aston Stechford route towards Aston showing Washwood Heath Signal Box

Ref: mrwhg454 DJ Norton Another view looking towards Aston with the head shunt immediately in front of Washwood Heath signal box

Ref: mrwhg455 DJ Norton Looking towards Stechford with the the branch to the former MR's Derby to Birmingham line on the left

Ref: mrwhg453 DJ Norton Looking from the branch towards the Aston to Stechford line with Washwood Heath Signal Box on the right

Ref: mrwhg459 DJ Norton Looking to Stechford on the Aston to Stechford line, built as an alternative route for south bound traffic

Trains seen at or near to Washwood Heath Sidings

Ref: mrwhg348a NRM An unidentified MR Class 480 locomotive reverses a train of coal wagons along Washwood Heath's No 3 Arrival Road

Ref: mrwhg450 DJ Norton Ex-MR 0-6-0 2F No 3052 emits smoke standing on the down goods line at Washwood Heath Sidings circa 1948

Ref: mrwhg1006 R White Ex-LMS 4F 0-6-0 No 44260 exits Washwood Heath Sidings on a Derby bound freight on 2nd March 1963

Ref: mrwhg1018 BWL Brooksbank Ex-LMS 2-6-0 'Horwich Crab' No 42855 heads a parcels train past the exit to Washwood Heath Sidings

Ref: mrwhg623 RJ Essery Ex-MR 0-6-0 2F No 58261 passes under the ex-LNWR bridge whilst shunting the down sidings

Ref: mrwhg458a DJ Norton Close up of a down goods train approaching whilst the 4F waits for the train before buffering up to the rear

Ref: mrwhg1659 B Brooksbank BR Type 4 No D139 is seen with a brake-tender in tow needed for working loose-coupled freight trains

Ref: mrwhg1660 D Rostance Class 46032 heads the 10:15 Paignton to Leeds service past Washwood Heath Sidings No 2 Signal Box

Ref: mrwhg621 B Brooksbank BR Type 4 1Co-Co1 D82 passes Washwood Heath Sidings No 1 Signal Box on a down express

Ref: mrwhg1664 M Morant Ex-MR 3F 0-6-0 No 43374 is seen running tender first at Washwood Heath Sidings circa 1960

Ref: mrwhg1665 M Morant Ex-LMS 2-6-0 No 42857 and the bridge carrying the ex-LNWR Stechford line over the ex-MR line to Derby

Ordnance Survey Maps and Schematic Drawings

Ref: mrwhg1652 National Library of Scotland A 1913 25 inch to the mile Ordnance Survey Map showing the full length of Washwood Heath sidings and approaches

Ref: mrwhg1654 National Library of Scotland An 1886 OS Map of the western approach to Washwood Heath Sidings and the LNWR connection

Ref: mrwhg1653 National Library of Scotland An 1886 OS Map of the Eastern approaches to Washwood Heath Sidings the Midland line to Derby

Ref: mrwhg1656 National Library of Scotland A 1903 OS Map of the westernern approach to Washwood Heath Sidings and the LNWR connection

Ref: mrwhg1655 National Library of Scotland A 1903 OS Map of the Eastern approaches to Washwood Heath Sidings the Midland line to Derby

Ref: mrwhg1658 National Library of Scotland A 1913 OS Map of the westernern approach to Washwood Heath Sidings and the LNWR connection

Ref: mrwhg1657 National Library of Scotland A 1913 OS Map of the Eastern approaches to Washwood Heath Sidings the Midland line to Derby

Ref: 1909 washwoodheath_map Birmingham City Library A 1909 map showing the Old Saltley works of Joseph Wright and Sons Ltd

Ref: mrwhg460 David Millin Map showing the layout of Saltley Carriage works and the two branch lines which ran from the Midland Railway

Ref: washwoodheath_sidings A Norton Map showing the interchange between the ex-MR line to Derby and the ex-LNWR line to Stechford

Ref: mrwhg1014 J Copsey Schematic showing the location and layout of Signal Boxes No 1 to No 4 at Washwood Heath Sidings

Ref: mrwhg1015 J Copsey Schematic showing the location and layout of Washwood Heath Junction and No 5 and 6 Signal Boxes